וְהֵמַתָּ֛ה אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֑ד וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ הַגֹּויִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמְע֥וּ אֶֽת־שִׁמְעֲךָ֖ לֵאמֹֽר׃
Now if You kill this people as one man, then the nations that have heard of Your fame will say,
Morphology
- וְהֵמַתָּ֛ה (ve-hematta) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Form: Hifil perfect 2nd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And You would kill”; Notes: Indicates hypothetical or future action by YHWH.
- אֶת־הָעָ֥ם (et-ha-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Form: Definite direct object marker + definite singular noun; Translation: “This people”; Notes: Refers to the nation of Yisra’el.
- הַזֶּ֖ה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (z-h); Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “This”; Notes: Specifies the people in question.
- כְּאִ֣ישׁ (ke-ish) – Root: איש (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Preposition + singular noun; Translation: “As one man”; Notes: Emphasizes collective punishment.
- אֶחָ֑ד (eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾ-ḥ-d); Form: Cardinal number masculine singular; Translation: “One”; Notes: Adds focus on unity or singularity.
- וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ (ve-ʾamru) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And they will say”; Notes: Refers to the response of the nations.
- הַגֹּויִ֔ם (ha-goyim) – Root: גוי (g-w-y); Form: Definite plural noun; Translation: “The nations”; Notes: Refers to non-Israelite peoples.
- אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמְע֥וּ (asher-shamʿu) – Root: שמע (sh-m-ʿ); Form: Relative pronoun + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “Who have heard”; Notes: Refers to those aware of YHWH’s reputation.
- אֶֽת־שִׁמְעֲךָ֖ (et-shimʿakha) – Root: שמע (sh-m-ʿ); Form: Definite direct object marker + singular noun + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your fame”; Notes: Describes YHWH’s renown.
- לֵאמֹֽר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Preposition + infinitive construct; Translation: “Saying”; Notes: Introduces the quotation.