וְעַתָּה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מָ֚ה יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ שֹׁאֵ֖ל מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֣י אִם־֠לְיִרְאָה אֶת־יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ לָלֶ֤כֶת בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו֙ וּלְאַהֲבָ֣ה אֹתֹ֔ו וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
And now, Yisraʾel, what does YHWH your God ask of you, except to fear YHWH your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul?
Morphology
- וְעַתָּה֙ (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עתה (ʿattah); Form: Conjunction with adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Introduces a conclusion or a rhetorical question.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Yisra’el) – Root: ישראל (Yisra’el); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the nation of Israel.
- מָ֚ה (mah) – Root: מה (mah); Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “what”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question.
- יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God.
- אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (Elohekha) – Root: אלה (ʾeloah); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Refers to YHWH as Israel’s God.
- שֹׁאֵ֖ל (shoʾel) – Root: שאל (shaʾal); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “asks”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s expectations.
- מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ (me-ʿimmakh) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “of you”; Notes: Indicates what YHWH asks of Israel.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “except”; Notes: Introduces the condition or requirement.
- אִם־ (im) – Root: אם (ʾim); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “if”; Notes: Functions as part of the rhetorical structure.
- לְיִרְאָה (le-yirah) – Root: ירא (yaraʾ); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to fear”; Notes: Refers to reverence and awe toward YHWH.
- אֶת־ (et) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: Not translated; Notes: Marks the definite object.
- יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God.
- אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ (Elohekha) – Root: אלה (ʾeloah); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Refers to Israel’s relationship with YHWH.
- לָלֶ֤כֶת (la-lekhet) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to walk”; Notes: Refers to following YHWH’s ways.
- בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו֙ (be-khol-derakhav) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix and preposition; Translation: “in all His ways”; Notes: Refers to obedience to YHWH’s commandments.
- וּלְאַהֲבָ֣ה (u-le-ahavah) – Root: אהב (ʾahav); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to love”; Notes: Refers to devotion to YHWH.
- אֹתֹ֔ו (oto) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Him”; Notes: Refers to YHWH as the object of love.
- וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ (ve-laʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “and to serve”; Notes: Refers to worship and service to YHWH.
- אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה (et-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun with direct object marker; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the covenant name of God.
- אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (Elohekha) – Root: אלה (ʾeloah); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Indicates the personal relationship with YHWH.
- בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ (be-khol-levavkha) – Root: לבב (levav); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix and preposition; Translation: “with all your heart”; Notes: Refers to wholehearted devotion.
- וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (u-ve-khol-nafshekha) – Root: נפש (nefesh); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix and preposition; Translation: “and with all your soul”; Notes: Refers to complete dedication of one’s life.