כִּ֚י כָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים יֵלְכ֕וּ אִ֖ישׁ בְּשֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהָ֑יו וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ נֵלֵ֛ךְ בְּשֵׁם־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ לְעֹולָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ פ
For all the peoples shall walk each man in the name of his god but we shall walk in the name of YHWH our God forever and ever.
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) — Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces a contrastive explanation.
- כָּל (kol) — Root: כלל (kallal); Form: Noun כֹּל masculine singular; Translation: “all”; Notes: Totality marker governing “the peoples.”
- הָעַמִּים (ha-ʿammim) — Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “the peoples”; Notes: Refers to non-Israelite nations.
- יֵלְכוּ (yelḵu) — Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall walk”; Notes: Habitual or future conduct.
- אִישׁ (ish) — Root: אישׁ (ish); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “each man”; Notes: Individualizes the nations’ behavior.
- בְּשֵׁם (be-shem) — Root: שם (shem); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the name of”; Notes: Indicates allegiance or invocation.
- אֱלֹהָיו (elohav) — Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Noun masculine plural (singular sense) + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “his god”; Notes: Refers to the deity each nation follows.
- וַאֲנַחְנוּ (va-anaḥnu) — Root: אנח (ʾanaḥ); Form: Conjunction וַ + independent pronoun 1st person plural; Translation: “but we”; Notes: Contrasts Israel’s loyalty with the nations.
- נֵלֵךְ (nelekh) — Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person plural; Translation: “shall walk”; Notes: Pledges future covenantal obedience.
- בְּשֵׁם־יְהוָה (be-shem YHWH) — Root: שם (shem) + יהוה (YHWH); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular construct + divine name; Translation: “in the name of YHWH”; Notes: Expresses exclusive covenant allegiance.
- אֱלֹהֵינוּ (Eloheinu) — Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 1st person plural; Translation: “our God”; Notes: Intensifies covenant relationship.
- לְעֹולָם (le-ʿolam) — Root: עלם (ʿalam); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Indicates eternal duration.
- וָעֶד (va-ʿed) — Root: עד (ʿad); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and ever”; Notes: Strengthens the idea of unending continuity.