וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֑יתִי עַל־שָׂפָם֙ לֹ֣א תַעְט֔וּ וְלֶ֥חֶם אֲנָשִׁ֖ים לֹ֥א תֹאכֵֽלוּ׃
And you shall do as I have done: you shall not cover over the mustache, and the bread of men you shall not eat.
Morphology
- וַעֲשִׂיתֶם (va-ʿasitem) – Root: עשׂה (ʿasah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (converted imperfect) 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “And you shall do”; Notes: Directs the people to imitate the prophet’s symbolic act.
- כַּאֲשֶׁר (kaʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “as / according to that which”; Notes: Introduces comparison with Ezekiel’s actions.
- עָשִׂיתִי (ʿasiti) – Root: עשׂה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I have done”; Notes: Refers to Ezekiel’s obedience in refraining from mourning.
- עַל־שָׂפָם (ʿal-safam) – Root: שׂפה (safah); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine singular; Translation: “over the mustache”; Notes: Mourning custom of covering the upper lip is forbidden.
- לֹא (lo) – Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Marks prohibition.
- תַעְטוּ (taʿtu) – Root: עטה (ʿatah); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall cover”; Notes: Prohibited mourning practice.
- וְלֶחֶם (ve-leḥem) – Root: לחם (leḥem); Form: Conjunction ו + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “and bread”; Notes: Refers to food given to mourners.
- אֲנָשִׁים (ʾanashim) – Root: אישׁ (ʾish); Form: Noun masculine plural absolute; Translation: “of men”; Notes: Bread provided by others during mourning rituals.
- לֹא (lo) – Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Continues prohibition.
- תֹאכֵלוּ (toʾkhelu) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall eat”; Notes: Forbids eating the bread of mourners.