לַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים הַֽמְקֻדָּשׁ֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י צָדֹ֔וק אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמְר֖וּ מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֑י אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־תָע֗וּ בִּתְעֹות֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּע֖וּ הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ ס
For the priests, the consecrated ones from the sons of Tsadoq, who kept My charge, who did not go astray when the sons of Yisraʾel went astray, as the Leviyyim went astray.
Morphology
- לַכֹּהֲנִים (la-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “for the priests”; Notes: Indicates the group being addressed — the priestly class set apart for sacred service.
- הַמְקֻדָּשׁ (ha-mequddash) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Definite passive participle masculine singular (Pual); Translation: “the consecrated” or “the sanctified”; Notes: Refers to those who have been set apart for holiness and divine service.
- מִבְּנֵי (mi-benei) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “from the sons of”; Notes: Expresses lineage or descent.
- צָדֹוק (Tsadoq) – Root: צדק (tsadaq); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Tsadoq”; Notes: Refers to Zadok, the high priestly ancestor whose descendants remained faithful to YHWH’s commands.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause identifying the faithful priests.
- שָׁמְרוּ (shamru) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “kept”; Notes: Refers to their observance and faithfulness to YHWH’s commands.
- מִשְׁמַרְתִּי (mishmarti) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + suffix 1cs; Translation: “My charge”; Notes: Denotes the divine ordinances or duties entrusted to the priests by YHWH.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces another relative clause defining those who remained obedient.
- לֹא־תָעוּ (lo-taʿu) – Root: תעה (taʿah); Form: Negative particle לֹא + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “did not go astray”; Notes: Describes their steadfastness in contrast to the unfaithfulness of others.
- בִּתְעֹות (bitʿot) – Root: תעה (taʿah); Form: Preposition בְּ + infinitive construct; Translation: “in the going astray”; Notes: Refers to the collective disobedience of Yisraʾel’s people.
- בְּנֵי (benei) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Expresses a collective reference to the people of Yisraʾel.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שרי (sarah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the covenant people as a whole.
- כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka-asher) – Root: —; Form: Preposition כְּ + relative particle; Translation: “as when” or “just as”; Notes: Introduces a comparative clause.
- תָּעוּ (taʿu) – Root: תעה (taʿah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they went astray”; Notes: Describes the act of turning away from YHWH’s commands.
- הַלְוִיִּם (ha-leviyyim) – Root: לוי (levi); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the Leviyyim” or “the Levites”; Notes: Refers to the tribe of Levi, some of whom were unfaithful in contrast to the sons of Tsadoq.