בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗וא הִבְדִּ֤יל יְהוָה֙ אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט הַלֵּוִ֔י לָשֵׂ֖את אֶת־אֲרֹ֣ון בְּרִית־יְהוָ֑ה לַעֲמֹד֩ לִפְנֵ֨י יְהוָ֤ה לְשָֽׁרְתֹו֙ וּלְבָרֵ֣ךְ בִּשְׁמֹ֔ו עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃
At that time, YHWH set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of YHWH, to stand before YHWH to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day.
Morphology
- בָּעֵ֣ת (ba-ʿet) – Root: עת (ʿet); Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “At the time”; Notes: Refers to a specific moment in the narrative.
- הַהִ֗וא (ha-hi) – Root: הוא (hi); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, feminine singular; Translation: “that”; Notes: Specifies the time being referred to.
- הִבְדִּ֤יל (hibdil) – Root: בדל (badal); Form: Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “set apart”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s action of designating the tribe of Levi for service.
- יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God.
- אֶת־ (et) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: Not translated; Notes: Marks the definite object.
- שֵׁ֣בֶט (shevet) – Root: שבט (shevet); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “the tribe of”; Notes: Refers to a division of Israel.
- הַלֵּוִ֔י (ha-Levi) – Root: לוי (Levi); Form: Proper noun with definite article; Translation: “Levi”; Notes: Refers to the tribe of Levi.
- לָשֵׂ֖את (la-set) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to carry”; Notes: Refers to their responsibility to transport the ark.
- אֶת־ (et) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker; Translation: Not translated; Notes: Marks the definite object.
- אֲרֹ֣ון (aron) – Root: ארון (aron); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the ark”; Notes: Refers to the ark of the covenant.
- בְּרִית־יְהוָ֑ה (berit-YHWH) – Root: ברית (berit); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with proper noun; Translation: “of the covenant of YHWH”; Notes: Indicates the ark’s association with the covenant.
- לַעֲמֹד֩ (la-ʿamod) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to stand”; Notes: Refers to standing in YHWH’s presence.
- לִפְנֵ֨י (lifnei) – Root: פני (panim); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “before”; Notes: Refers to being in YHWH’s presence.
- יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God.
- לְשָֽׁרְתֹו֙ (le-sharto) – Root: שרת (sharat); Form: Piel infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to minister to Him”; Notes: Refers to the Levitical service to YHWH.
- וּלְבָרֵ֣ךְ (u-le-varekh) – Root: ברך (barakh); Form: Piel infinitive construct with conjunction; Translation: “and to bless”; Notes: Refers to pronouncing blessings in YHWH’s name.
- בִּשְׁמֹ֔ו (bi-shmo) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular construct and 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in His name”; Notes: Indicates the authority of YHWH’s name.
- עַ֖ד (ʿad) – Root: עד (ʿad); Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Refers to a point in time.
- הַיֹּ֥ום (ha-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “this day”; Notes: Specifies the current time.
- הַזֶּֽה׃ (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (zeh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Emphasizes the present moment.