וְשָׁמְר֣וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתֹּ֗ו וְאֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֨רֶת֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י אֹ֣הֶל מֹועֵ֑ד לַעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֥ת הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃
And they shall guard his charge and the charge of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to perform the service of the Tabernacle.
Morphology
- וְשָׁמְר֣וּ (ve-shamru) – Root: שמר (sh-m-r); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural with waw-consecutive; Translation: “And they shall guard”; Notes: Refers to the Levites guarding the duties entrusted to them.
- אֶת־ (et) – Form: Direct object marker; Translation: No translation; Notes: Indicates the direct object of the verb.
- מִשְׁמַרְתֹּ֗ו (mishmarto) – Root: שמר (sh-m-r); Form: Feminine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “His charge”; Notes: Refers to Aharon’s responsibilities.
- וְאֶת־ (ve-et) – Form: Conjunction with direct object marker; Translation: “And the”; Notes: Connects the additional responsibility of the congregation’s charge.
- מִשְׁמֶ֨רֶת֙ (mishmeret) – Root: שמר (sh-m-r); Form: Feminine singular noun; Translation: “Charge”; Notes: Refers to the duties of the congregation.
- כָּל־ (kol) – Root: כל (k-l); Form: Noun in construct; Translation: “The whole”; Notes: Refers to the entirety of the congregation.
- הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (ha-edah) – Root: עד (ʿ-d); Form: Feminine singular noun with definite article; Translation: “Congregation”; Notes: Refers to the community of Israel.
- לִפְנֵ֖י (lifnei) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Form: Preposition; Translation: “Before”; Notes: Refers to their position in front of the Tent of Meeting.
- אֹ֣הֶל (ohel) – Root: אהל (ʾ-h-l); Form: Masculine singular noun; Translation: “Tent”; Notes: Refers to the Tent of Meeting.
- מֹועֵ֑ד (moed) – Root: יעד (y-ʿ-d); Form: Masculine singular noun; Translation: “Meeting”; Notes: Refers to the designated meeting place with YHWH.
- לַעֲבֹ֖ד (la-avod) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “To perform”; Notes: Describes the act of performing service.
- אֶת־ (et) – Form: Direct object marker; Translation: No translation; Notes: Indicates the object of the service.
- עֲבֹדַ֥ת (avodat) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Feminine singular noun in construct; Translation: “The service of”; Notes: Refers to the tasks related to the Tabernacle.
- הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ (ha-mishkan) – Root: שכן (sh-k-n); Form: Masculine singular noun with definite article; Translation: “The Tabernacle”; Notes: Refers to the dwelling place of YHWH.