וַיִּכְרֹ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה אִתָּם֙ בְּרִ֔ית וַיְצַוֵּ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א תִֽירְא֖וּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וְלֹא־תִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם וְלֹ֣א תַעַבְד֔וּם וְלֹ֥א תִזְבְּח֖וּ לָהֶֽם׃
And YHWH cut a covenant with them and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, and you shall not bow down to them, and you shall not serve them, and you shall not sacrifice to them,
Morphology
- וַיִּכְרֹת (va-yikrot) – Root: כרת; Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he cut”; Notes: Used idiomatically for making a covenant.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The personal name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- אִתָּם (ittam) – Root: את; Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “with them”; Notes: Refers to the people of Yisraʾel.
- בְּרִית (berit) – Root: ברת; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “covenant”; Notes: A formal binding agreement between YHWH and His people.
- וַיְצַוֵּם (va-yetsavvem) – Root: צוה; Form: Piel wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and he commanded them”; Notes: A directive issued by YHWH.
- לֵאמֹר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר; Form: Infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Used to negate verbs in prohibitions.
- תִֽירְאוּ (tirʾu) – Root: ירא; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall fear”; Notes: Prohibition against reverencing false gods.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾelohim) – Root: אלה; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “gods”; Notes: Plural form, refers to false or foreign deities.
- אֲחֵרִים (ʾaḥerim) – Root: אחר; Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “other”; Notes: Describes gods not of YHWH.
- וְלֹא־תִשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ (ve-lo-tishtaḥavu) – Root: שׁחה; Form: Hitpael imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and you shall not bow down”; Notes: Prohibition of idolatrous worship.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: הם; Form: Preposition לְ + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the “other gods.”
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Continues the list of prohibitions.
- תַעַבְדוּם (taʿavdum) – Root: עבד; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “you shall serve them”; Notes: Service here implies cultic or religious devotion.
- וְלֹא (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Final prohibition in the series.
- תִזְבְּחוּ (tizbeḥu) – Root: זבח; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall sacrifice”; Notes: Refers to offering sacrifices, often to deities.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: הם; Form: Preposition לְ + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers again to the false gods.