הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַחֹטֵ֖את הִ֣יא תָמ֑וּת בֵּ֞ן לֹא־יִשָּׂ֣א בַּעֲוֹ֣ן הָאָ֗ב וְאָב֙ לֹ֤א יִשָּׂא֙ בַּעֲוֹ֣ן הַבֵּ֔ן צִדְקַ֤ת הַצַּדִּיק֙ עָלָ֣יו תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וְרִשְׁעַ֥ת רָשָׁ֖ע עָלָ֥יו תִּֽהְיֶֽה׃ ס
The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, and the father shall not bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Morphology
- הַנֶּפֶשׁ (ha-nefesh) – Root: נפשׁ; Form: Noun feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “the soul”; Notes: Refers to a living being or person.
- הַחֹטֵאת (ha-ḥoteʾt) – Root: חטא; Form: Definite article + Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “that sins”; Notes: Ongoing action of sinning.
- הִיא (hi) – Root: הוא; Form: Independent pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “it”; Notes: Stresses the subject “the soul itself.”
- תָמוּת (tamut) – Root: מות; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “shall die”; Notes: Main verb predicting the outcome of sin.
- בֵּן (ben) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “the son”; Notes: Subject of the next clause.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the verb “shall bear.”
- יִשָּׂא (yissa) – Root: נשׂא; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall bear”; Notes: Refers to carrying responsibility or guilt.
- בַּעֲוֹן (ba-ʿavon) – Root: עון; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the iniquity”; Notes: Refers to guilt or punishment of sin.
- הָאָב (ha-av) – Root: אב; Form: Noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the father.”
- וְאָב (ve-av) – Root: אב; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and a father.”
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not.”
- יִשָּׂא (yissa) – Root: נשׂא; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall bear.”
- בַּעֲוֹן (ba-ʿavon) – Root: עון; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the iniquity.”
- הַבֵּן (ha-ben) – Root: בן; Form: Noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the son.”
- צִדְקַת (tsidqat) – Root: צדק; Form: Noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “the righteousness of”; Notes: Construct with “the righteous.”
- הַצַּדִּיק (ha-tsaddiq) – Root: צדק; Form: Adjective masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the righteous one.”
- עָלָיו (ʿalav) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “upon him.”
- תִּהְיֶה (tihyeh) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it shall be.”
- וְרִשְׁעַת (ve-rishʿat) – Root: רשע; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “and the wickedness of.”
- רָשָׁע (rashaʿ) – Root: רשע; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “the wicked one.”
- עָלָיו (ʿalav) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “upon him.”
- תִּהְיֶה (tihyeh) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “it shall be.”