בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם לְדָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ הָיָ֣ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה֙ בֶּן־בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔ה בֶּן־עִדֹּ֥ו הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר׃
In the eighth month, in the second year of Daryavesh, the word of YHWH was to Zekharaya son of Berekhya son of ʿIddo the prophet, saying.
Morphology
- בַּחֹדֶשׁ (ba-ḥodesh) – Root: חדשׁ (ḥodesh); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the month”; Notes: Indicates the temporal setting of the prophecy.
- הַשְּׁמִינִי (ha-shemini) – Root: שׁמנה (shemoneh); Form: Definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “the eighth”; Notes: Modifies “month” to specify timing.
- בִּשְׁנַת (bi-shenat) – Root: שׁנה (shanah); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “in the year of”; Notes: Construct form links to the following numeral.
- שְׁתַּיִם (shetayim) – Root: שׁתים (shetayim); Form: Noun feminine dual absolute; Translation: “two”; Notes: Completes the temporal expression referring to Daryavesh’s second regnal year.
- לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ (le-Daryavesh) – Root: — (proper name); Form: Preposition לְ + proper noun; Translation: “of Daryavesh”; Notes: Refers to King Darius (Persian Daryavesh).
- הָיָה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Introduces the prophetic formula describing divine speech events.
- דְבַר (devar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “word of”; Notes: Forms part of the expression “the word of YHWH.”
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The Tetragrammaton, the personal name of Israel’s God.
- אֶל (el) – Root: —; Form: Preposition אֶל; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates direction of the divine communication.
- זְכַרְיָה (Zekharayah) – Root: זכר (zakhar); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Zekharayah”; Notes: The prophet receiving YHWH’s word.
- בֶּן (ben) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine singular in construct; Translation: “son of”; Notes: Introduces genealogical identity.
- בֶּרֶכְיָה (Berekhyah) – Root: ברך (barakh); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Berekhyah”; Notes: Zekharayah’s father.
- בֶּן (ben) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “son of”; Notes: Continues genealogical identification.
- עִדֹּו (ʿIddo) – Root: עדד (ʿadad); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʿIddo”; Notes: The grandfather of Zekharayah.
- הַנָּבִיא (ha-navi) – Root: נבא (navaʾ); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the prophet”; Notes: Titles Zekharayah according to his prophetic office.
- לֵאמֹר (lemor) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Standard formula introducing direct quotation in prophetic texts.