עַל־פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֣יִם עֵדִ֗ים אֹ֛ו שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה עֵדִ֖ים יוּמַ֣ת הַמֵּ֑ת לֹ֣א יוּמַ֔ת עַל־פִּ֖י עֵ֥ד אֶחָֽד׃
By the testimony of two witnesses or three witnesses shall the one deserving death be put to death; he shall not be put to death by the testimony of one witness.
Morphology
- עַל־פִּ֣י (ʿal-pi) – Root: פי (peh); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “By the testimony of”; Notes: Refers to evidence or declaration.
- שְׁנַ֣יִם (shenayim) – Root: שנים (shenayim); Form: Noun, masculine dual; Translation: “two”; Notes: Indicates the number of witnesses required.
- עֵדִ֗ים (ʿedim) – Root: עד (ʿed); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “witnesses”; Notes: Refers to those providing testimony.
- אֹ֛ו (o) – Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or”; Notes: Connects alternatives.
- שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה (sheloshah) – Root: שלש (shalosh); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “three”; Notes: Indicates a higher number of witnesses for verification.
- עֵדִ֖ים (ʿedim) – Root: עד (ʿed); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “witnesses”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis.
- יוּמַ֣ת (yumat) – Root: מות (muth); Form: Hofal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall be put to death”; Notes: Refers to the judicial execution.
- הַמֵּ֑ת (ha-met) – Root: מות (muth); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the one deserving death”; Notes: Refers to the accused party.
- לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “shall not”; Notes: Denotes prohibition.
- יוּמַ֔ת (yumat) – Root: מות (muth); Form: Hofal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “be put to death”; Notes: Repeated to emphasize the legal process.
- עַל־פִּ֖י (ʿal-pi) – Root: פי (peh); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “by the testimony of”; Notes: Reiterates the standard of evidence.
- עֵ֥ד (ʿed) – Root: עד (ʿed); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a witness”; Notes: Refers to a single individual providing testimony.
- אֶחָֽד׃ (eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾeḥad); Form: Adjective, masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Emphasizes the insufficiency of a single witness for capital cases.