זְכֹר֙ יְמֹ֣ות עֹולָ֔ם בִּ֖ינוּ שְׁנֹ֣ות דֹּור־וָדֹ֑ור שְׁאַ֤ל אָבִ֨יךָ֙ וְיַגֵּ֔דְךָ זְקֵנֶ֖יךָ וְיֹ֥אמְרוּ לָֽךְ׃
Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you; your elders, and they will say to you.
Morphology
- זְכֹר֙ (zekhor) – Root: זכר (z-k-r); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Remember”; Notes: A command directed at Israel to recall historical events.
- יְמֹ֣ות (yemot) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Masculine plural construct; Translation: “days of”; Notes: Refers to significant historical periods.
- עֹולָ֔ם (ʿolam) – Root: עולם (ʿ-w-l-m); Form: Masculine singular noun; Translation: “old” or “ancient times”; Notes: Denotes eternity or a distant past.
- בִּ֖ינוּ (binu) – Root: בין (b-y-n); Form: Hifil imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Consider” or “understand”; Notes: A call for thoughtful reflection.
- שְׁנֹ֣ות (shnot) – Root: שנה (sh-n-h); Form: Feminine plural construct; Translation: “years of”; Notes: Refers to the periods or times of generations.
- דֹּור־וָדֹ֑ור (dor-vador) – Root: דור (d-w-r); Form: Masculine singular noun in construct form with vav conjunctive; Translation: “generation to generation”; Notes: Emphasizes continuity through generations.
- שְׁאַ֤ל (she’al) – Root: שאל (sh-ʾ-l); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Ask”; Notes: Instruction to seek wisdom from elders.
- אָבִ֨יךָ֙ (avikha) – Root: אב (ʾ-b); Form: Masculine singular noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your father”; Notes: Suggests consulting paternal wisdom.
- וְיַגֵּ֔דְךָ (veyaggedkha) – Root: נגד (n-g-d); Form: Hifil imperfect consecutive 3rd person masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and he will tell you”; Notes: Indicates a promise of instruction.
- זְקֵנֶ֖יךָ (z’keneikha) – Root: זקן (z-q-n); Form: Masculine plural noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your elders”; Notes: Refers to the community’s wise, aged members.
- וְיֹ֥אמְרוּ (veyomru) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect consecutive 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they will say”; Notes: Continues the assurance of instruction from elders.
- לָֽךְ׃ (lakh) – Root: ל (l) + אַתָּה (ʾ-t-h); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular pronominal suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Personalizes the instruction being given.