וַתָּשֻׁ֨בוּ אַתֶּ֜ם הַיֹּ֗ום וַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּ אֶת־הַיָּשָׁר֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י לִקְרֹ֥א דְרֹ֖ור אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ וַתִּכְרְת֤וּ בְרִית֙ לְפָנַ֔י בַּבַּ֕יִת אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֥א שְׁמִ֖י עָלָֽיו׃
But you turned back today and did what is right in My eyes, to proclaim liberty each man to his fellow. And you cut a covenant before Me in the house that is called by My Name.
Morphology
- וַתָּשֻׁ֨בוּ (va-tāshuvū) – Root: שוב; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “But you turned back”; Notes: Marks return or repentance, or reversal of prior actions.
- אַתֶּ֜ם (ʾattem) – Root: – ; Form: Independent pronoun 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you”; Notes: Emphatic subject marker.
- הַיֹּ֗ום (ha-yōm) – Root: יום; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “today”; Notes: Temporal marker referring to the immediate present.
- וַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּ (va-taʿasū) – Root: עשה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 2mp; Translation: “and you did”; Notes: Follows the narrative progression of their repentance.
- אֶת־הַיָּשָׁר (et-ha-yāshār) – Root: ישׁר; Form: Direct object marker + definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “what is right”; Notes: Moral alignment with YHWH’s will.
- בְּעֵינַ֔י (be-ʿeinay) – Root: עין; Form: Preposition + noun feminine dual with 1cs suffix; Translation: “in My eyes”; Notes: Idiom for divine approval.
- לִקְרֹ֥א (liqrō) – Root: קרא; Form: Qal infinitive construct with לְ; Translation: “to proclaim”; Notes: Indicates the purpose of their action.
- דְרֹ֖ור (dərōr) – Root: דרר; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “liberty”; Notes: Technical term for manumission of slaves (cf. Leviticus 25:10).
- אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ (ʾīsh le-rēʿēhū) – Root: אישׁ / רעע; Form: Noun masculine singular + preposition + noun masculine singular with 3ms suffix; Translation: “each man to his fellow”; Notes: Expresses mutuality and communal responsibility.
- וַתִּכְרְתוּ (va-tikhrətū) – Root: כרת; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 2mp; Translation: “and you cut”; Notes: Standard biblical idiom for making a covenant.
- בְרִית (bərīt) – Root: ברית; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a covenant”; Notes: Binding agreement between parties, often before YHWH.
- לְפָנַ֔י (le-fānay) – Root: פן; Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural with 1cs suffix; Translation: “before Me”; Notes: In YHWH’s presence, indicating solemnity and accountability.
- בַּבַּ֕יִת (ba-bayit) – Root: בית; Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the house”; Notes: Refers to the temple in Yerushalayim.
- אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֥א (ʾasher-niqrā) – Root: קרא; Form: Relative pronoun + Nifal perfect 3ms; Translation: “which is called”; Notes: Passive reference to divine naming.
- שְׁמִ֖י (shemī) – Root: שם; Form: Noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “My Name”; Notes: Refers to the divine presence and ownership.
- עָלָֽיו (ʿālāw) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 3ms suffix; Translation: “upon it”; Notes: Refers to the temple as the place where YHWH’s name dwells.