לָנ֥וּס שָׁ֨מָּה֙ רֹוצֵ֔חַ מַכֵּה־נֶ֥פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָ֖ה בִּבְלִי־דָ֑עַת וְהָי֤וּ לָכֶם֙ לְמִקְלָ֔ט מִגֹּאֵ֖ל הַדָּֽם׃
that the manslayer may flee there, one who strikes a soul unintentionally, without knowledge, and they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.
Morphology
- לָנ֥וּס (lanus) – Root: נוס (nus); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to flee”; Notes: Indicates purpose, explaining why the cities of refuge are designated.
- שָׁ֨מָּה֙ (shamah) – Root: שׁם (sham); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Specifies location.
- רֹוצֵ֔חַ (rotse’aḥ) – Root: רצח (rtsḥ); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “manslayer”; Notes: Refers to someone who kills another, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
- מַכֵּה־נֶ֥פֶשׁ (makkeh-nefesh) – Root: נכה (nkh) + נפש (nefesh); Form: Hifil participle masculine singular construct + noun, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “one who strikes a soul”; Notes: Describes the action of inflicting a fatal wound.
- בִּשְׁגָגָ֖ה (bishgagah) – Root: שׁגג (shgg); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “unintentionally”; Notes: Indicates an unintentional act, contrasting with premeditated murder.
- בִּבְלִי־דָ֑עַת (bivli-da’at) – Root: בלי (bli) + דע (da’at); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “without knowledge”; Notes: Reinforces the idea of a lack of intention or awareness.
- וְהָי֤וּ (vehayu) – Root: היה (haya); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and they shall be”; Notes: Indicates a future or ongoing state.
- לָכֶם֙ (lachem) – Root: לכם (lachem); Form: Preposition + second-person masculine plural pronoun; Translation: “for you”; Notes: Addresses the people of Yisra’el.
- לְמִקְלָ֔ט (lemiklat) – Root: קלוט (klṭ); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute with preposition; Translation: “a refuge”; Notes: Refers to the cities designated for protection.
- מִגֹּאֵ֖ל (miggo’el) – Root: גאל (ga’al); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “from the avenger”; Notes: Refers to the “redeemer of blood,” the family member seeking justice.
- הַדָּֽם (ha-dam) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute with definite article; Translation: “of blood”; Notes: Indicates the role of blood vengeance in the legal system of ancient Yisra’el.