יִקְרָ֣א אֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם מֵעָ֑ל וְאֶל־֝הָאָ֗רֶץ לָדִ֥ין עַמֹּֽו׃
He shall call unto the heavens from above, and unto the earth, to judge His people.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יִקְרָא | yiqraʾ | “he shall call” | Qal imperfect 3ms |
| 2 | אֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִם | ʾel-ha-shamayim | “unto the heavens” | Prep אֶל + Def. art. הַ + N(mp) |
| 3 | מֵעָל | me-ʿal | “from above” | Prep מִן + Prep עַל |
| 4 | וְאֶל־הָאָרֶץ | ve-ʾel-ha-ʾarets | “and unto the earth” | Conj וְ + Prep אֶל + Def. art. הַ + N(fs) |
| 5 | לָדִין | la-din | “to judge” | Prep לְ + Qal infinitive construct |
| 6 | עַמֹּו | ʿammo | “His people” | N(ms) + suff 3ms |
Morphology
- יִקְרָא (yiqraʾ) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Root Type: III-Aleph; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He shall call”; Notes: Indicates summoning or proclamation, often in a judicial or authoritative sense.
- אֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִם (ʾel-ha-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים (sh-m-y-m); Root Type: Compound/Plural form; Form: Preposition אֶל + definite article הַ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “unto the heavens”; Notes: Refers to the skies or celestial realm, often as witnesses. In ancient Near Eastern legal traditions, the heavens and the earth were often called upon as permanent, eternal witnesses to a covenant. Because they have “seen” everything since the beginning, they are the perfect jury.
- מֵעָל (me-ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Preposition מִן + preposition עַל; Translation: “from above”; Notes: Indicates source or origin from a higher position. By calling “unto the heavens from above” (me-al), the verse establishes God’s position. He is not in the heavens as a peer; He is above the entire created order, summoning the highest witnesses down to His court.
- וְאֶל־הָאָרֶץ (ve-ʾel-ha-ʾarets) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ts); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition אֶל + definite article הַ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and unto the earth”; Notes: Complements “heavens,” forming a merism for all creation. The vertical axis – between the “heavens from above” and the “earth” below, the entire vertical span of the universe is now attentive. There is nowhere for the “defendant” to hide.
- לָדִין (la-din) – Root: דין (d-y-n); Root Type: Hollow; Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to judge”; Notes: Expresses purpose, namely divine judgment. The verb לָדִין (to judge/to plead a cause). It’s the same root as the name “Dan” or the word Din (judgment/law).
- עַמֹּו (ʿammo) – Root: עם (ʿam); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “His people”; Notes: Refers to the covenant community belonging to him. Note that the judgment is specifically for “His people” (ʿammo). This isn’t a judgment of the “wicked nations” yet; it is an internal audit of the covenant relationship. The poet is painting a picture of a trial where the “people” are in the center, and the heavens and earth are the spectators and witnesses. This verse mirrors the start of Psalm 50:1, but it narrows the focus. In verse 1, God calls the earth from East to West (horizontal). Here in verse 4, He calls from Heaven to Earth (vertical). The translation, God has now “surrounded” the people with His summons on all four axes—East, West, Up, and Down. There is a real sense of being “boxed in” by the truth.