וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁכֹ֤חַ תִּשְׁכַּח֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֗ אַחֲרֵי֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַעֲבַדְתָּ֖ם וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֣יתָ לָהֶ֑ם הַעִדֹ֤תִי בָכֶם֙ הַיֹּ֔ום כִּ֥י אָבֹ֖ד תֹּאבֵדֽוּן׃
And it shall be, if you indeed forget YHWH your God and go after other gods and serve them and bow down to them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.
Morphology
- וְהָיָ֗ה (vehayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav consecutive; Translation: “And it shall be”; Notes: Marks the beginning of a conditional clause.
- אִם־שָׁכֹ֤חַ תִּשְׁכַּח֙ (im-shakhoach tishkach) – Root: שכח (shakhach); Form: Qal infinitive absolute + Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “if you indeed forget”; Notes: Infinitive absolute intensifies the verb’s action.
- אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה (et-YHWH) – Root: Untranslatable particle; Form: Direct object marker + divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Indicates the object of “forget.”
- אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (Eloheikha) – Root: אלה (eloah); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Denotes personal possession.
- וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֗ (vehalakhta) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with vav consecutive; Translation: “and go”; Notes: Indicates future consequence.
- אַחֲרֵי֙ (acharei) – Root: אחר (achar); Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Indicates pursuit or allegiance.
- אֱלֹהִ֣ים (elohim) – Root: אלה (eloah); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “gods”; Notes: Refers to false gods or idols.
- אֲחֵרִ֔ים (acherim) – Root: אחר (acher); Form: Adjective, masculine plural; Translation: “other”; Notes: Describes the false gods.
- וַעֲבַדְתָּ֖ם (va’avadta) – Root: עבד (avad); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with vav consecutive + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “and serve them”; Notes: Implies active worship or labor.
- וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֣יתָ (vehishtachavita) – Root: שחה (shachah); Form: Hishtaphel perfect 2nd person masculine singular with vav consecutive; Translation: “and bow down”; Notes: Reflexive or intensive form.
- לָהֶ֑ם (lahem) – Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Indicates direction of worship.
- הַעִדֹ֤תִי (ha’idoti) – Root: עוד (ud); Form: Hiphil perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I testify”; Notes: Emphasizes solemn warning.
- בָכֶם֙ (bachem) – Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “against you”; Notes: Directs the testimony.
- הַיֹּ֔ום (hayom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “this day”; Notes: Marks the present time of declaration.
- כִּ֥י (ki) – Form: Conjunction; Translation: “that”; Notes: Introduces a reason or result clause.
- אָבֹ֖ד (avod) – Root: אבד (avad); Form: Qal infinitive absolute; Translation: “surely perish”; Notes: Intensifies the action.
- תֹּאבֵדֽוּן (to’avdun) – Root: אבד (avad); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall perish”; Notes: Indicates future consequence.