Deuteronomy 31:21

וְ֠הָיָה כִּֽי־תִמְצֶ֨אןָ אֹתֹ֜ו רָעֹ֣ות רַבֹּות֮ וְצָרֹות֒ וְ֠עָנְתָה הַשִּׁירָ֨ה הַזֹּ֤את לְפָנָיו֙ לְעֵ֔ד כִּ֛י לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכַ֖ח מִפִּ֣י זַרְעֹ֑ו כִּ֧י יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶת־יִצְרֹ֗ו אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֤וּא עֹשֶׂה֙ הַיֹּ֔ום בְּטֶ֣רֶם אֲבִיאֶ֔נּוּ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי׃

And it will be when many evils and troubles find him, then this song will answer before him as a witness, for it will not be forgotten from the mouth of his offspring; for I know his inclination that he is doing today, before I bring him into the land that I swore.”

Morphology

1. וְ֠הָיָה (ve-hayah) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it will be”; Notes: Introduces a future consequence.
2. כִּֽי־תִמְצֶ֨אןָ (ki-timtze’na) – Root: מצא (m-tz-ʾ); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine plural; Translation: “when they find him”; Notes: Refers to the evils and troubles encountering him.
3. אֹתֹ֜ו (oto) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Definite direct object marker with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “him”; Notes: Refers to Yisra’el or the individual.
4. רָעֹ֣ות רַבֹּות֮ (ra’ot rabbot) – Root: רעע (r-ʿ-ʿ); Form: Feminine plural noun + feminine plural adjective; Translation: “many evils”; Notes: Describes the extent of the troubles.
5. וְצָרֹות֒ (v’tzarot) – Root: צרר (ts-r-r); Form: Conjunction + feminine plural noun; Translation: “and troubles”; Notes: Paired with ‘evils’ to emphasize distress.
6. וְ֠עָנְתָה (v’an’tah) – Root: ענה (ʿ-n-h); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “then it will answer”; Notes: Refers to the song acting as a witness.
7. הַשִּׁירָ֨ה הַזֹּ֤את (ha-shirah ha-zot) – Root: שׁיר (sh-y-r); Form: Definite article + feminine singular noun + demonstrative adjective; Translation: “this song”; Notes: Refers to the Song of Witness in Deuteronomy 32.
8. לְפָנָיו֙ (lefanav) – Root: פן (p-n); Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “before him”; Notes: Indicates the song’s role as a visible or audible testimony.
9. לְעֵ֔ד (le’ed) – Root: עוד (ʿ-w-d); Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun; Translation: “as a witness”; Notes: Legal terminology for testimony.
10. כִּ֛י לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכַ֖ח (ki lo tishakach) – Root: שׁכח (sh-k-ḥ); Form: Conjunction + negative particle + Niphal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “for it will not be forgotten”; Notes: Ensures the song’s perpetual remembrance.
11. מִפִּ֣י זַרְעֹ֑ו (mipi zar’o) – Root: פה (p-h), זרע (z-r-ʿ); Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun + construct masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “from the mouth of his offspring”; Notes: Signifies generational continuity of the testimony.
12. כִּ֧י יָדַ֣עְתִּי (ki yadati) – Root: ידע (y-d-ʿ); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “for I know”; Notes: Emphasizes YHWH’s omniscience regarding human nature.
13. אֶת־יִצְרֹ֗ו (et-yitzro) – Root: יצר (y-ts-r); Form: Definite direct object marker + masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his inclination”; Notes: Refers to the inherent tendencies of human behavior.
14. אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֤וּא עֹשֶׂה֙ (asher hu oseh) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Relative pronoun + pronoun + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “that he is doing”; Notes: Highlights the present actions reflecting their inclination.
15. הַיֹּ֔ום (ha-yom) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Definite article + masculine singular noun; Translation: “today”; Notes: Indicates immediacy.
16. בְּטֶ֣רֶם אֲבִיאֶ֔נּוּ (beterem avi’ennu) – Root: בוא (b-v-ʾ); Form: Preposition + Qal imperfect 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “before I bring him”; Notes: Refers to the anticipation of entering the land.
17. אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ (el-ha’aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ts); Form: Preposition + definite feminine singular noun; Translation: “into the land”; Notes: Refers to the Promised Land.
18. אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבָּֽעְתִּי׃ (asher nishba’ti) – Root: שׁבע (sh-b-ʿ); Form: Relative pronoun + Niphal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “that I swore”; Notes: References YHWH’s covenant oath.