| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vayehi {וַיְהִי | wa·yə·hî} ‘and it happened’, a Qal imperfect wayyiqtol form that triggers a new prophetic sequence. The construct devar {דְבַר־ | də·var} ‘word’ linked to Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yəhōwāh} ‘the LORD’ establishes divine origination of the message. The prepositional phrase elay {אֵלַי | ʾê·lai} ‘to me’ marks Ezekiel as recipient. Lemor {לֵאמֹר | lē·mōr} ‘saying’ functions as an infinitive construct introducing direct discourse. The Hebrew VSO order shifts to English SVO to maintain clarity while preserving prophetic emphasis. |