וּבְנֵ֣י הַנֵּכָ֗ר הַנִּלְוִ֤ים עַל־יְהוָה֙ לְשָׁ֣רְתֹ֔ו וּֽלְאַהֲבָה֙ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה לִהְיֹ֥ות לֹ֖ו לַעֲבָדִ֑ים כָּל־שֹׁמֵ֤ר שַׁבָּת֙ מֵֽחַלְּלֹ֔ו וּמַחֲזִיקִ֖ים בִּבְרִיתִֽי׃
“And the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to YHWH, to serve Him and to love the name of YHWH, to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Shabbat from profaning it and holds fast to My covenant;
Morphology
- וּבְנֵ֣י (u-vene) – Root: בן; Form: Conjunction + construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “And the sons of”; Notes: Introduces a new group: foreigners associated with YHWH.
- הַנֵּכָ֗ר (ha-nekhar) – Root: נכר; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the foreigner”; Notes: Refers to non-Israelite outsiders.
- הַנִּלְוִ֤ים (ha-nilvim) – Root: לוה; Form: Definite article + Niphal participle masculine plural; Translation: “who join themselves”; Notes: Niphal denotes reflexive joining; participle marks habitual identity.
- עַל־יְהוָה֙ (ʿal-YHWH) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: Denotes dedication or allegiance.
- לְשָׁ֣רְתֹ֔ו (le-shar’to) – Root: שרת; Form: Infinitive construct with preposition לְ + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to serve Him”; Notes: Indicates purpose or function.
- וּֽלְאַהֲבָה֙ (u-leʾahavah) – Root: אהב; Form: Conjunction + infinitive construct with לְ; Translation: “and to love”; Notes: Parallel to “to serve.”
- אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם (et-shem) – Root: שם; Form: Object marker + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the name of”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s identity and reputation.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Object of the verb “to love.”
- לִהְיֹ֥ות (lih-yot) – Root: היה; Form: Infinitive construct with לְ; Translation: “to be”; Notes: Describes purpose or intent.
- לֹ֖ו (lo) – Root: לְ; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to Him”; Notes: Refers to belonging to YHWH.
- לַעֲבָדִ֑ים (la-avadim) – Root: עבד; Form: Preposition לְ + definite plural noun masculine; Translation: “as servants”; Notes: Indicates covenantal service and obedience.
- כָּל־שֹׁמֵ֤ר (kol-shomer) – Root: שמר; Form: Construct noun + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “everyone who keeps”; Notes: Introduces the universal scope of the promise.
- שַׁבָּת֙ (Shabbat) – Root: שבת; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “the Shabbat”; Notes: Covenant sign of rest and sanctification.
- מֵֽחַלְּלֹ֔ו (me-ḥallelo) – Root: חלל; Form: Preposition מִן + Piel participle masculine singular with suffix; Translation: “from profaning it”; Notes: Indicates moral and ritual preservation.
- וּמַחֲזִיקִ֖ים (u-maḥaziqim) – Root: חזק; Form: Conjunction + Hifil participle masculine plural; Translation: “and who hold fast”; Notes: Denotes strength and firm attachment.
- בִּבְרִיתִֽי (bi-veriti) – Root: ברית; Form: Preposition בְ + noun feminine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to My covenant”; Notes: Emphasizes covenantal fidelity to YHWH.