Zephaniah 3:12

וְהִשְׁאַרְתִּ֣י בְקִרְבֵּ֔ךְ עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י וָדָ֑ל וְחָס֖וּ בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃

And I will leave in your midst a people afflicted and poor, and they shall take refuge in the name of YHWH.

Morphology

1. וְהִשְׁאַרְתִּי (ve-hishʾarti) – Root: שׁאר (shaʾar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Hifil perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “And I will leave” / “And I will cause to remain”; Notes: YHWH speaks of preserving a remnant within the people.
2. בְקִרְבֵּךְ (be-qirbekh) – Root: קרב (qerev); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct + suffix 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “in your midst”; Notes: Addressed to the city/Zion personified as feminine.
3. עַם (ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “people”; Notes: A covenant community that YHWH preserves.
4. עָנִי (ʿani) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Adjective or substantive masculine singular; Translation: “afflicted” / “humble”; Notes: Stresses their oppressed, lowly condition before YHWH.
5. וָדָל (va-dal) – Root: דלל (dalal); Form: Conjunction וְ + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “and poor”; Notes: Complements עָנִי, highlighting material and social weakness.
6. וְחָסוּ (ve-ḥasu) – Root: חסה (ḥasah); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “and they shall take refuge”; Notes: Perfect used with future sense in prophetic context, describing their ongoing trust.
7. בְּשֵׁם (be-shem) – Root: שׁם (shem); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the name”; Notes: To take refuge “in the name” expresses reliance on YHWH’s revealed character and authority.
8. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant God of Yisraʾel in whom the remnant finds safety.