וְאָֽמְר֛וּ אַלֻּפֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּלִבָּ֑ם אַמְצָ֥ה לִי֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם בַּיהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹ֖ות אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃
And the chiefs of Yehuda will say in their heart, ‘Strength for me are the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, in YHWH of Hosts, their God.’
Morphology
- וְאָֽמְרוּ (ve-ʾamru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Introduces internal resolve or recognition.
- אַלֻּפֵי (ʾallufei) – Root: אלף (ʾelef); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “chiefs”; Notes: Clan leaders or military heads.
- יְהוּדָה (Yehudah) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehudah”; Notes: Southern kingdom.
- בְּלִבָּם (be-libam) – Root: לבב (levav); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular with suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “in their heart”; Notes: Inner conviction rather than public speech.
- אַמְצָה (ʾamtsah) – Root: אמץ (ʾamats); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “strength”; Notes: Denotes support or fortitude.
- לִי (li) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “for me”; Notes: Personal identification with the source of strength.
- יֹשְׁבֵי (yoshvei) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal active participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “inhabitants of”; Notes: Those settled and remaining.
- יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Yerushalayim) – Root: —; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yerushalayim”; Notes: Covenant city and theological center.
- בַּיהוָה (ba-YHWH) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + proper name; Translation: “in YHWH”; Notes: Source of confidence is divine, not military.
- צְבָאֹות (tsevaʾot) – Root: צבא (tsavaʾ); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “hosts”; Notes: Emphasizes cosmic and military sovereignty.
- אֱלֹהֵיהֶם (ʾeloheihem) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun masculine plural with suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their God”; Notes: Covenant relationship reaffirmed.