כִּ֣י נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַבָּשָׂר֮ בַּדָּ֣ם הִוא֒ וַאֲנִ֞י נְתַתִּ֤יו לָכֶם֙ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־הַדָּ֥ם ה֖וּא בַּנֶּ֥פֶשׁ יְכַפֵּֽר׃
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.
Morphology
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces a reason or explanation.
- נֶ֣פֶשׁ (nefesh) – Root: נפש (n-p-sh); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “Life” or “soul”; Notes: Refers to the essential life force.
- הַבָּשָׂר֮ (ha-basar) – Root: בשר (b-s-r); Form: Noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “The flesh”; Notes: Indicates the physical body.
- בַּדָּ֣ם (ba-dam) – Root: דם (d-m); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “In the blood”; Notes: Refers to the medium containing life.
- הִוא֒ (hi) – Root: הוא (h-w); Form: Pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “It is”; Notes: Links the subject and predicate.
- וַאֲנִ֞י (va-ani) – Root: אני (ʾ-n-y); Form: Conjunction + pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “And I”; Notes: Introduces divine action.
- נְתַתִּ֤יו (netativ) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I have given it”; Notes: Indicates a completed divine act.
- לָכֶם֙ (lachem) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “To you”; Notes: Refers to the people of Yisra’el.
- עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (al-ha-mizbeach) – Root: מזבח (m-z-b-ch); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “On the altar”; Notes: Specifies the location of the blood.
- לְכַפֵּ֖ר (le-khapper) – Root: כפר (k-p-r); Form: Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “To make atonement”; Notes: Indicates the purpose of the blood.
- עַל־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם (al-nafshoteikhem) – Root: נפש (n-p-sh); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “For your souls”; Notes: Refers to the individuals being atoned for.
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the atonement.
- הַדָּ֥ם (ha-dam) – Root: דם (d-m); Form: Noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “The blood”; Notes: Emphasizes the unique role of blood.
- ה֖וּא (hu) – Root: הוא (h-w); Form: Pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “It is”; Notes: Confirms the subject.
- בַּנֶּ֥פֶשׁ (ba-nefesh) – Root: נפש (n-p-sh); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “By reason of the life”; Notes: Describes the vital connection.
- יְכַפֵּֽר (yechapper) – Root: כפר (k-p-r); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Makes atonement”; Notes: Concludes the explanation of blood’s significance.