וּפֶ֤טֶר חֲמֹור֙ תִּפְדֶּ֣ה בְשֶׂ֔ה וְאִם־לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה וַעֲרַפְתֹּ֑ו כֹּ֣ל בְּכֹ֤ור בָּנֶ֨יךָ֙ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה וְלֹֽא־יֵרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם׃
You shall redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of your sons you shall redeem, and none shall appear before me empty-handed.
Morphology
- וּפֶ֤טֶר (u-peter) – Root: פטר (p-t-r); Form: Conjunction + Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “And firstborn”; Notes: Refers to the first offspring of an animal.
- חֲמֹור֙ (ḥamor) – Root: חמר (ḥ-m-r); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “Donkey”; Notes: Specific reference to a male donkey.
- תִּפְדֶּ֣ה (tifdeh) – Root: פדה (p-d-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 2ms; Translation: “You shall redeem”; Notes: Implies substitution or ransom.
- בְשֶׂ֔ה (b-seh) – Root: שה (š-h); Form: Preposition + Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “With a lamb”; Notes: Refers to a lamb or sheep.
- וְאִם־ (ve-im) – Root: אם (ʾ-m); Form: Conjunction + Particle; Translation: “And if”; Notes: Introduces a conditional clause.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “Not”; Notes: Negates the verb.
- תִפְדֶּ֖ה (tifdeh) – Root: פדה (p-d-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 2ms; Translation: “You redeem”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis.
- וַעֲרַפְתֹּ֑ו (vaʿarafto) – Root: ערף (ʿ-r-p); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 2ms + 3ms suffix; Translation: “You shall break its neck”; Notes: Refers to the ritual action for an unredeemed donkey.
- כֹּ֣ל (kol) – Root: כל (k-l-l); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “Every”; Notes: Indicates totality.
- בְּכֹ֤ור (bekhor) – Root: בכר (b-k-r); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “Firstborn”; Notes: Refers to the firstborn of a human or animal.
- בָּנֶ֨יךָ֙ (banekha) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct + 2ms suffix; Translation: “Your sons”; Notes: Indicates ownership or belonging.
- תִּפְדֶּ֔ה (tifdeh) – Root: פדה (p-d-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 2ms; Translation: “You shall redeem”; Notes: Mandates the redemption of firstborn sons.
- וְלֹֽא־ (ve-lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Conjunction + Negative particle; Translation: “And not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- יֵרָא֥וּ (yeraʾu) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Form: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, 3mp; Translation: “Shall appear”; Notes: Passive form, referring to individuals appearing before YHWH.
- פָנַ֖י (panai) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “My face”; Notes: Refers to the presence of YHWH.
- רֵיקָֽם׃ (reiqam) – Root: ריק (r-y-q); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Empty-handed”; Notes: Indicates a prohibition against appearing without an offering.