וַיְקַנֵּ֥א יְהוָ֖ה לְאַרְצֹ֑ו וַיַּחְמֹ֖ל עַל־עַמֹּֽו׃
(Joel 2:18)
Then YHWH was jealous for His land and had compassion on His people.
Word-by-Word Explanation
- וַיְקַנֵּא – “Then He was jealous” Verb, 3rd person masculine singular, vav-consecutive of קָנָא (“to be jealous,” “to be zealous”).
The וַ prefix introduces narrative past: “Then He was jealous” or “Then He became zealous.”
In this context, it expresses passionate concern or protective love. - יְהוָה – “YHWH” Proper noun. The personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. YHWH is the subject of both verbs in this verse.
- לְאַרְצֹו – “for His land” Preposition + noun + suffix.
– לְ = “for” or “toward”
– אֶרֶץ = “land”
– ֹו = “his”
Together: “for His land” — referring to the land of Yisraʾel. - וַיַּחְמֹל – “and He had compassion” Verb, 3rd person masculine singular, vav-consecutive of חָמַל (“to have pity,” “to spare”).
A tender verb showing divine mercy or protective kindness. - עַל־עַמֹּו – “upon His people” Preposition + noun + suffix.
– עַל = “upon” or “over”
– עַם = “people”
– ֹו = “his”
Together: “upon His people” — referring to YHWH’s covenant people, Yisraʾel.
Word Order and Sentence Flow
This verse follows the classic Biblical Hebrew narrative flow:
- Begins with vav-consecutive verbs showing sequential divine actions.
- The subject (YHWH) is placed between the verbs, making Him central to the structure.
- Each verb is followed by its object, moving from land to people.
→ וַיְקַנֵּא יְהוָה לְאַרְצֹו – “Then YHWH was jealous for His land”
→ וַיַּחְמֹל עַל־עַמֹּו – “and He had compassion on His people”
Compassion and Zeal: Side-by-Side
| Hebrew Phrase | Literal Meaning | Emotional Tone |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְקַנֵּא… לְאַרְצֹו | He was jealous for His land | Zeal, passion, protective anger |
| וַיַּחְמֹל עַל־עַמֹּו | He had compassion on His people | Mercy, pity, tenderness |
Hebrew Unlocked!
“You’ve just read a verse where divine passion turns to mercy—and you saw it in Hebrew.”
This verse taught you:
- The emotional depth of Hebrew verbs: קָנָא can mean jealousy or zeal, depending on the context.
- How Hebrew poetry balances structure and meaning.
- How vav-consecutive verbs move the story forward while keeping YHWH at the center.
Zeal and compassion—two divine qualities in perfect parallel.
And now, you’re learning to read them in their original rhythm.
