Deuteronomy 33:6

יְחִ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן וְאַל־יָמֹ֑ת וִיהִ֥י מְתָ֖יו מִסְפָּֽר׃ ס

Let Reʾuven live and not die, and let his men be few in number.

Morphology

1. יְחִ֥י (yeḥi) – Root: חָיָה (ḥ-y-h); Form: Qal jussive 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Let live”; Notes: Expresses a wish or blessing for Re’uven’s life.
2. רְאוּבֵ֖ן (Re’uven) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Masculine singular; Translation: “Re’uven”; Notes: Refers to the firstborn son of Yaʿaqov and founder of the tribe of Re’uven.
3. וְאַל־יָמֹ֑ת (ve’al-yamot) – Root: מוּת (m-w-t); Form: Qal jussive 3rd person masculine singular with negative particle; Translation: “and let him not die”; Notes: Continuation of the blessing, emphasizing preservation of life.
4. וִיהִ֥י (vihi) – Root: הָיָה (h-y-h); Form: Qal jussive 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and let be”; Notes: Another jussive form expressing desire for the state of his descendants.
5. מְתָ֖יו (metav) – Root: מֵת (m-t), though here it refers to “men” or “people”; Form: Masculine plural construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his men”; Notes: Could imply his descendants or followers.
6. מִסְפָּֽר (mispar) – Root: סָפַר (s-p-r); Form: Masculine singular noun; Translation: “number”; Notes: Indicates a limited quantity, often interpreted as a modest or manageable number.