וַאֲנִ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה לָקַ֨חְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם הַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִתֹּ֖וךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לָכֶ֞ם מַתָּנָ֤ה נְתֻנִים֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה לַעֲבֹ֕ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מֹועֵֽד׃
And behold, I have taken your brothers, the Levites, from among the children of Yisra’el; they are a gift given to YHWH to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting.
Morphology
- וַאֲנִ֗י (va-ani) – Root: אני (ʾ-n-y); Form: Conjunction + pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “And I”; Notes: Introduces the speaker’s declaration.
- הִנֵּ֤ה (hinneh) – Root: הנה (h-n-h); Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Draws attention to the statement that follows.
- לָקַ֨חְתִּי֙ (laqakhti) – Root: לקח (l-q-ḥ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I have taken”; Notes: Indicates a completed action.
- אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם (et-acheikhem) – Root: אח (ʾ-ḥ); Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine plural construct + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Your brothers”; Notes: Specifies the direct object of the verb.
- הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (ha-leviyim) – Root: לוי (l-w-y); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “The Levites”; Notes: Refers to the specific tribe set apart for service.
- מִתֹּ֖וךְ (mitokh) – Root: תוך (t-w-k); Form: Preposition; Translation: “From among”; Notes: Indicates separation or selection.
- בְּנֵ֣י (bene) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “Children of”; Notes: Refers to descendants or members of a group.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Yisra’el) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Singular; Translation: “Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the nation or people of Israel.
- לָכֶ֞ם (lakhem) – Root: לכם (l-k-m); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “To you”; Notes: Indicates possession or direction.
- מַתָּנָ֤ה (mattanah) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “A gift”; Notes: Describes the Levites as a special offering.
- נְתֻנִים֙ (netunim) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Participle masculine plural; Translation: “Given”; Notes: Refers to their role as dedicated to YHWH.
- לַֽיהוָ֔ה (la-YHWH) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Preposition + Tetragrammaton; Translation: “To YHWH”; Notes: Indicates divine ownership or service.
- לַעֲבֹ֕ד (laʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “To serve”; Notes: Describes the Levites’ primary role.
- אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֖ת (et-ʿavodat) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Direct object marker + noun feminine singular construct; Translation: “The service of”; Notes: Specifies the type of work performed.
- אֹ֥הֶל (ohel) – Root: אהל (ʾ-h-l); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Tent”; Notes: Refers to the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting.
- מֹועֵֽד (mo’ed) – Root: יעד (y-ʿ-d); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Meeting”; Notes: Indicates a place designated for divine encounter.