וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶ֥ל כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הַסְכֵּ֤ת וּשְׁמַע֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיֹּ֤ום הַזֶּה֙ נִהְיֵ֣יתָֽ לְעָ֔ם לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
And Moshe and the Levitical priests spoke to all Yisraʾel, saying, “Be silent and listen, Yisra’el: This day you have become a people for YHWH your God.”
Morphology
- וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (va-yedabber) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And he spoke”; Notes: Indicates Moshe’s formal speech to the people.
- מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moshe) – Root: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Moshe”; Notes: Refers to the leader of Yisra’el.
- וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים (ve-ha-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article and conjunction; Translation: “and the priests”; Notes: Refers to the religious leaders of Yisra’el.
- הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (ha-leviyim) – Root: לוי (Levi); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the Levites”; Notes: Refers to the tribe responsible for temple service.
- אֶ֥ל כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (el kol-Yisra’el) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular; Translation: “to all Yisra’el”; Notes: Addressed to the entire nation.
- לֵאמֹ֑ר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Infinitive construct with prepositional prefix; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- הַסְכֵּ֤ת (hasqet) – Root: סכת (saqat); Form: Hifil imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Be silent”; Notes: Calls for attention and reverence.
- וּשְׁמַע֙ (u-shemaʿ) – Root: שמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and listen”; Notes: Urges careful attention to the message.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Yisra’el) – Root: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the people of Yisra’el.
- הַיֹּ֤ום הַזֶּה֙ (ha-yom ha-zeh) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article and demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “This day”; Notes: Emphasizes the present moment of covenant renewal.
- נִהְיֵ֣יתָֽ (nihyeta) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Nifal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you have become”; Notes: Indicates a transformation or formal recognition.
- לְעָ֔ם (le-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun, masculine singular with prepositional prefix; Translation: “a people”; Notes: Denotes belonging to a community under God’s covenant.
- לַיהוָ֖ה (la-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun with prepositional prefix; Translation: “for YHWH”; Notes: Indicates dedication to God.
- אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (Elohekha) – Root: אלהים (Elohim); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Highlights the personal relationship between Yisra’el and YHWH.