וְהִתְנַחֲלְתֶּ֨ם אֹתָ֜ם לִבְנֵיכֶ֤ם אַחֲרֵיכֶם֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֲחֻזָּ֔ה לְעֹלָ֖ם בָּהֶ֣ם תַּעֲבֹ֑דוּ וּבְאַ֨חֵיכֶ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אִ֣ישׁ בְּאָחִ֔יו לֹא־תִרְדֶּ֥ה בֹ֖ו בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃ ס
And you shall pass them on as an inheritance to your children after you, to hold as a possession forever. You may make them work, but over your brethren, the children of Yisra’el, a man over his brother, you shall not rule with harshness.
Morphology
- וְהִתְנַחֲלְתֶּ֨ם (v’hitnakhaltem) – Root: נחל (n-ḥ-l); Form: Hithpael imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “And you shall pass on as an inheritance”; Notes: Reflexive form indicating transfer of possession.
- אֹתָ֜ם (otam) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Direct object marker with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Them”; Notes: Refers to the servants acquired.
- לִבְנֵיכֶ֤ם (livneikhem) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Preposition ל with plural construct noun and 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “To your children”; Notes: Indicates the recipients of the inheritance.
- אַחֲרֵיכֶם֙ (achareikhem) – Root: אחר (ʾ-ḥ-r); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “After you”; Notes: Denotes succession.
- לָרֶ֣שֶׁת (lareshet) – Root: ירש (y-r-sh); Form: Preposition ל with infinitive construct; Translation: “To hold as a possession”; Notes: Describes the purpose of the inheritance.
- אֲחֻזָּ֔ה (achuza) – Root: אחז (ʾ-ḥ-z); Form: Feminine singular noun; Translation: “Possession”; Notes: Refers to permanent property.
- לְעֹלָ֖ם (le’olam) – Root: עלם (ʿ-l-m); Form: Preposition ל with masculine singular noun; Translation: “Forever”; Notes: Indicates perpetuity.
- בָּהֶ֣ם (bahem) – Root: ב (b); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “In them”; Notes: Refers to the servants.
- תַּעֲבֹ֑דוּ (ta’avodu) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You may make work”; Notes: Refers to their service.
- וּבְאַ֨חֵיכֶ֤ם (uv’acheikhem) – Root: אח (ʾ-ḥ); Form: Conjunction ו with preposition and plural noun with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “But over your brethren”; Notes: Specifies a contrasting group.
- בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (b’nei-Yisra’el) – Root: בן (b-n) / שׂרה (ś-r-h); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “The children of Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to fellow Israelites.
- אִ֣ישׁ (ish) – Root: איש (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Masculine singular noun; Translation: “A man”; Notes: Represents an individual.
- בְּאָחִ֔יו (b’achiv) – Root: אח (ʾ-ḥ); Form: Preposition ב with masculine singular noun and 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Over his brother”; Notes: Indicates relation and authority.
- לֹא־תִרְדֶּ֥ה (lo-tir’deh) – Root: רדה (r-d-h); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular with negative particle; Translation: “You shall not rule”; Notes: Prohibition against harsh treatment.
- בֹ֖ו (vo) – Root: ב (b); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Over him”; Notes: Specifies the object of ruling.
- בְּפָֽרֶךְ (b’ferekh) – Root: פרך (p-r-k); Form: Preposition ב with masculine singular noun; Translation: “With harshness”; Notes: Refers to oppressive or cruel labor.