כִּ֣י אִֽם־אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַ֠זֶּה צִוִּ֨יתִי אֹותָ֤ם לֵאמֹר֙ שִׁמְע֣וּ בְקֹולִ֔י וְהָיִ֤יתִי לָכֶם֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּֽהְיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֑ם וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם בְּכָל־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם לְמַ֖עַן יִיטַ֥ב לָכֶֽם׃
Rather, this thing I commanded them, saying: ‘Listen to My voice, and I will be to you for a God, and you shall be to Me for a people; and you shall walk in all the way that I command you, so that it may go well for you.’
Morphology
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Often used as a causal particle but in contrastive constructions may mean “rather.”
- אִֽם־ (im) – Root: אם; Form: Particle; Translation: “but” / “rather”; Notes: Used here to express exception or contrast.
- אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר (et-ha-davar) – Root: דבר; Form: Direct object marker + definite masculine singular noun; Translation: “this word” / “this matter”; Notes: Refers to the central command YHWH gave.
- הַ֠זֶּה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה; Form: Definite article + demonstrative masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Modifies “the word.”
- צִוִּ֨יתִי (tsivviti) – Root: צוה; Form: Piel perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I commanded”; Notes: Strong command form from YHWH.
- אֹותָ֤ם (otam) – Root: את; Form: 3rd person masculine plural pronominal suffix; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to the ancestors of Yisraʾel.
- לֵאמֹר֙ (leʾemor) – Root: אמר; Form: Infinitive construct with preposition לְ; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- שִׁמְע֣וּ (shimʿu) – Root: שׁמע; Form: Qal imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Listen”; Notes: A direct command to obey YHWH’s voice.
- בְקֹולִ֔י (be-qoli) – Root: קול; Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to My voice”; Notes: Central covenantal theme of obedience to divine command.
- וְהָיִ֤יתִי (ve-hayiti) – Root: היה; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular with vav; Translation: “and I will be”; Notes: Covenant formula indicating divine relationship.
- לָכֶם֙ (lakhem) – Root: ל־ + אתם; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Indicates relational possession (“for you”).
- לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים (leʾelohim) – Root: אלוה; Form: Preposition לְ + plural noun (majestic plural); Translation: “for a God”; Notes: Signifies the divine relationship YHWH desires.
- וְאַתֶּ֖ם (ve-atem) – Root: אתם; Form: Independent pronoun masculine plural with conjunction; Translation: “and you”; Notes: Emphatic subject of the next clause.
- תִּֽהְיוּ־לִ֣י (tihyu-li) – Root: היה; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural + preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “you shall be to Me”; Notes: Covenant formula complementing the previous clause.
- לְעָ֑ם (le-ʿam) – Root: עם; Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun; Translation: “for a people”; Notes: Conveys the intended identity of Yisraʾel as YHWH’s people.
- וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם (va-halakhtem) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural with vav; Translation: “and you shall walk”; Notes: Continues the covenant stipulation.
- בְּכָל־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ (be-khol-ha-derekh) – Root: דרך; Form: Preposition + construct noun + definite article; Translation: “in all the way”; Notes: Refers to the entire manner of life or obedience.
- אֲשֶׁ֣ר (asher) – Root: אשר; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “that” / “which”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause.
- אֲצַוֶּ֣ה (atsavveh) – Root: צוה; Form: Piel imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I command”; Notes: Refers to divine authority to prescribe conduct.
- אֶתְכֶ֔ם (etkhem) – Root: אתם; Form: Direct object marker + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “you”; Notes: Direct object of the verb “command.”
- לְמַ֖עַן (lemaʿan) – Root: מען; Form: Preposition; Translation: “so that”; Notes: Indicates purpose or result.
- יִיטַ֥ב (yitav) – Root: יטב; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it may go well”; Notes: Describes benefit or prosperity.
- לָכֶֽם (lakhem) – Root: ל־ + אתם; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “for you”; Notes: Refers to the recipients of the promised benefit.