הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֗ פֶּן־תִּנָּקֵשׁ֙ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם אַחֲרֵ֖י הִשָּׁמְדָ֣ם מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ וּפֶן־תִּדְרֹ֨שׁ לֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶ֜ם לֵאמֹ֨ר אֵיכָ֨ה יַעַבְד֜וּ הַגֹּויִ֤ם הָאֵ֨לֶּה֙ אֶת־אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם וְאֶעֱשֶׂה־כֵּ֖ן גַּם־אָֽנִי׃
Be careful for yourself, lest you be ensnared after them, after they have been destroyed before you, and lest you inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.’
Morphology
- הִשָּׁ֣מֶר (hishamer) – Root: שמר (shamar); Form: Nifal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Be careful”; Notes: A command to guard oneself or be cautious.
- לְךָ֗ (lekha) – Root: לך (lekha); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “for yourself”; Notes: Indicates personal caution.
- פֶּן־תִּנָּקֵשׁ֙ (pen-tinnakesh) – Root: נקש (naqash); Form: Nifal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “lest you be ensnared”; Notes: Refers to falling into a trap or being led astray.
- אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם (achareihem) – Root: אחר (achar); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “after them”; Notes: Refers to following the practices of the nations.
- אַחֲרֵ֖י (acharei) – Root: אחר (achar); Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Reiterates the caution against following the nations.
- הִשָּׁמְדָ֣ם (hishamdam) – Root: שמד (shamad); Form: Nifal infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “they have been destroyed”; Notes: Refers to the nations being eradicated by God.
- מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ (mi-paneikha) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with preposition and 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “before you”; Notes: Indicates removal from the presence of Israel.
- וּפֶן־תִּדְרֹ֨שׁ (u-pen-tidrosh) – Root: דרש (darash); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and lest you inquire”; Notes: Refers to seeking information or learning about something.
- לֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶ֜ם (le-eloheihem) – Root: אלה (ʾeloah); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “about their gods”; Notes: Refers to the false gods of the nations.
- לֵאמֹ֨ר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- אֵיכָ֨ה (eikha) – Root: איך (eikh); Form: Interrogative adverb; Translation: “How”; Notes: Introduces a question.
- יַעַבְד֜וּ (yaʿavdu) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they served”; Notes: Refers to worship or service rendered to gods.
- הַגֹּויִ֤ם (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the nations”; Notes: Refers to the Gentile nations.
- הָאֵ֨לֶּה֙ (ha-elleh) – Root: אלה (elleh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural; Translation: “these”; Notes: Refers to the previously mentioned nations.
- אֶת־אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם (et-eloheihem) – Root: אלה (ʾeloah); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their gods”; Notes: Refers to the deities worshiped by the nations.
- וְאֶעֱשֶׂה־כֵּ֖ן (ve-eʿeseh-ken) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will do likewise”; Notes: Expresses intent to imitate their practices.
- גַּם־אָֽנִי׃ (gam-ani) – Root: גם (gam), Root: אני (ani); Form: Adverb with pronoun, 1st person singular; Translation: “also I”; Notes: Indicates the speaker’s inclusion in the proposed action.