וְנִגְּשׁ֣וּ הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִי֒ כִּ֣י בָ֗ם בָּחַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ לְשָׁ֣רְתֹ֔ו וּלְבָרֵ֖ךְ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וְעַל־פִּיהֶ֥ם יִהְיֶ֖ה כָּל־רִ֥יב וְכָל־נָֽגַע׃
Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for YHWH your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name of YHWH, and by their word shall every dispute and every affliction be settled.
Morphology
- וְנִגְּשׁ֣וּ (ve-niggshu) – Root: נגשׁ (nagash); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “Then they shall come forward”; Notes: Indicates the priests’ approach.
- הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ (ha-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the priests”; Notes: Refers to the Levitical priests.
- בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִי֒ (bene Levi) – Root: בן (ben) + לוי (Levi); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the sons of Levi”; Notes: Identifies their tribal lineage.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: -; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for their role.
- בָ֗ם (bam) – Root: -; Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in them”; Notes: Refers to the priests.
- בָּחַ֞ר (baḥar) – Root: בחר (baḥar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has chosen”; Notes: Indicates divine selection.
- יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) – Root: -; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: Refers to the God of Israel.
- אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ (Elohekha) – Root: אלוה (Eloah); Form: Noun, masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Specifies relationship to Israel.
- לְשָׁ֣רְתֹ֔ו (le-sharto) – Root: שרת (sharat); Form: Piel infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to minister to Him”; Notes: Indicates their priestly duty.
- וּלְבָרֵ֖ךְ (u-le-varekh) – Root: ברך (barakh); Form: Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “and to bless”; Notes: Indicates their priestly role of blessing.
- בְּשֵׁ֣ם (be-shem) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Noun, masculine singular with preposition; Translation: “in the name of”; Notes: Indicates divine authority.
- יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) – Root: -; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: Specifies divine authority.
- וְעַל־פִּיהֶ֥ם (ve-ʿal-pihehem) – Root: פה (peh); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and by their word”; Notes: Indicates their judicial authority.
- יִהְיֶ֖ה (yihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: Marks future obligation.
- כָּל־רִ֥יב (kol-riv) – Root: ריב (riv); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “every dispute”; Notes: Refers to legal cases.
- וְכָל־נָֽגַע׃ (ve-kol-nagaʿ) – Root: נגע (nagaʿ); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “and every affliction”; Notes: Refers to both legal and ritual issues.