וְעַל־רִ֗יב הֵ֚מָּה יַעַמְד֣וּ לִשְׁפֹּט בְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י וְשָׁפְט֑וּהוּ וְאֶת־תֹּורֹתַ֤י וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ בְּכָל־מֹועֲדַ֣י יִשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַ֖י יְקַדֵּֽשׁוּ׃
And in a dispute they shall stand to judge; according to My judgments they shall judge it, and My laws and My statutes in all My appointed times they shall keep, and My Sabbaths they shall sanctify.
Morphology
- וְעַל־ (ve-ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition עַל; Translation: “and upon” or “and in regard to”; Notes: Introduces the context of judicial matters.
- רִיב (riv) – Root: ריב (riv); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “dispute” or “controversy”; Notes: Refers to a legal or social contention requiring judgment.
- הֵמָּה (hemmah) – Root: הם (hem); Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “they”; Notes: Refers to the priests as the judicial agents.
- יַעַמְדוּ (yaʿamdu) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall stand”; Notes: Denotes readiness or appointment to a task, here referring to presiding over judgment.
- לִשְׁפֹּט (lishpot) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to judge”; Notes: Expresses purpose — their standing is for the act of judgment.
- בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי (be-mishpatai) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “in My judgments”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s divine legal rulings or standards of justice.
- וְשָׁפְט֑וּהוּ (ve-shaftuhu) – Root: שׁפט (shafat); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and they shall judge it”; Notes: Refers to rendering a decision on the specific dispute mentioned earlier.
- וְאֶת־ (ve-et) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker; Translation: “and”; Notes: Introduces the next object of their observance.
- תֹּורֹתַי (torotai) – Root: ירה (yarah); Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “My laws”; Notes: Refers to divine teachings or instructions, encompassing general revelation and priestly instruction.
- וְאֶת־ (ve-et) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker; Translation: “and”; Notes: Connects “laws” with “statutes.”
- חֻקֹּתַי (ḥuqqotai) – Root: חקק (ḥaqaq); Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “My statutes”; Notes: Denotes fixed decrees or ordinances, often referring to ritual commands.
- בְּכָל־ (be-khol) – Root: כל (kol); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in all”; Notes: Introduces a comprehensive scope of observance.
- מֹועֲדַי (moʿaday) – Root: יעד (yaʿad); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “My appointed times”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s sacred festivals or fixed times of assembly.
- יִשְׁמֹרוּ (yishmeru) – Root: שׁמר (shamar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall keep”; Notes: Expresses faithful observance or careful guarding of divine commandments.
- וְאֶת־ (ve-et) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + direct object marker; Translation: “and”; Notes: Connects the following object to the previous list of divine observances.
- שַׁבְּתֹותַי (shabbotai) – Root: שׁבת (shavat); Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “My Sabbaths”; Notes: Refers to weekly and festival rest days consecrated to YHWH.
- יְקַדֵּשׁוּ (yeqaddeshu) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall sanctify”; Notes: Piel emphasizes active consecration—keeping the Sabbaths distinct and holy before YHWH.