הֵ֜מָּה יָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֗י וְהֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֶל־שֻׁלְחָנִ֖י לְשָׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְשָׁמְר֖וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּֽי׃
They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.
Morphology
- הֵמָּה (hema) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Emphatic pronoun stressing that these priests (sons of Tsadoq) alone are granted access to YHWH’s presence.
- יָבֹאוּ (yavoʾu) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall enter”; Notes: Expresses permission and future action—they may enter the inner sanctuary.
- אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁי (el-mikdashi) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “into My sanctuary”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s holy dwelling where sacrifices and priestly service occur.
- וְהֵמָּה (ve-hema) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “and they”; Notes: Reinforces the exclusivity of the faithful priests who approach God’s presence.
- יִקְרְבוּ (yiqrevu) – Root: קרב (qarav); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “shall come near”; Notes: Used in priestly contexts to describe drawing near to perform sacred functions before YHWH.
- אֶל־שֻׁלְחָנִי (el-shulḥani) – Root: שלחן (shulḥan); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to My table”; Notes: Symbolic of divine fellowship and sacrificial offerings placed before YHWH.
- לְשָׁרְתֵנִי (le-sharteni) – Root: שׁרת (sharat); Form: Preposition לְ + Piel infinitive construct + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to minister to Me”; Notes: The Piel denotes intensive priestly service—officiating at the altar and handling offerings.
- וְשָׁמְרוּ (ve-shamru) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they shall keep”; Notes: Indicates continued faithfulness and observance of divine responsibilities.
- אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּי (et-mishmarti) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Direct object marker + noun feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My charge”; Notes: Refers to the sacred duty assigned by YHWH, encompassing obedience, reverence, and temple maintenance.