לֹ֣א מֵֽרֻבְּכֶ֞ם מִכָּל־הָֽעַמִּ֗ים חָשַׁ֧ק יְהוָ֛ה בָּכֶ֖ם וַיִּבְחַ֣ר בָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אַתֶּ֥ם הַמְעַ֖ט מִכָּל־הָעַמִּֽים׃
It was not because you were more numerous than all the peoples that YHWH set His affection on you and chose you, for you are the fewest of all peoples.
Morphology
- לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “Not”; Notes: Indicates negation.
- מֵֽרֻבְּכֶ֞ם (me-rubbekhem) – Root: רבב (ravav); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “because of your multitude”; Notes: Refers to being numerous.
- מִכָּל־הָֽעַמִּ֗ים (mi-kol ha-amim) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine plural construct with definite article; Translation: “than all the peoples”; Notes: Specifies a comparison.
- חָשַׁ֧ק (ḥashaq) – Root: חָשַׁק (ḥashaq); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He set His affection”; Notes: Indicates deep attachment or love.
- יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The sacred name of God.
- בָּכֶ֖ם (bakhem) – Root: ב (b); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “on you”; Notes: Indicates the object of affection.
- וַיִּבְחַ֣ר (vayivḥar) – Root: בחר (baḥar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and chose”; Notes: Indicates divine selection.
- בָּכֶ֑ם (bakhem) – Root: ב (b); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “you”; Notes: Refers to the chosen nation.
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation.
- אַתֶּ֥ם (atem) – Root: אתם (atem); Form: Pronoun, masculine plural; Translation: “you”; Notes: Refers to the addressed group.
- הַמְעַ֖ט (ha-meʿat) – Root: מעט (meʿat); Form: Adjective, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the fewest”; Notes: Describes their small number.
- מִכָּל־הָעַמִּֽים (mi-kol ha-amim) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine plural construct with definite article; Translation: “of all the peoples”; Notes: Refers to other nations.