וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע מֹשֶׁ֗ה בַּיֹּ֣ום הַהוּא֮ לֵאמֹר֒ אִם־לֹ֗א הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דָּרְכָ֤ה רַגְלְךָ֙ בָּ֔הּ לְךָ֨ תִֽהְיֶ֧ה לְנַחֲלָ֛ה וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ עַד־עֹולָ֑ם כִּ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתָ אַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי׃
And Moshe swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be yours for an inheritance, and for your children forever, because you have fully followed after YHWH my God.’
Morphology
- וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע (vay-yish-shavaʿ) – Root: שבע (shavaʿ); Form: Nifal wayyiqtol (preterite), third-person masculine singular; Translation: “And he swore”; Notes: The Nifal form denotes a passive/middle voice.
- מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moshe) – Root: משה (Moshe); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Moshe”; Notes: Refers to the leader of Yisra’el.
- בַּיֹּ֣ום (ba-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite with preposition; Translation: “on the day”; Notes: The definite article is prefixed.
- הַהוּא֮ (ha-hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine singular; Translation: “that”; Notes: Refers back to a specific day.
- לֵאמֹר֒ (le’emor) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Infinitive construct with לְ; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- אִם־לֹ֗א (im-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conditional phrase; Translation: “Surely”; Notes: Functions idiomatically as an oath formula.
- הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ (ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ (eretz); Form: Noun, feminine singular, definite; Translation: “the land”; Notes: Refers to the promised inheritance.
- אֲשֶׁ֨ר (asher) – Root: אשר (asher); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause.
- דָּרְכָ֤ה (darchah) – Root: דרך (darakh); Form: Qal perfect, third-person feminine singular with suffix; Translation: “has trodden”; Notes: Refers to past action.
- רַגְלְךָ֙ (raglekha) – Root: רגל (regel); Form: Noun, feminine singular with second-person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your foot”; Notes: Indicates personal possession.
- בָּ֔הּ (bah) – Root: בה (bah); Form: Preposition with third-person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “on it”; Notes: Refers to “the land.”
- לְךָ֨ (lekha) – Root: לך (lekha); Form: Preposition with second-person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Indicates possession.
- תִֽהְיֶ֧ה (tihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect, third-person feminine singular; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: Indicates future action.
- לְנַחֲלָ֛ה (le-nachalah) – Root: נחל (nachal); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “for an inheritance”; Notes: Legal terminology for land possession.
- וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ (u-le-vanekha) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with second-person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and for your children”; Notes: Indicates generational inheritance.
- עַד־עֹולָ֑ם (ʿad-ʿolam) – Root: עולם (ʿolam); Form: Preposition with noun; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Indicates an everlasting duration.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the inheritance.
- מִלֵּ֔אתָ (mille’ta) – Root: מלא (male); Form: Piel perfect, second-person masculine singular; Translation: “you have fully followed”; Notes: Expresses complete devotion.
- אַחֲרֵ֖י (aḥarei) – Root: אחר (aḥar); Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Expresses allegiance.
- יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God.
- אֱלֹהָֽי (Elohai) – Root: אלה (Elohim); Form: Noun, masculine plural with first-person singular suffix; Translation: “my God”; Notes: Personal expression of faith.
Syntax and Grammar
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- Conditional Oath: “אִם־לֹ֗א” functions as an oath formula.
- Direct Object: אֲשֶׁ֨ר דָּרְכָ֤ה רַגְלְךָ֙ בָּ֔הּ” serves as the direct object of the verb “תִֽהְיֶ֧ה”.
- Possession: The phrase “לְךָ֨ תִֽהְיֶ֧ה” indicates that the land belongs to the recipient.
- Temporal Clause: “עַד־עֹולָ֑ם” modifies the duration of the inheritance.
- Subordinate Clause: “כִּ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתָ אַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי” explains the reason for the promise.
Lexical Semantics
- נַחֲלָ֛ה (nachalah): The term refers to an inheritance or land possession passed down generationally. In biblical usage, it signifies divine allocation.
- עַד־עֹולָ֑ם (ʿad ʿolam): Often translated as “forever,” but in some contexts, it can mean “for an extended time” or “for the foreseeable future.”
- מִלֵּ֔אתָ (mille’ta): The Piel form of “מלא” (to fill) conveys the idea of complete or wholehearted devotion.
Word Study
- יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal faithfulness.
- אֱלֹהָֽי (Elohai): A personal declaration of faith, meaning “my God,” highlighting the individual’s relationship with YHWH.
- מֹשֶׁה (Moshe): The name of Israel’s leader, associated with divine law and guidance.
Textual Criticism
- Septuagint (LXX): The Greek rendering of “נַחֲלָ֛ה” is “κληρονομία” (klēronomia), emphasizing inheritance.
- Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS): No significant variants in this verse.
- Peshitta (Syriac): The phrase “מִלֵּ֔אתָ אַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה” is translated with a verb denoting complete obedience.
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