וְאָמַ֤ר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שְׁמַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַתֶּ֨ם קְרֵבִ֥ים הַיֹּ֛ום לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ לְבַבְכֶ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַֽל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, Yisraʾel, you are approaching today to battle against your enemies. Let not your heart be faint; do not fear, do not panic, and do not tremble before them.
Morphology
- וְאָמַ֤ר (ve-amar) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “He shall say”; Notes: Refers to the priest addressing the people.
- אֲלֵהֶם֙ (alehem) – Root: אל (el); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the people of Israel.
- שְׁמַ֣ע (shema) – Root: שמע (shama); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Hear”; Notes: A command to listen attentively.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Yisra’el) – Root: ישראל (Yisra’el); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the nation of Israel.
- אַתֶּ֨ם (atem) – Root: אתם (atem); Form: Pronoun, 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You”; Notes: Refers to the people being addressed.
- קְרֵבִ֥ים (krevim) – Root: קרב (karav); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “approaching”; Notes: Describes the people nearing the battle.
- הַיֹּ֛ום (ha-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “today”; Notes: Indicates the immediate context.
- לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (la-milchamah) – Root: לחם (lacham); Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “to the battle”; Notes: Refers to the conflict against enemies.
- עַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֑ם (al-oyveikhem) – Root: אויב (oyev); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “against your enemies”; Notes: Indicates opposition in battle.
- אַל־יֵרַ֣ךְ (al-yerakh) – Root: רכך (rakhakh); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with negative particle; Translation: “Let not faint”; Notes: Refers to fearfulness or weakness.
- לְבַבְכֶ֗ם (levavkhem) – Root: לבב (levav); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “your heart”; Notes: Refers to inner courage and resolve.
- אַל־תִּֽירְא֧וּ (al-tir’u) – Root: ירא (yare); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural with negative particle; Translation: “Do not fear”; Notes: A command against being afraid.
- וְאַל־תַּחְפְּז֛וּ (ve-al-tachpezu) – Root: חפז (chafaz); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural with negative particle; Translation: “and do not panic”; Notes: Prohibits sudden alarm or haste.
- וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ (ve-al-ta’artzu) – Root: ערץ (aratz); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural with negative particle; Translation: “and do not tremble”; Notes: Refers to shaking in fear.
- מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃ (mi-penehem) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with preposition and 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “before them”; Notes: Refers to the enemies being faced.