וְנָתַתִּ֣י אֹותָ֔ם שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַבָּ֑יִת לְכֹל֙ עֲבֹ֣דָתֹ֔ו וּלְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה בֹּֽו׃ פ
And I will appoint them as keepers of the charge of the house, for all its service and for all that is done in it.
Morphology
- וְנָתַתִּי (ve-natatti) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I will appoint” or “and I have given”; Notes: Expresses divine decree — YHWH assigns them a subordinate temple role as consequence for their disobedience.
- אֹותָם (otam) – Root: —; Form: Direct object pronoun 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to the Levites who strayed but are now relegated to custodial duties.
- שֹׁמְרֵי (shomrei) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “keepers of”; Notes: Denotes continuous duty or guardianship — temple guards responsible for sacred order.
- מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmeret) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “charge” or “duty”; Notes: Refers to a sacred trust or prescribed responsibility in temple service.
- הַבָּיִת (ha-bayit) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the house”; Notes: Represents the temple — the dwelling place of YHWH.
- לְכֹל (le-kol) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for all”; Notes: Marks comprehensiveness — their duties include every task connected with the temple.
- עֲבֹדָתֹו (ʿavodato) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun feminine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “its service”; Notes: Refers to the temple’s functional and ritual operations.
- וּלְכֹל (u-le-kol) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition לְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and for all”; Notes: Expands the scope of their assigned responsibilities.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “that” or “which”; Notes: Introduces a subordinate clause describing the specific activities they are to perform.
- יֵעָשֶׂה (yeʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Nifal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is done” or “shall be done”; Notes: Passive stem highlights all temple actions conducted by others but overseen by these Levites.
- בֹּו (bo) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Preposition בְ + third person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in it”; Notes: Refers to activities taking place within the temple precinct.