וָאֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אִ֣ישׁ שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י עֵינָיו֙ הַשְׁלִ֔יכוּ וּבְגִלּוּלֵ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם אַל־תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
And I said to them, ‘Each man, the detestable things of his eyes cast away, and with the idols of Mitsrayim do not defile yourselves. I am YHWH your God.’
Morphology
- וָאֹמַר – Root: אָמַר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 1st person singular; Translation: “And I said”; Notes: Narrative continuation of God’s address to Yisraʾel.
- אֲלֵהֶם – Root: אֵל; Form: Preposition אֶל + third person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Marks indirect object, the addressees of God’s command.
- אִישׁ – Root: אִישׁ; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “man”; Notes: Subject, applies individually to each Israelite.
- שִׁקּוּצֵי – Root: שִׁקּוּץ; Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “detestable things of”; Notes: Refers to abominations, often idols.
- עֵינָיו – Root: עַיִן; Form: Noun feminine dual with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his eyes”; Notes: Expression “detestable things of his eyes” points to objects of desire or idolatry.
- הַשְׁלִיכוּ – Root: שָׁלַךְ; Form: Hifil imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “cast away”; Notes: Command to abandon idols or detestable things.
- וּבְגִלּוּלֵי – Root: גִּלּוּל; Form: Conjunction + preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “and with the idols of”; Notes: “Idols” often connotes contempt (worthless objects of worship).
- מִצְרַיִם – Root: מִצְרַיִם; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Mitsrayim”; Notes: Refers to Egypt and its idolatrous practices.
- אַל – Form: Negative particle; Translation: “do not”; Notes: Negates the following verb in prohibitions.
- תִּטַּמָּאוּ – Root: טָמֵא; Form: Hitpael imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “defile yourselves”; Notes: Reflexive, emphasizes making oneself unclean through idolatry.
- אֲנִי – Form: Independent pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Marks God’s self-identification.
- יְהוָה – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Covenant name affirming divine authority.
- אֱלֹהֵיכֶם – Root: אֱלֹהִים; Form: Noun masculine plural with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Affirms covenant relationship.