וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗י לְבִלְתִּ֨י עֲשֹׂ֜ות מֵחֻקֹּ֤ות הַתֹּֽועֵבֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשׂ֣וּ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִֽטַּמְּא֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
And you shall keep My charge so as not to do any of the abominable customs that were done before you, and you shall not become unclean by them; I am YHWH your God.”
Morphology
- וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם (u-shmartem) – Root: שמר (sh-m-r); Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “And you shall keep”; Notes: Indicates the command to guard or observe.
- אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗י (et-mishmarti) – Root: שמר (sh-m-r); Form: Definite direct object marker + noun feminine singular construct + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My charge”; Notes: Refers to the duties or commandments of YHWH.
- לְבִלְתִּ֨י (le-vilti) – Root: בלתי (b-l-t-y); Form: Preposition + infinitive construct; Translation: “So as not to”; Notes: Introduces a prohibition.
- עֲשֹׂ֜ות (ʿasot) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “To do”; Notes: Refers to performing actions.
- מֵחֻקֹּ֤ות (me-chukkot) – Root: חקק (ḥ-q-q); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “Of the customs”; Notes: Refers to established practices or statutes.
- הַתֹּֽועֵבֹת֙ (ha-toʿevot) – Root: תעב (t-ʿ-v); Form: Noun feminine plural with definite article; Translation: “The abominations”; Notes: Indicates detestable or prohibited acts.
- אֲשֶׁ֣ר (asher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-sh-r); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “That”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause.
- נַעֲשׂ֣וּ (naʿasu) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person plural; Translation: “Were done”; Notes: Describes past actions performed.
- לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם (lifneikhem) – Root: פני (p-n-y); Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Before you”; Notes: Refers to actions done by previous inhabitants.
- וְלֹ֥א (ve-lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “And not”; Notes: Denies the subsequent action.
- תִֽטַּמְּא֖וּ (titammeʾu) – Root: טמא (t-m-ʾ); Form: Hithpael imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You shall become unclean”; Notes: Describes the state of impurity.
- בָּהֶ֑ם (bahem) – Root: ב (b); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “By them”; Notes: Refers to the prohibited customs.
- אֲנִ֖י (ani) – Root: אני (ʾ-n-y); Form: Pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Refers to YHWH as the speaker.
- יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (h-w-h); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God.
- אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם (Eloheikhem) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Your God”; Notes: Refers to the deity of Yisra’el.