זָקֵ֡ן בָּח֣וּר וּבְתוּלָה֩ וְטַ֨ף וְנָשִׁ֜ים תַּהַרְג֣וּ לְמַשְׁחִ֗ית וְעַל־כָּל־אִ֨ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָלָ֤יו הַתָּו֙ אַל־תִּגַּ֔שׁוּ וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁ֖י תָּחֵ֑לּוּ וַיָּחֵ֨לּוּ֙ בָּאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י הַבָּֽיִת׃
Old man, young man and virgin, and little one and women you shall slay to destruction; but upon every man who has the mark do not approach, and from my sanctuary you shall begin.” And they began with the old men who were before the house.
Morphology
- זָקֵן (zaqen) – Root: זקן; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “old man”; Notes: Category of those to be judged.
- בָּחוּר (baḥur) – Root: בחר; Form: Noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “young man”; Notes: Contrasts with old man, showing breadth of judgment.
- וּבְתוּלָה (u-vegulah) – Root: בתל; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “and virgin”; Notes: Includes unmarried young women.
- וְטַף (ve-taf) – Root: טף; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular collective; Translation: “and little one”; Notes: Refers to small children collectively.
- וְנָשִׁים (ve-nashim) – Root: אשה; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine plural absolute; Translation: “and women”; Notes: Expands scope of those judged.
- תַּהַרְגוּ (taharagu) – Root: הרג; Form: Qal imperfect 2mp (jussive/imperative sense); Translation: “you shall slay”; Notes: Direct command to execute.
- לְמַשְׁחִית (le-mashḥit) – Root: שׁחת; Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular infinitive construct; Translation: “to destruction”; Notes: Expresses purpose or extent.
- וְעַל־כָּל־אִישׁ (ve-ʿal-kol-ish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun; Translation: “but upon every man”; Notes: Introduces exception clause.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher) – Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces conditional description.
- עָלָיו (ʿalav) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 3ms suffix; Translation: “upon him”; Notes: Refers to those bearing the mark.
- הַתָּו (ha-tav) – Root: תו; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the mark”; Notes: Protective sign distinguishing spared ones.
- אַל־תִּגַּשׁוּ (al-tigashu) – Root: נגשׁ; Form: Negative particle + Qal imperfect 2mp jussive; Translation: “do not approach”; Notes: Command not to harm the marked.
- וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁי (u-mi-miqdashi) – Root: קדשׁ; Form: Conjunction + preposition מִן + noun masculine singular construct + 1cs suffix; Translation: “and from my sanctuary”; Notes: Judgment begins at the temple.
- תָּחֵלוּ (taḥelu) – Root: חלל; Form: Qal imperfect 2mp; Translation: “you shall begin”; Notes: Directive to commence judgment at sacred site.
- וַיָּחֵלוּ (va-yaḥelu) – Root: חלל; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3mp; Translation: “and they began”; Notes: Narrative continuation of execution.
- בָּאֲנָשִׁים (ba-anashim) – Root: אנשׁ; Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “with the men”; Notes: Identifies those first targeted.
- הַזְּקֵנִים (ha-zekenim) – Root: זקן; Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the old men”; Notes: Elders likely representing leadership.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher) – Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces descriptive clause.
- לִפְנֵי (lifnei) – Root: פנה; Form: Preposition + construct; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates position relative to the temple.
- הַבָּיִת (ha-bayit) – Root: בית; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the house”; Notes: Refers to the temple of YHWH.