וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם בְּנֵ֣י צָדֹ֗וק אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁמְר֜וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בִּתְעֹ֤ות בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י הֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֵלַ֖י לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְעָמְד֣וּ לְפָנַ֗י לְהַקְרִ֥יב לִי֙ חֵ֣לֶב וָדָ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃
But the priests, the Leviyyim, the sons of Tsadoq, who kept the charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Yisraʾel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister to Me, and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me fat and blood,” declares the Lord YHWH.
Morphology
- וְהַכֹּהֲנִים (ve-ha-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “and the priests”; Notes: Refers to the priestly class responsible for sacred offerings and temple service.
- הַלְוִיִּם (ha-leviyyim) – Root: לוי (Levi); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the Levites”; Notes: Specifies their tribal affiliation from Levi, often functioning as assistants to priests.
- בְּנֵי (benei) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Introduces lineage or descent.
- צָדֹוק (Tsadoq) – Root: צדק (tsadaq); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Tsadoq”; Notes: The faithful priestly line chosen by YHWH to serve before Him.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a clause describing the righteous conduct of Tsadoq’s descendants.
- שָׁמְרוּ (shamru) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they kept”; Notes: Conveys faithful observance of priestly duty.
- אֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת (et-mishmeret) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Direct object marker + noun feminine singular; Translation: “the charge”; Notes: Refers to priestly guardianship or responsibility over sacred functions.
- מִקְדָּשִׁי (mikdashi) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “My sanctuary”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s holy dwelling place—the temple itself.
- בִּתְעֹות (bitʿot) – Root: תעה (taʿah); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “in the straying”; Notes: Indicates the time or condition under which others went astray.
- בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל (bene-Yisraʾel) – Root: בן (ben) / שרי (sarah); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “sons of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Refers to the covenant nation collectively.
- מֵעָלַי (meʿalay) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition מִן + עַל + first cs suffix; Translation: “from Me”; Notes: Indicates apostasy or withdrawal from YHWH’s presence.
- הֵמָּה (hema) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Serves to emphasize distinction between faithful and unfaithful priests.
- יִקְרְבוּ (yiqrevu) – Root: קרב (qarav); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall come near”; Notes: Denotes approaching YHWH in worship or priestly function.
- אֵלַי (ʾelai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + first cs suffix; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: Signifies restored access to divine presence through faithful service.
- לְשָׁרְתֵנִי (le-sharteni) – Root: שׁרת (sharat); Form: Preposition לְ + Piel infinitive construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “to minister to Me”; Notes: Describes sacred service involving offerings and temple rituals.
- וְעָמְדוּ (ve-ʿamdu) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they shall stand”; Notes: Indicates readiness before YHWH’s presence for priestly duty.
- לְפָנַי (lefanai) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun plural construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “before Me”; Notes: Denotes presence before YHWH in sacred space.
- לְהַקְרִיב (le-hakriv) – Root: קרב (qarav); Form: Preposition לְ + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to offer”; Notes: The Hifil stem conveys causation — “to cause to draw near,” i.e., to present offerings.
- לִי (li) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + first cs suffix; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: Indicates that offerings are presented to YHWH as the ultimate recipient.
- חֵלֶב (ḥelev) – Root: חלב (ḥalav); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “fat”; Notes: Refers to the choicest portion of sacrificial animals, reserved for YHWH.
- וָדָם (va-dam) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and blood”; Notes: The central element of atonement and purification in sacrificial rites.
- נְאֻם (neʾum) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “utterance” or “declaration”; Notes: Formulaic introduction to divine speech affirming the authenticity of the oracle.
- אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (ʾadonai YHWH) – Root: אדן (ʾadon) / היה (hayah); Form: Compound divine title; Translation: “the Lord YHWH”; Notes: Denotes both sovereignty and covenant identity of God.