וְכִֽי־יַכֶּה֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶת־עַבְדֹּ֜ו אֹ֤ו אֶת־אֲמָתֹו֙ בַּשֵּׁ֔בֶט וּמֵ֖ת תַּ֣חַת יָדֹ֑ו נָקֹ֖ם יִנָּקֵֽם׃
If a man strikes his servant or his maidservant with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
Morphology
- וְכִֽי־יַכֶּה֩ (ve-ki-yakkeh) – Root: נכה (n-k-h); Form: Conjunction + Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “If he strikes”; Notes: Introduces a conditional case of physical harm.
- אִ֨ישׁ (ish) – Root: איש (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “A man”; Notes: Subject of the clause.
- אֶת־עַבְדֹּ֜ו (et-ʿavdo) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Marker of the definite direct object + Noun, masculine singular construct + 3ms suffix; Translation: “His servant”; Notes: Refers to the male servant owned by the man.
- אֹ֤ו אֶת־אֲמָתֹו֙ (o et-amat-o) – Root: אמה (ʾ-m-h); Form: Conjunction + Marker of the definite direct object + Noun, feminine singular construct + 3ms suffix; Translation: “Or his maidservant”; Notes: Extends the case to female servants.
- בַּשֵּׁ֔בֶט (ba-shevet) – Root: שבט (sh-b-t); Form: Preposition + Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “With a rod”; Notes: Specifies the instrument of the act.
- וּמֵ֖ת (u-met) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Form: Conjunction + Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3ms; Translation: “And he dies”; Notes: Indicates the outcome of the action.
- תַּ֣חַת יָדֹ֑ו (taḥat yado) – Root: תחת (t-ḥ-t) + יד (y-d); Form: Preposition + Noun, feminine singular construct + 3ms suffix; Translation: “Under his hand”; Notes: Denotes control or responsibility.
- נָקֹ֖ם (naqom) – Root: נקם (n-q-m); Form: Verb, Qal, Infinitive Absolute; Translation: “Surely be punished”; Notes: Emphasizes the certainty of retribution.
- יִנָּקֵֽם׃ (yinnaqem) – Root: נקם (n-q-m); Form: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “He shall be punished”; Notes: Passive form indicating the subject will face punishment.