utterance of
| Root | נאם (n-ʾ-m) |
| Core Meanings | utterance, solemn speech, authoritative declaration, prophetic proclamation |
| Semantic Range | oracle, solemn declaration, prophetic utterance, authoritative saying, divine pronouncement |
| Conceptual Significance | Frequently introducing prophetic speech, נְאֻם marks a statement as weighty and authoritative, often signaling divine origin. It underscores the covenantal authority and reliability of the speaker, especially in the recurring formula "utterance of YHWH." |
| Morphological Notes | Common masculine singular noun in the construct state; regularly followed by the name or title of the speaker (often YHWH). |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun נְאֻם derives from the root נאם, meaning to utter or solemnly declare. In the masculine singular construct form (HNcmsc), it functions as "utterance of," linking the declaration to the one speaking (e.g., "utterance of YHWH"), thus preserving both the root sense of authoritative speech and the construct relationship indicated by the morphology. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)