וְנָתַתָּ֣ה אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵם֩ מִזֶּ֨רַע צָדֹ֜וק הַקְּרֹבִ֣ים אֵלַ֗י נְאֻ֛ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי פַּ֥ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֖ר לְחַטָּֽאת׃
And you shall give to the Levitical priests who are of the seed of Tsadoq, who draw near to Me,’ declares the Lord YHWH, ‘to minister to Me, a bull, a young bull, for a sin offering.
Morphology
- וְנָתַתָּה (ve-natattah) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with prefixed conjunction וְ; Translation: “And you shall give”; Notes: Instruction addressed to the prophet, indicating a directive for ritual preparation and priestly service.
- אֶל (ʾel) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Marks the indirect object, the recipients of the offering — the priests.
- הַכֹּהֲנִים (ha-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kahan); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the priests”; Notes: Refers to the priestly order serving in the temple, here associated with the Levitical line.
- הַלְוִיִּם (ha-leviyyim) – Root: לוי (levi); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the Levites”; Notes: Specifies that these priests belong to the Levitical tribe, indicating their hereditary priestly lineage.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a clause describing the specific priestly subset.
- הֵם (hem) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Serves for emphasis — “they are of the seed of Tsadoq.”
- מִזֶּרַע (mi-zeraʿ) – Root: זרע (zeraʿ); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from the seed”; Notes: Indicates genealogical descent or lineage — the priestly descendants of Tsadoq.
- צָדֹוק (Tsadoq) – Root: צדק (tsadaq); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Tsadoq”; Notes: The high priest during Dawid’s reign, symbolizing legitimate priesthood and faithfulness to YHWH’s covenant.
- הַקְּרֹבִים (ha-kerovim) – Root: קרב (qarav); Form: Definite active participle masculine plural Qal; Translation: “who draw near”; Notes: Describes those permitted to approach YHWH’s presence in temple service, denoting authorized access to sacred space.
- אֵלַי (ʾelai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: Indicates the priests’ approach to serve YHWH directly in acts of worship and sacrifice.
- נְאֻם (neʾum) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “utterance” or “declaration”; Notes: Technical prophetic formula marking divine speech or authoritative pronouncement.
- אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (Adonai YHWH) – Root: אדן (ʾadon) / היה (hayah); Form: Compound divine title; Translation: “the Lord YHWH”; Notes: Expresses sovereignty and covenantal authority — the source of this priestly instruction.
- לְשָׁרְתֵנִי (le-sharteni) – Root: שרת (sharat); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “to minister to Me”; Notes: Refers to the priestly role of service in worship, sacrifices, and maintaining holiness in the sanctuary.
- פַּר (par) – Root: פרר (parar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “bull”; Notes: Represents a large sacrificial animal, symbolizing strength and atonement in sin offerings.
- בֶּן־בָּקָר (ben-bakar) – Root: בקר (bakar); Form: Construct phrase noun + noun; Translation: “a young bull”; Notes: Indicates the sacrificial animal’s age — a mature but not aged male of the herd.
- לְחַטָּאת (le-ḥattaʾt) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for a sin offering”; Notes: Designates the offering’s purpose — atonement for impurity or sin before YHWH, marking ritual purification of the altar and priesthood.