וְשָׁמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת לַעֲשֹׂ֧ות אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עֹולָֽם׃
The children of Yisra’el shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
Morphology
- וְשָׁמְר֥וּ (veshamru) – Root: שמר (sh-m-r); Form: Conjunction + Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3mp; Translation: “And they shall keep”; Notes: Refers to the obligation of the children of Yisra’el to observe the Sabbath.
- בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (bene-Yisra’el) – Root: בן (b-n) + שׂרה (s-r-h); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct + Proper noun; Translation: “The children of Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the descendants of Yisra’el.
- אֶת־ (et) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “—”; Notes: Marks the direct object of the verb.
- הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת (hashabbat) – Root: שבת (sh-b-t); Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “The Sabbath”; Notes: Refers to the weekly day of rest.
- לַעֲשֹׂ֧ות (la’asot) – Root: עשׂה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Preposition + Verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct; Translation: “To observe”; Notes: Indicates the purpose of keeping the Sabbath.
- אֶת־ (et) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: “—”; Notes: Marks the direct object of the verb.
- הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת (hashabbat) – Root: שבת (sh-b-t); Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “The Sabbath”; Notes: Refers to the act of keeping the Sabbath.
- לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם (ledorotam) – Root: דור (d-w-r); Form: Preposition + Noun, masculine plural construct + Pronoun, 3mp; Translation: “Throughout their generations”; Notes: Refers to the perpetual nature of the command.
- בְּרִ֥ית (berit) – Root: ברית (b-r-y-t); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “Covenant”; Notes: Refers to the binding agreement between YHWH and Yisra’el.
- עֹולָֽם׃ (olam) – Root: עלם (ʿ-l-m); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Perpetual”; Notes: Emphasizes the eternal nature of the covenant.