וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤ועַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּקֹלִ֔י וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֑י וִהְיִ֨יתֶם לִ֤י סְגֻלָּה֙ מִכָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים כִּי־לִ֖י כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
And now, if you truly listen to My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession from among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine.
Morphology
- וְעַתָּ֗ה (veʿattah) – Root: עת (ʿ-t); Form: Conjunction + Adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Introduces a conclusion or directive.
- אִם־שָׁמֹ֤ועַ (ʾim-shamoaʿ) – Root: שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ); Form: Conditional conjunction + Infinitive absolute; Translation: “If you truly listen”; Notes: The infinitive absolute emphasizes certainty.
- תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ (tishmeʿu) – Root: שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 2mp; Translation: “You listen”; Notes: Refers to obedience to YHWH’s voice.
- בְּקֹלִ֔י (be-qoli) – Root: קול (q-l); Form: Preposition + Noun, masculine singular construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “To My voice”; Notes: Denotes attention to YHWH’s commands.
- וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם (u-shmartem) – Root: שׁמר (sh-m-r); Form: Conjunction + Verb, Qal, Perfect, 2mp; Translation: “And you keep”; Notes: Refers to observing or guarding the covenant.
- אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֑י (et-beriti) – Root: ברית (b-r-y-t); Form: Direct object marker + Noun, feminine singular construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “My covenant”; Notes: Refers to the agreement between YHWH and Yisra’el.
- וִהְיִ֨יתֶם (viheyitem) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Conjunction + Verb, Qal, Perfect, 2mp with vav consecutive; Translation: “And you will be”; Notes: Marks the result of obedience.
- לִ֤י (li) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition + 1cs suffix; Translation: “To Me”; Notes: Indicates belonging to YHWH.
- סְגֻלָּה֙ (segullah) – Root: סגל (s-g-l); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “Treasured possession”; Notes: Refers to a unique and cherished relationship.
- מִכָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים (mi-kol-haʿammim) – Root: עם (ʿ-m-m); Form: Preposition + Noun, masculine plural absolute with definite article; Translation: “From among all the peoples”; Notes: Highlights Yisra’el’s distinctiveness.
- כִּי־לִ֖י (ki-li) – Root: N/A; Form: Conjunction + Preposition + 1cs suffix; Translation: “For to Me”; Notes: Explains the reason for YHWH’s selection.
- כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (kol-haʾaretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ts); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with definite article; Translation: “All the earth”; Notes: Emphasizes YHWH’s sovereignty over all creation.