וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה הָשֵׁ֞ב אֶת־מַטֵּ֤ה אַהֲרֹן֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָעֵד֔וּת לְמִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת לְאֹ֖ות לִבְנֵי־מֶ֑רִי וּתְכַ֧ל תְּלוּנֹּתָ֛ם מֵעָלַ֖י וְלֹ֥א יָמֻֽתוּ׃
And YHWH said to Moshe, “Return the rod of Aharon before the testimony as a sign for the sons of rebellion, so their complaints against Me will cease, and they will not die.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And He said”; Notes: Marks the beginning of divine speech.
- יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name of God.
- אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה (el-Moshe) – Root: אל (ʾ-l) + משה (M-s-h); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “To Moshe”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the command.
- הָשֵׁ֞ב (hashev) – Root: שוב (sh-w-b); Form: Hifil imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Return”; Notes: Command to place the rod back.
- אֶת־מַטֵּ֤ה (et-matteh) – Root: מטה (m-t-h); Form: Definite direct object marker + singular noun; Translation: “The rod”; Notes: Refers to Aharon’s staff.
- אַהֲרֹן֙ (Aharon) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Singular; Translation: “Aharon”; Notes: Name of the high priest.
- לִפְנֵ֣י (lifnei) – Root: פני (p-n-y); Form: Preposition; Translation: “Before”; Notes: Indicates placement in front of the testimony.
- הָעֵד֔וּת (ha-edut) – Root: עד (ʿ-d); Form: Noun feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “The testimony”; Notes: Refers to the tablets of the covenant.
- לְמִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת (le-mishmeret) – Root: שמר (sh-m-r); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “For a safeguard”; Notes: Indicates its purpose as a reminder.
- לְאֹ֖ות (le-ot) – Root: אות (ʾ-w-t); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “For a sign”; Notes: Serves as a visible symbol.
- לִבְנֵי־מֶ֑רִי (livnei-meri) – Root: בן (b-n) + מרה (m-r-h); Form: Construct noun + proper noun; Translation: “For the sons of rebellion”; Notes: Refers to those opposing YHWH’s authority.
- וּתְכַ֧ל (utechal) – Root: כלה (k-l-h); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person feminine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “So it will cease”; Notes: Indicates the cessation of complaints.
- תְּלוּנֹּתָ֛ם (telunotam) – Root: תלנה (t-l-n); Form: Noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Their complaints”; Notes: Refers to the grievances of the people.
- מֵעָלַ֖י (me-alai) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “From upon Me”; Notes: Indicates that the complaints were directed toward YHWH.
- וְלֹ֥א יָמֻֽתוּ (ve-lo yamutu) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they will not die”; Notes: Assurance of life upon ceasing rebellion.