וּנְשָׂאֹ֞ו דֹּודֹ֣ו וּמְסָרְפֹ֗ו לְהֹוצִ֣יא עֲצָמִים֮ מִן־הַבַּיִת֒ וְאָמַ֞ר לַאֲשֶׁ֨ר בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַבַּ֛יִת הַעֹ֥וד עִמָּ֖ךְ וְאָמַ֣ר אָ֑פֶס וְאָמַ֣ר הָ֔ס כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לְהַזְכִּ֖יר בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃
And his uncle shall lift him up, and he that burns him, to bring out the bones from the house; and he shall say to him that is in the innermost parts of the house, “Is anyone still with you?” and he shall say, “None.” Then he shall say, “Hush,” for we must not mention the name of YHWH.
Morphology
- וּנְשָׂאֹו (u-nesaʾo) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he shall lift him up”; Notes: Describes the act of carrying the corpse for burial, a grim image of widespread death.
- דֹּודֹו (dodo) – Root: דוד (dod); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his uncle”; Notes: A relative performing burial duties—family members are left to handle the dead amid devastation.
- וּמְסָרְפֹו (u-mesarefo) – Root: שרף (saraf); Form: Conjunction וְ + Piel participle masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he that burns him”; Notes: Refers to one who disposes of corpses, perhaps by cremation or purifying the remains—an unusual practice for Yisraʾel, indicating plague or judgment.
- לְהֹוצִיא (le-hotsi) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Preposition לְ + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to bring out”; Notes: Indicates purpose—the removal of bones from the house to prevent defilement.
- עֲצָמִים (ʿatsamim) – Root: עצם (ʿetsem); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “bones”; Notes: Symbolic of death and desolation; the only remnants left of the deceased.
- מִן־הַבַּיִת (min-ha-bayit) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Preposition מִן + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the house”; Notes: The house becomes a tomb, emptied of life.
- וְאָמַר (ve-amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he shall say”; Notes: Introduces dialogue in the midst of catastrophe.
- לַאֲשֶׁר (la-asher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Preposition לְ + relative pronoun; Translation: “to him that”; Notes: Marks the recipient of the question inside the house.
- בְּיַרְכְּתֵי (be-yarketei) – Root: ירך (yarekh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “in the innermost parts of”; Notes: Refers to the farthest recess or back chamber of the house.
- הַבַּיִת (ha-bayit) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the house”; Notes: Represents domestic life now invaded by death and silence.
- הַעֹוד (ha-ʿod) – Root: עוד (ʿod); Form: Interrogative particle with definite article; Translation: “Is there still?”; Notes: Expresses a desperate inquiry for survivors.
- עִמָּךְ (ʿimmakh) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Preposition + suffix 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “with you”; Notes: Direct personal address—shows the isolation of the last survivors.
- וְאָמַר (ve-amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he shall say”; Notes: Repeats the dialogue pattern; builds tension.
- אָפֶס (ʾafes) – Root: —; Form: Interjection; Translation: “None” or “There is none”; Notes: Expresses finality—no one remains alive.
- וְאָמַר (ve-amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he shall say”; Notes: Continues the dialogue—final exchange before silence.
- הָס (has) – Root: —; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Hush”; Notes: A command for silence, either from fear or reverence—perhaps avoiding invoking YHWH’s name amid judgment.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces a reason for the silence that follows.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denotes prohibition or impossibility.
- לְהַזְכִּיר (le-hazkir) – Root: זכר (zakhar); Form: Preposition לְ + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to mention”; Notes: Infinitive of purpose—refers to invoking or uttering YHWH’s name.
- בְּשֵׁם (be-shem) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “in the name of”; Notes: Refers to invoking divine authority or presence.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (hvh); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The sacred name of God; its utterance is withheld in fear or awe amidst divine judgment.