וְעַתָּ֗ה כִּתְב֤וּ לָכֶם֙ אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וְלַמְּדָ֥הּ אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שִׂימָ֣הּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן תִּהְיֶה־לִּ֜י הַשִּׁירָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את לְעֵ֖ד בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And now, write for yourselves this song and teach it to the children of Yisraʾel; put it in their mouths, so that this song may be for Me as a witness against the children of Yisraʾel.
Morphology
- וְעַתָּ֗ה (ve’attah) – Root: עת (ʿ-t); Form: Conjunction + adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Marks a transition or new instruction.
- כִּתְב֤וּ (kitvu) – Root: כתב (k-t-v); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “write”; Notes: A direct command to write down the song.
- לָכֶם֙ (lakhem) – Root: לכם (l-kh-m); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural pronoun; Translation: “for yourselves”; Notes: Indicates that the writing is for their benefit or responsibility.
- אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֣ה (et-ha-shirah) – Root: שיר (sh-y-r); Form: Definite direct object marker + definite feminine singular noun; Translation: “this song”; Notes: Refers to a specific song to be written.
- הַזֹּ֔את (hazot) – Root: זה (z-h); Form: Feminine singular demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “this”; Notes: Specifies the song mentioned.
- וְלַמְּדָ֥הּ (velamedah) – Root: למד (l-m-d); Form: Piel imperative 2nd person masculine plural + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “and teach it”; Notes: The Piel form indicates intensive action, emphasizing thorough instruction.
- אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (et-benei-Yisra’el) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Definite direct object marker + construct masculine plural noun + proper noun; Translation: “to the children of Yisra’el”; Notes: Specifies the audience of the teaching.
- שִׂימָ֣הּ (simah) – Root: שׂים (s-y-m); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular + 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “put it”; Notes: Command to place the song in their mouths, implying memorization or recitation.
- בְּפִיהֶ֑ם (befihem) – Root: פה (p-h); Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in their mouths”; Notes: Suggests the song is to be spoken or sung regularly.
- לְמַ֨עַן (lema’an) – Root: Preposition; Form: Purpose clause marker; Translation: “so that”; Notes: Introduces the purpose of the command.
- תִּהְיֶה־לִּ֜י (tihyeh-li) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “it may be for Me”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s intended outcome of the song.
- הַשִּׁירָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את (hashirah hazot) – Root: שיר (sh-y-r), זה (z-h); Form: Definite feminine singular noun + demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “this song”; Notes: Reiteration for emphasis on the specific song.
- לְעֵ֖ד (le’ed) – Root: עד (ʿ-d); Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun; Translation: “as a witness”; Notes: The song serves as a legal testimony against the people.
- בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל (bivnei-Yisra’el) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Preposition + construct masculine plural noun + proper noun; Translation: “against the children of Yisra’el”; Notes: The song is both a reminder and a warning to the people.