אַל־תִּפְנ֤וּ אֶל־הָאֹבֹת֙ וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים אַל־תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ לְטָמְאָ֣ה בָהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
Do not turn to mediums or to necromancers; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am YHWH your God.
Morphology
- אַל־ (al) – Form: Negative particle; Translation: “Do not”; Notes: Prohibitive command.
- תִּפְנ֤וּ (tifnu) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Turn”; Notes: Refers to directing attention or action.
- אֶל־ (el) – Form: Preposition; Translation: “To”; Notes: Indicates direction or focus.
- הָאֹבֹת֙ (ha-ovot) – Root: אוב (ʾ-v-b); Form: Noun masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “The mediums”; Notes: Refers to those who consult spirits.
- וְאֶל־ (ve-el) – Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “And to”; Notes: Connects related objects.
- הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים (ha-yidʿonim) – Root: ידע (y-d-ʿ); Form: Noun masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “The necromancers”; Notes: Refers to those who claim to communicate with the dead.
- אַל־ (al) – Form: Negative particle; Translation: “Do not”; Notes: Prohibitive command repeated for emphasis.
- תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ (tevakshu) – Root: בקש (b-q-sh); Form: Piel imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “Seek”; Notes: Denotes active searching or inquiry.
- לְטָמְאָ֣ה (le-tameʾah) – Root: טמא (t-m-ʾ); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “To be defiled”; Notes: Refers to ritual or moral impurity.
- בָהֶ֑ם (bahem) – Root: ב (b); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “By them”; Notes: Indicates the source of defilement.
- אֲנִ֖י (ani) – Root: אנ (ʾ-n); Form: Pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphasizes the speaker, YHWH.
- יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) – Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name of God.
- אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם (eloheikhem) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Your God”; Notes: Indicates covenant relationship.