וְאֶת־הָעָם֮ צַ֣ו לֵאמֹר֒ אַתֶּ֣ם עֹֽבְרִ֗ים בִּגְבוּל֙ אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם בְּנֵי־עֵשָׂ֔ו הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּשֵׂעִ֑יר וְיִֽירְא֣וּ מִכֶּ֔ם וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם מְאֹֽד׃
And command the people, saying: “You are passing through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of ʿEsav, who dwell in Seʿir, and they will be afraid of you; therefore, be very careful.
Morphology
- וְאֶת־הָעָם֮ (ve-et-haʿam) – Root: עם (ʿm); Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “And the people”; Notes: Introduces the object of the command.
- צַ֣ו (tsav) – Root: צוה (tswh); Form: Piel imperative masculine singular; Translation: “command”; Notes: An imperative to issue orders.
- לֵאמֹר֒ (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾmr); Form: Infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- אַתֶּ֣ם (atem) – Root: אתם (ʾtm); Form: Pronoun, 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You”; Notes: Emphasizes the audience.
- עֹֽבְרִ֗ים (ʿov’rim) – Root: עבר (ʿbr); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “passing”; Notes: Describes the action.
- בִּגְבוּל֙ (bigvul) – Root: גבול (gbwl); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “through the territory of”; Notes: Indicates the location of travel.
- אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם (ʾaḥekhem) – Root: אח (ʾḥ); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “your brothers”; Notes: Refers to kinship with ʿEsav’s descendants.
- בְּנֵי־עֵשָׂ֔ו (b’nei-ʿEsav) – Root: בן (bn) + עשו (ʿsw); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct + proper noun; Translation: “the descendants of ʿEsav”; Notes: Identifies the group.
- הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים (hayosh’vim) – Root: ישב (yšb); Form: Qal participle masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “who dwell”; Notes: Describes their location.
- בְּשֵׂעִ֑יר (b’Seʿir) – Root: שעיר (šʿyr); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “in Seʿir”; Notes: Refers to a specific region.
- וְיִֽירְא֣וּ (veyirʾu) – Root: ירא (yrʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they will be afraid”; Notes: Predicts their reaction.
- מִכֶּ֔ם (mikkem) – Root: מן (mn) + כֶּם (khem); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “of you”; Notes: Indicates the object of fear.
- וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם (venishmartem) – Root: שמר (šmr); Form: Nifal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and you shall be careful”; Notes: A command for caution.
- מְאֹֽד (m’od) – Root: מאד (mʾd); Form: Adverb; Translation: “very”; Notes: Intensifies the command.