לֹֽא־תִשְׁתַּחְוֶ֥֣ה לָהֶ֖ם֮ וְלֹ֣א תָעָבְדֵ֑ם֒ כִּ֣י אָֽנֹכִ֞י יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ אֵ֣ל קַנָּ֔א פֹּ֠קֵד עֲוֹ֨ן אָבֹ֧ת עַל־בָּנִ֛ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִ֖ים לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃
You shall not bow down to them nor serve them, for I, YHWH your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me.
Morphology
- לֹֽא־תִשְׁתַּחְוֶ֥֣ה (lo-tishtakhaveh) – Root: שׁחה (sh-ḥ-h); Form: Negative particle + Verb, Hishtafel, Imperfect, 2ms; Translation: “You shall not bow down”; Notes: Expresses prohibition against worshipful prostration.
- לָהֶ֖ם (lahem) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition + 3mp suffix; Translation: “To them”; Notes: Refers to idols or false gods.
- וְלֹ֣א תָעָבְדֵ֑ם (ve-lo taʿavdem) – Root: עבד (ʿ-b-d); Form: Conjunction + Negative particle + Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 2ms + 3mp suffix; Translation: “Nor serve them”; Notes: Prohibits service or worship.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: N/A; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces a reason or explanation.
- אָֽנֹכִ֞י (anochi) – Root: N/A; Form: Pronoun, 1cs; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphatic personal pronoun.
- יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) – Root: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name of God.
- אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ (Elohekha) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct + 2ms suffix; Translation: “Your God”; Notes: Indicates the personal relationship.
- אֵ֣ל (El) – Root: N/A; Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “God”; Notes: Highlights the divine nature.
- קַנָּ֔א (qanna) – Root: קנא (q-n-ʾ); Form: Adjective; Translation: “Jealous”; Notes: Describes God’s exclusive claim to worship.
- פֹּ֠קֵד (poqed) – Root: פקד (p-q-d); Form: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular; Translation: “Visiting”; Notes: Refers to bringing consequences.
- עֲוֹ֨ן (ʿavon) – Root: עון (ʿ-w-n); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “Iniquity”; Notes: Refers to guilt or sin.
- אָבֹ֧ת (avot) – Root: אב (ʾ-v); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “Fathers”; Notes: Refers to ancestors.
- עַל־בָּנִ֛ים (ʿal-banim) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Preposition + Noun, masculine plural absolute; Translation: “Upon the children”; Notes: Indicates generational impact.
- עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים (ʿal-shilleshim) – Root: שׁלשׁ (sh-l-sh); Form: Preposition + Noun, masculine plural absolute; Translation: “To the third generation”; Notes: Specifies extent of consequences.
- וְעַל־רִבֵּעִ֖ים (ve-ʿal-ribbeʿim) – Root: רבע (r-b-ʿ); Form: Conjunction + Preposition + Noun, masculine plural absolute; Translation: “And to the fourth generation”; Notes: Further extends the generational reach.
- לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י (le-sonʾai) – Root: שנא (s-n-ʾ); Form: Preposition + Participle, Qal, masculine plural construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “Of those who hate Me”; Notes: Refers to active opposition to God.