וַיְצַ֞ו אֶת־יְהֹושֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן וַיֹּאמֶר֮ חֲזַ֣ק וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תָּבִיא֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי לָהֶ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֖י אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה עִמָּֽךְ׃
And he commanded Yehoshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the children of Yisraʾel into the land that I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
Morphology
- וַיְצַ֞ו (vay’tzav) – Root: צוה (ts-v-h); Form: Conjunction + Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular (converted to past by the vav-consecutive); Translation: “And he commanded”; Notes: The Piel stem intensifies the action, indicating a formal charge.
- אֶת־יְהֹושֻׁ֣עַ (et-Yehoshua) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Direct object marker + masculine singular proper noun; Translation: “Yehoshua”; Notes: Yehoshua is Moshe’s successor.
- בִּן־נ֗וּן (bin-Nun) – Root: בן (b-n) + Proper noun; Form: Construct masculine singular noun + proper noun; Translation: “son of Nun”; Notes: Identifies Yehoshua’s lineage.
- וַיֹּאמֶר֮ (vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular (converted to past by the vav-consecutive); Translation: “and he said”; Notes: A common narrative verb introducing direct speech.
- חֲזַ֣ק (ḥazaq) – Root: חזק (ḥ-z-q); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Be strong”; Notes: Encouragement to remain steadfast.
- וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ (v’emat) – Root: אמצ (ʾ-m-ts); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “and courageous”; Notes: Often paired with “be strong” to emphasize bravery.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: Conjunction; Form: Causal particle; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the command.
- אַתָּ֗ה (attah) – Root: Pronoun; Form: 2nd person masculine singular pronoun; Translation: “you”; Notes: Refers directly to Yehoshua.
- תָּבִיא֙ (tavi) – Root: בוא (b-w-ʾ); Form: Hifil imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you will bring”; Notes: The Hifil stem indicates causative action—Yehoshua will cause the people to enter.
- אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (et-b’nei Yisra’el) – Root: בן (b-n) + Proper noun; Form: Direct object marker + construct masculine plural noun + proper noun; Translation: “the children of Yisra’el”; Notes: The people Yehoshua is leading.
- אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ (el-ha’aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ts); Form: Preposition + definite article + feminine singular noun; Translation: “into the land”; Notes: Refers to the Promised Land.
- אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי (asher-nishba’ti) – Root: שׁבע (sh-b-ʿ); Form: Relative pronoun + Nifal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “that I swore”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s oath to the patriarchs.
- לָהֶ֑ם (lahem) – Root: Pronoun; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the children of Yisra’el.
- וְאָנֹכִ֖י (v’anokhi) – Root: Pronoun; Form: Conjunction + 1st person singular pronoun; Translation: “and I”; Notes: Emphatic statement from YHWH.
- אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה (eh’yeh) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I will be”; Notes: Assurance of YHWH’s presence.
- עִמָּֽךְ׃ (immakh) – Root: Preposition; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with you”; Notes: YHWH’s promise of guidance and support.