גֵּ֣ר יָתֹ֤ום וְאַלְמָנָה֙ לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשֹׁ֔קוּ וְדָ֣ם נָקִ֔י אַֽל־תִּשְׁפְּכ֖וּ בַּמָּקֹ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה וְאַחֲרֵ֨י אֱלֹהִ֧ים אֲחֵרִ֛ים לֹ֥א תֵלְכ֖וּ לְרַ֥ע לָכֶֽם׃
the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow you shall not oppress, and innocent blood you shall not shed in this place, and after other gods you shall not walk, to your harm.
Morphology
- גֵּר (ger) – Root: גור (gur); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “sojourner”; Notes: A resident alien or outsider living among the people of Yisraʾel.
- יָתֹום (yatom) – Root: יתם (yatam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “orphan”; Notes: A child without parents, especially a father.
- וְאַלְמָנָה (ve-almanah) – Root: אלמן (ʾalman); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and widow”; Notes: A woman whose husband has died; often grouped with other vulnerable members of society.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Used to negate an imperfect verb (prohibition).
- תַעֲשֹׁקוּ (taʿashoqu) – Root: עשק (ʿashaq); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall oppress”; Notes: Legal term for exploitation or abuse, especially of the powerless.
- וְדָם (ve-dam) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and blood”; Notes: Refers to life or life-force, often in the context of killing.
- נָקִי (naqi) – Root: נקה (naqah); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “innocent”; Notes: Free from guilt or wrongdoing; not deserving death.
- אַל (ʾal) – Root: אל (ʾal); Form: Negative particle of prohibition; Translation: “do not”; Notes: Used for direct prohibitions.
- תִּשְׁפְּכוּ (tishpeku) – Root: שפך (shafakh); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall shed”; Notes: Typically refers to the act of pouring out blood, i.e., killing.
- בַּמָּקֹום (ba-maqom) – Root: קום (qum); Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “in the place”; Notes: Refers here likely to the temple precinct or Yerushalayim generally.
- הַזֶּה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (zeh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Specifies the mentioned location.
- וְאַחֲרֵי (ve-ʾaḥarei) – Root: אחר (ʾaḥar); Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “and after”; Notes: Indicates pursuit or devotion to another object.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾelohim) – Root: אלה (ʾeloah); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “gods”; Notes: Refers to deities other than YHWH.
- אֲחֵרִים (ʾaḥerim) – Root: אחר (ʾaḥer); Form: Adjective masculine plural; Translation: “other”; Notes: Qualifies the false gods, forbidden in Torah worship.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Standard negation for imperfect verb.
- תֵלְכוּ (telekhu) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you shall walk”; Notes: Used figuratively to mean follow or live according to.
- לְרַע (le-raʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿ); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “for harm”; Notes: Indicates the result or consequence of idolatry.
- לָכֶם (lakhem) – Root: לכם (lakhem); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural pronoun; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Clarifies that the harm results to the people themselves.