Deuteronomy 33:9

הָאֹמֵ֞ר לְאָבִ֤יו וּלְאִמֹּו֙ לֹ֣א רְאִיתִ֔יו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֙ לֹ֣א הִכִּ֔יר וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃

Who says to his father and to his mother, ‘I have not seen him,’ and he does not recognize his brothers, and his sons he does not know, for they have kept Your word and guarded Your covenant.

Morphology

1. הָאֹמֵ֞ר (haʾomer) – Root: אָמַר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal participle masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “Who says”; Notes: Refers to the tribe of Levi, known for their loyalty to YHWH over familial ties.
2. לְאָבִ֤יו (leʾaviv) – Root: אָב (ʾ-ʾ-b); Form: Masculine singular noun with preposition and 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to his father”; Notes: Illustrates the Levite’s prioritization of divine command over family.
3. וּלְאִמֹּו֙ (uleʾimmo) – Root: אֵם (ʾ-m); Form: Feminine singular noun with conjunction, preposition, and 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and to his mother”; Notes: Continues the reference to family.
4. לֹ֣א רְאִיתִ֔יו (lo reʾitiyv) – Root: רָאָה (r-ʾ-h); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I have not seen him”; Notes: Emphasizes the Levite’s disregard for family ties in favor of obedience to YHWH.
5. וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֙ (veʾet-eḥav) – Root: אָח (ʾ-ḥ); Form: Masculine plural noun with conjunction and direct object marker; Translation: “and his brothers”; Notes: Indicates further familial detachment.
6. לֹ֣א הִכִּ֔יר (lo hikkir) – Root: נָכַר (n-ʾ-k-r); Form: Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he did not recognize”; Notes: Conveys the Levite’s impartiality even toward close kin.
7. וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו (veʾet-banav) – Root: בֵּן (b-n); Form: Masculine plural noun with conjunction, direct object marker, and 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and his sons”; Notes: Final example of familial indifference.
8. לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע (lo yadaʿ) – Root: יָדַע (y-d-ʿ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he did not know”; Notes: Reinforces the theme of prioritizing divine service over family bonds.
9. כִּ֤י (ki) – Root: Conjunction; Form: Causal conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the Levite’s actions.
10. שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ (shameru) – Root: שָׁמַר (sh-m-r); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “they have kept”; Notes: Refers to the Levites’ obedience to YHWH’s word.
11. אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ (ʾimratekha) – Root: אִמְרָה (ʾ-m-r); Form: Feminine singular noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your word”; Notes: Denotes YHWH’s commandments or instructions.
12. וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ (uveritekha) – Root: בְּרִית (b-r-y-t); Form: Feminine singular noun with conjunction and 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and Your covenant”; Notes: Refers to the covenant between YHWH and Yisra’el, faithfully guarded by the Levites.
13. יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ (yintzeru) – Root: נָצַר (n-ts-r); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “they guard”; Notes: Highlights the Levites’ role in protecting and upholding the covenant.