1
בָּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם לֹ֣א תִתְגֹּֽדְד֗וּ וְלֹֽא תָשִׂ֧ימוּ קָרְחָ֛ה בֵּ֥ין עֵינֵיכֶ֖ם לָמֵֽת
You are sons of YHWH your God; you shall not gash yourselves, nor make a baldness between your eyes for the dead.
Opens the chapter with Israel's covenantal status (sons of YHWH), asyndetic and topically fresh — this filial identity, not rule-following per se, grounds the prohibition on pagan mourning rites and the purity code that follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
בָּנִ֣יםsonsN m pl abs · בֵּן (H1121)Predicate noun (nominal clause, fronted for emphasis)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural predicated of Israel — the chapter's theological ground: covenant sonship, not mere servanthood, funds the purity laws that follow.
אַתֶּ֔םyou (are)independent pron 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject of nominal clauseאַתֶּם (H859) 2mp independent pronoun, subject; picks up בָּנִים as its predicate.
לַֽיהוָ֖הto YHWHprep לְ + Np · יְהוָה (H3068)Complement of possession ('sons belonging to')יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; לְ expresses relational belonging — sons who belong to YHWH.
אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑םyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2mp · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God', plural of majesty, with 2mp suffix — in apposition to the divine name, 'YHWH your God'.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the following verbלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
תִתְגֹּֽדְד֗וּyou shall gash yourselvesHitpael impf 2mp · גָּדַד (H1413)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding an ongoing/habitual practiceגָּדַד (H1413) 'to cut, gash'; Hitpael reflexive 'to cut oneself' — a mourning rite practiced among Israel's neighbors, here forbidden.
וְלֹֽאand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Coordinating conjunction + negative, second parallel prohibitionוְ joins a second prohibition parallel to the first; לֹא (H3808) negates תָשִׂימוּ.
תָשִׂ֧ימוּyou shall placeQal impf 2mp · שִׂים (H7760)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding a future/habitual actשִׂים (H7760) 'to put, place'; here of inducing a bald patch as a mourning gesture.
קָרְחָ֛הbaldnessN f sg abs · קָרְחָה (H7144)Direct objectקָרְחָה (H7144) 'baldness'; a shaved or plucked bald patch used as a mourning gesture, forbidden as a foreign/Canaanite practice.
בֵּ֥יןbetweenprep · בֵּין (H996)Prepositional phrase (locative)בֵּין (H996) 'between'; בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם is idiomatic for the forehead.
עֵינֵיכֶ֖םyour eyesN c/b dual constr + suff 2mp · עַיִן (H5869)Object of preposition בֵּיןעַיִן (H5869) 'eye'; dual construct with 2mp suffix — 'between your eyes' = on the forehead.
לָמֵֽתfor the deadprep לְ + Qal ptc ms · מוּת (H4191)Prepositional phrase of occasion (substantival participle, object of לְ)→ Participle: substantival, 'the one who is dead' — occasion for the forbidden mourning riteמוּת (H4191) 'to die'; Qal participle used substantivally, 'the dead (one)'; לְ marks occasion for mourning practices.
2
כִּ֣י עַ֤ם קָדוֹשׁ֙ אַתָּ֔ה לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וּבְךָ֞ בָּחַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה לִֽהְי֥וֹת לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם סְגֻלָּ֔ה מִכֹּל֙ הָֽעַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה
For you are a holy people to YHWH your God, and you YHWH has chosen to be his own treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
כִּי introduces the theological warrant for the preceding prohibitions: Israel's holy, elect, treasured status funds the purity requirements; echoes Exod 19:5-6's election language and anticipates the verbatim repetition of 'holy people... your God' in v.21b, forming an inclusio around the dietary law.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
כִּ֣יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction, grounding v.1's prohibitionsכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; introduces the theological rationale for the preceding prohibitions.
עַ֤םa peopleN m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Predicate nounעַם (H5971) 'people, nation'; predicate of the nominal clause, qualified by קָדוֹשׁ.
קָדוֹשׁ֙holyadj m sg abs · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Attributive adjective modifying עַםקָדוֹשׁ (H6918) 'holy, set apart', root קדשׁ; Israel's sanctified status to YHWH grounds the purity and dietary rules of the chapter.
אַתָּ֔הyou (are)independent pron 2ms · אַתָּה (H859)Subject of nominal clauseאַתָּה (H859) 2ms independent pronoun, subject of the nominal clause.
לַיהוָ֖הto YHWHprep לְ + Np · יְהוָה (H3068)Complement of possessionיְהוָה (H3068); לְ marks relational belonging — 'holy to YHWH'.
אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, in apposition — 'YHWH your God'.
וּבְךָ֞and in youconj וְ + prep בְּ + suff 2ms · בְּFronted prepositional phrase, object of בָּחַר, emphaticבְּ marks the object of בָּחַר ('choose among/in'); fronted for emphasis — 'it is you whom YHWH chose'.
בָּחַ֣רhe choseQal perf 3ms · בָּחַר (H977)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act of electionבָּחַר (H977) 'to choose, select'; the verb of divine election, recurring of Israel and of the chosen place (vv.23-25).
יְהוָ֗הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of בָּחַריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; subject of the election-verb.
לִֽהְי֥וֹתto beprep לְ + Qal inf constr · הָיָה (H1961)Purpose/result infinitive clause→ Infinitive construct: purpose — the intended result of YHWH's choosingהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; infinitive construct with לְ expressing purpose, 'so that you would be'.
לוֹ֙to/for himprep + suff 3ms · לְComplement of לִהְיוֹת (dative of possession)לְ + 3ms suffix, dative of possession — 'his own'.
לְעַ֣םfor a peopleprep לְ + N m sg constr · עַם (H5971)Predicate complement of לִהְיוֹתעַם (H5971) 'people'; construct governing סְגֻלָּה.
סְגֻלָּ֔הtreasured possessionN f sg abs · סְגֻלָּה (H5459)Nomen rectum defining לְעַםסְגֻלָּה (H5459) 'treasured/private possession', a king's personal property (cf. Exod 19:5; Ps 135:4); Israel is YHWH's own special treasure among the nations.
מִכֹּל֙from allprep מִן + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase of selection/comparisonכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; מִן marks selection — 'out of/beyond all the peoples'.
הָֽעַמִּ֔יםthe peoplesart + N m pl abs · עַם (H5971)Genitive complement of כֹּלעַם (H5971) plural, 'peoples/nations'; the other nations from among whom Israel is singled out.
אֲשֶׁ֖רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying הָעַמִּיםאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle introducing the clause qualifying הָעַמִּים.
עַלuponprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (locative)עַל (H5921) 'upon, on'; with פְּנֵי idiomatic for 'on the surface of'.
פְּנֵ֥יthe face ofN c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Construct chain (genitival), object of עַלפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; construct in the idiom עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה 'on the face of the earth'.
הָאֲדָמָֽהthe groundart + N f sg abs · אֲדָמָה (H127)Nomen rectum completing the construct chainאֲדָמָה (H127) 'ground, earth, soil'; here 'the earth' generally — the whole inhabited world.
3
לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל כָּל תּוֹעֵבָֽה
You shall not eat any abomination.
A terse topic sentence heading the whole dietary section (vv.3-21); the general term 'abomination' is unpacked concretely by the species catalogues that follow.
Word-by-word analysis· 4 words
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the verbלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
תֹאכַ֖לyou shall eatQal impf 2ms · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding a general/habitual actאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; the chapter's dominant verb, governing the entire dietary catalogue that follows.
כָּלanyN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing תּוֹעֵבָהכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; construct before תּוֹעֵבָה, 'any abomination'.
תּוֹעֵבָֽהabominationN f sg abs · תּוֹעֵבָה (H8441)Direct object (nomen rectum)תּוֹעֵבָה (H8441) 'abomination, detestable thing', from תעב 'to abhor'; the dietary catalogue that follows concretely defines this general term.
4
זֹ֥את הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאכֵ֑לוּ שׁ֕וֹר שֵׂ֥ה כְשָׂבִ֖ים וְשֵׂ֥ה עִזִּֽים
This is the animal that you may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
Opens the positive list of clean land animals (vv.4-6), balancing the negative list of excluded ones in vv.7-8; שֵׂה treats sheep and goats together as small-stock alongside the ox.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
זֹ֥אתthis (is)demonstrative pron f sg · זֹאת (H2063)Subject of nominal clause, opening the list-formulaזֹאת (H2063) fem demonstrative 'this'; opens a heading formula that recurs at vv.4, 11, 19 to structure the dietary catalogue.
הַבְּהֵמָ֖הthe animalart + N f sg abs · בְּהֵמָה (H929)Predicate noun / category being definedבְּהֵמָה (H929) generic 'animal, beast, livestock'; here the category-label for the land quadrupeds now to be specified.
אֲשֶׁ֣רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying הַבְּהֵמָהאֲשֶׁר (H834), introduces the qualifying clause 'that you may eat'.
תֹּאכֵ֑לוּyou may eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb of the relative clause (permissive)→ Yiqtol (permissive/modal): what is allowed, not commandedאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; here permissive rather than prohibitive, marking the positive counterpart to v.3's blanket ban.
שׁ֕וֹרoxN m sg abs · שׁוֹר (H7794)First item in apposition, listing the permitted animalsשׁוֹר (H7794) 'ox, bull, head of cattle'; the first and most valuable of the permitted quadrupeds, heading the list.
שֵׂ֥הa lamb/kid ofN c/b sg constr · שֶׂה (H7716)Construct governing כְשָׂבִים, second item in the listשֶׂה (H7716) 'one of the small stock' (sheep or goat generically); construct before כְשָׂבִים specifies 'of the sheep'.
כְשָׂבִ֖יםsheepN m pl abs · כֶּשֶׂב (H3775)Nomen rectum completing שֵׂה כְשָׂבִיםכֶּשֶׂב (H3775) 'young sheep, lamb/ram', a rarer synonym of כֶּבֶשׂ; together with שֵׂה, 'a sheep from the flock'.
וְשֵׂ֥הand a lamb/kid ofconj וְ + N c/b sg constr · שֶׂה (H7716)Construct governing עִזִּים, third item in the listשֶׂה (H7716) repeated, now construct before עִזִּים — 'one of the flock, of the goats'.
עִזִּֽיםgoatsN f pl abs · עֵז (H5795)Nomen rectum completing וְשֵׂה עִזִּיםעֵז (H5795) 'goat'; completes the small-stock pair (sheep and goat) alongside the ox — the three domestic staples of the herd.
5
אַיָּ֥ל וּצְבִ֖י וְיַחְמ֑וּר וְאַקּ֥וֹ וְדִישֹׁ֖ן וּתְא֥וֹ וָזָֽמֶר
the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep,
Continues v.4's list with seven wild ungulates, several of them hapax legomena whose precise zoological identity is genuinely uncertain; the whole set (domestic and wild) is then qualified by the hoof-and-cud criteria of v.6.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
אַיָּ֥לdeerN c/b sg abs · אַיָּל (H354)First item in the wild-game list, in apposition to the implied 'these you may eat'אַיָּל (H354) 'stag, hart' (red deer, Cervus elaphus), from a root meaning 'strength'; the most securely identified animal in this list, well attested elsewhere (Ps 42:2).
וּצְבִ֖יand gazelleconj וְ + N c/b sg abs · צְבִי (H6643)Second item in the listצְבִי (H6643) 'gazelle' (likely the mountain or Dorcas gazelle of the Levant); a securely identified, well-attested term (cf. Song 2:9; 2 Sam 2:18).
וְיַחְמ֑וּרand roebuckconj וְ + N m sg abs · יַחְמוּר (H3180)Third item in the listיַחְמוּר (H3180), conventionally 'roebuck'; the root is disputed and identification uncertain — some propose fallow deer or a wild-sheep species instead; occurs elsewhere only in the Leviticus 11 parallel list.
וְאַקּ֥וֹand wild goatconj וְ + N m sg abs · אַקּוֹ (H689)Fourth item in the listאַקּוֹ (H689) is a hapax legomenon; traditionally rendered 'wild goat' or a mountain-goat species distinct from יָעֵל, but the root gives no secure guidance — the identification is a scholarly best guess, not a certainty.
וְדִישֹׁ֖ןand ibexconj וְ + N m sg abs · דִּישֹׁן (H1788)Fifth item in the listדִּישֹׁן (H1788), another hapax legomenon; older versions guess 'pygarg' (KJV, following LXX πύγαργος) or an addax-type antelope on the strength of possible Arabic cognates, but no identification commands consensus.
וּתְא֥וֹand antelopeconj וְ + N m sg abs · תְּאוֹ (H8377)Sixth item in the listתְּאוֹ (H8377), a rare term (elsewhere only Isa 51:20, of an animal caught in a hunting net); often rendered 'wild ox' or 'oryx' on possible Arabic cognates, though the identification is conjectural.
וָזָֽמֶרand mountain sheepconj וְ + N m sg abs · זָמֶר (H2169)Seventh and final item in the listזָמֶר (H2169), a hapax in this sense; LXX renders καμηλοπάρδαλις 'giraffe', showing the identification was already uncertain in antiquity — modern guesses include mouflon (wild mountain sheep) or chamois, but none is secure; the root may relate to זמר 'to leap/climb'.
6
וְכָל בְּהֵמָ֞ה מַפְרֶ֣סֶת פַּרְסָ֗ה וְשֹׁסַ֤עַת שֶׁ֨סַע֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י פְרָס֔וֹת מַעֲלַ֥ת גֵּרָ֖ה בַּבְּהֵמָ֑ה אֹתָ֖הּ תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
And every animal that has a split hoof, divided into two hoofs, and chews the cud among the animals — that one you may eat.
States the twofold diagnostic test — cloven hoof and cud-chewing — for clean land animals; this positive general rule is then sharpened negatively in vv.7-8 by the four boundary-breaking exceptions (camel, hare, rock badger, pig) that satisfy only one criterion.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וְכָלand everyconj וְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier heading the criterion clauseכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; introduces the general diagnostic rule for clean land animals.
בְּהֵמָ֞הanimalN f sg abs · בְּהֵמָה (H929)Head noun of the construct chain, subject of the criterion clauseבְּהֵמָה (H929) 'animal, beast, livestock'; the subject qualified by the two participial clauses that follow.
מַפְרֶ֣סֶתdividingHiphil ptc fs constr · פָּרַס (H6536)Attributive participle modifying בְּהֵמָה (first criterion)→ Participle: attributive, describing an ongoing physical traitפָּרַס (H6536) 'to divide, split'; Hiphil participle 'one that has a divided [hoof]' — the first of the two clean-animal criteria.
פַּרְסָ֗הhoofN f sg abs · פַּרְסָה (H6541)Object of the participle מַפְרֶסֶתפַּרְסָה (H6541) 'hoof'; the body part being divided — the anatomical basis of the first criterion.
וְשֹׁסַ֤עַתand cleavingconj וְ + Qal ptc fs constr · שָׁסַע (H8156)Second attributive participle modifying בְּהֵמָה, in parallel with מַפְרֶסֶת→ Participle: attributive, reinforcing/specifying the split-hoof traitשָׁסַע (H8156) 'to split, cleave'; near-synonym of פָּרַס, restated to specify the hoof is cloven into two parts (שֶׁסַע שְׁתֵּי פְרָסוֹת).
שֶׁ֨סַע֙a cleft/splitN m sg abs · שֶׁסַע (H8157)Cognate accusative object of שֹׁסַעַתשֶׁסַע (H8157) 'a split, cleft', cognate noun to the participle שֹׁסַעַת — 'cleaving a cleft of two hoofs'.
שְׁתֵּ֣יtwo ofnumeral f dual constr · שְׁתַּיִם (H8147)Construct numeral governing פְרָסוֹתשְׁתַּיִם (H8147) 'two', feminine dual construct; specifies the hoof splits into exactly two parts.
פְרָס֔וֹתhoofsN f pl abs · פַּרְסָה (H6541)Nomen rectum completing שְׁתֵּי פְרָסוֹתפַּרְסָה (H6541) plural 'hoofs'; completes the phrase 'a cleft of two hoofs' — full anatomical specification of the split hoof.
מַעֲלַ֥תbringing up (chewing)Hiphil ptc fs constr · עָלָה (H5927)Third attributive participle modifying בְּהֵמָה (second criterion)→ Participle: attributive, describing an ongoing physiological traitעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up'; Hiphil idiom מַעֲלַת גֵּרָה 'bringing up the cud' = chewing the cud, ruminating — the second of the two clean-animal criteria.
גֵּרָ֖הcudN f sg abs · גֵּרָה (H1625)Object of the participle מַעֲלַתגֵּרָה (H1625) 'cud'; the regurgitated food of a ruminant, from גרר 'to drag, ruminate'.
בַּבְּהֵמָ֑הamong the animalsprep בְּ + art + N f sg abs · בְּהֵמָה (H929)Prepositional phrase of class/domainבְּהֵמָה (H929) 'animal'; בְּ marks the class within which the criterion applies — 'among the animals'.
אֹתָ֖הּit [obj]obj marker + suff 3fs · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker resuming בְּהֵמָה, fronted for emphasisאֵת (H853) with 3fs suffix, resuming 'that animal' as the emphatic direct object fronted before the verb — 'that one you may eat'.
תֹּאכֵֽלוּyou may eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (permissive), main clause→ Yiqtol (permissive/modal): what is allowedאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; permissive, concluding the criterion sentence.
7
אַ֣ךְ אֶת זֶ֞ה לֹ֤א תֹֽאכְלוּ֙ מִמַּֽעֲלֵ֣י הַגֵּרָ֔ה וּמִמַּפְרִיסֵ֥י הַפַּרְסָ֖ה הַשְּׁסוּעָ֑ה אֶֽת הַ֠גָּמָל וְאֶת הָאַרְנֶ֨בֶת וְאֶת הַשָּׁפָ֜ן כִּֽי מַעֲלֵ֧ה גֵרָ֣ה הֵ֗מָּה וּפַרְסָה֙ לֹ֣א הִפְרִ֔יסוּ טְמֵאִ֥ים הֵ֖ם לָכֶֽם
But this you shall not eat, among those that chew the cud or those that have a split hoof: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger — for they chew the cud but do not divide the hoof; they are unclean to you.
Introduces the first three of four boundary-breaking animals that satisfy only one of v.6's two criteria (cud-chewing without a true cloven hoof); camel, hare, and hyrax became proverbial in later Jewish tradition as animals that look 'almost clean' precisely because of this partial match.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
אַ֣ךְbutrestrictive adverb · אַךְ (H389)Adversative adverb marking an exception to v.6's ruleאַךְ (H389) 'but, only, surely'; signals that the following animals are exceptions to the general criterion just stated.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker, fronted with its object זֶהאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; marks the fronted demonstrative זֶה as direct object of תֹאכְלוּ.
זֶ֞הthisdemonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Direct object, fronted for emphasis, anticipating the list to followזֶה (H2088) 'this'; anticipates the camel/hare/rock badger named below.
לֹ֤אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the verbלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
תֹֽאכְלוּ֙you shall eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding these specific animalsאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; prohibitive, applying the general ban of v.3 to these named exceptions.
מִמַּֽעֲלֵ֣יfrom those chewingprep מִן + Hiphil ptc mp constr · עָלָה (H5927)Prepositional phrase of source/class ('from among those that...')→ Participle: substantival, class of cud-chewing animalsעָלָה (H5927) Hiphil 'bring up'; idiom for cud-chewing; מִן partitions the class from which the exceptions below are drawn.
הַגֵּרָ֔הthe cudart + N f sg abs · גֵּרָה (H1625)Object of the participle מַעֲלֵיגֵּרָה (H1625) 'cud'; object completing 'those that chew the cud'.
וּמִמַּפְרִיסֵ֥יand from those dividingconj וְ + prep מִן + Hiphil ptc mp constr · פָּרַס (H6536)Second prepositional phrase of source/class, parallel to the first→ Participle: substantival, class of split-hoofed animalsפָּרַס (H6536) Hiphil 'divide'; parallel class-term for hoof-splitters, paired with the cud-chewers class.
הַפַּרְסָ֖הthe hoofart + N f sg abs · פַּרְסָה (H6541)Object of the participle מַפְרִיסֵיפַּרְסָה (H6541) 'hoof'; object completing 'those that divide the hoof'.
הַשְּׁסוּעָ֑הthe cloven (one)art + Qal passive ptc fs · שָׁסַע (H8156)Attributive passive participle modifying הַפַּרְסָה→ Participle: passive, describing the completed state of being splitשָׁסַע (H8156) 'to split, cleave'; passive participle 'cloven', agreeing with the feminine פַּרְסָה — 'the cloven hoof'.
אֶֽת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the first named exceptionאֵת (H853), nota accusativi, marking הַגָּמָל as object (in apposition to the earlier זֶה).
הַ֠גָּמָלthe camelart + N m sg abs · גָּמָל (H1581)First named exception (direct object)גָּמָל (H1581) 'camel', securely identified; chews the cud but its foot is a soft, padded toe rather than a true cloven hoof — it fails the second criterion.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the second named exceptionאֵת (H853), marking הָאַרְנֶבֶת as the second object in the list.
הָאַרְנֶ֨בֶתthe hareart + N f sg abs · אַרְנֶבֶת (H768)Second named exception (direct object)אַרְנֶבֶת (H768) 'hare'; identification is fairly secure. The text's 'chews the cud' reflects the hare's observed mouth-working/caecotrophy (re-ingesting soft pellets), a phenomenological description, not modern ruminant taxonomy.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the third named exceptionאֵת (H853), marking הַשָּׁפָן as the third and final object in the list.
הַשָּׁפָ֜ןthe rock badgerart + N m sg abs · שָׁפָן (H8227)Third named exception (direct object)שָׁפָן (H8227), generally identified with the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis, KJV 'coney'); like the hare, its constant jaw motion resembles cud-chewing though it is not a ruminant.
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction, introducing the rationale for exclusionכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; explains why these three are excluded despite chewing the cud.
מַעֲלֵ֧הchewingHiphil ptc ms constr · עָלָה (H5927)Predicate participle in the כִּי-clause→ Participle: predicate, describing an ongoing traitעָלָה (H5927) Hiphil 'bring up'; predicated of the three animals — they do chew the cud.
גֵרָ֣הcudN f sg abs · גֵּרָה (H1625)Object of the participle מַעֲלֵהגֵּרָה (H1625) 'cud'; object of 'chewing'.
הֵ֗מָּהtheyindependent pron 3mp · הֵמָּה (H1992)Resumptive subject pronounהֵמָּה (H1992) 3mp independent pronoun, resuming the three named animals as subject.
וּפַרְסָה֙and a hoofconj וְ + N f sg abs · פַּרְסָה (H6541)Fronted subject of the negated verb הִפְרִיסוּפַּרְסָה (H6541) 'hoof'; fronted as the topic of the second, negated clause — 'but a [split] hoof they do not have'.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates הִפְרִיסוּלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
הִפְרִ֔יסוּthey dividedHiphil perf 3cp · פָּרַס (H6536)Predicate verb of the negated clause→ Perfective: a settled, characteristic fact (they do not have a cloven hoof)פָּרַס (H6536) 'to divide'; Hiphil, negated — 'they have not divided [the hoof]', i.e. they lack a true cloven hoof.
טְמֵאִ֥יםuncleanadj m pl abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjectiveטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean, impure'; ritual (not moral) impurity, the technical antonym of טָהוֹר 'clean' throughout this chapter.
הֵ֖םthey (are)independent pron 3mp · הֵם (H1992)Subject of the final predicate clauseהֵם (H1992) 3mp independent pronoun, subject of טְמֵאִים.
לָכֶֽםto youprep + suff 2mp · לְDative of reference completing the predicateלְ + 2mp suffix, 'to/for you' — unclean specifically for Israel's consumption, not a statement about the animals' intrinsic nature.
8
וְאֶת הַ֠חֲזִיר כִּֽי מַפְרִ֨יס פַּרְסָ֥ה הוּא֙ וְלֹ֣א גֵרָ֔ה טָמֵ֥א ה֖וּא לָכֶ֑ם מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וּבְנִבְלָתָ֖ם לֹ֥א תִגָּֽעוּ
And the pig, because it has a divided hoof but does not chew the cud, it is unclean to you; you shall not eat their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcass.
Completes the set of four exceptional animals: the pig (true split hoof, no cud) mirrors camel/hare/hyrax (cud, no true split hoof) structurally. The added carcass-touching prohibition — stricter than merely not eating — makes this the most stringent clause in the dietary unit and the historically most emphasized in Jewish practice.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the fourth boundary-breakerאֵת (H853), marking הַחֲזִיר as object, completing the four-animal set begun in v.7.
הַ֠חֲזִירthe pigart + N m sg abs · חֲזִיר (H2386)Direct object, fourth named exceptionחֲזִיר (H2386) 'pig, swine', securely identified; has a true split hoof but does not chew the cud — the mirror-image exception to camel/hare/hyrax, and the most culturally notorious unclean animal in later Jewish reception.
כִּֽיbecauseconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the rationaleכִּי (H3588) 'because'; explains the pig's exclusion despite its split hoof.
מַפְרִ֨יסdividingHiphil ptc ms constr · פָּרַס (H6536)Predicate participle, first half of the concessive statement→ Participle: predicate, describing a true physical traitפָּרַס (H6536) Hiphil 'divide'; predicated truly of the pig, unlike the false match in v.7 — it genuinely has a cloven hoof.
פַּרְסָ֥הhoofN f sg abs · פַּרְסָה (H6541)Object of the participle מַפְרִיספַּרְסָה (H6541) 'hoof'; object of 'dividing'.
הוּא֙itindependent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject pronoun, resuming הַחֲזִירהוּא (H1931) 3ms independent pronoun, subject of the participial clause.
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Coordinating conjunction + negative, second half of the concessive statementוְ...לֹא 'but not' — negates the implied cud-chewing, the pig's disqualifying trait.
גֵרָ֔הcudN f sg abs · גֵּרָה (H1625)Object of the elided verb 'chew' (ellipsis)גֵּרָה (H1625) 'cud'; the verb 'chews' is elided, understood from מַעֲלֵה גֵרָה in v.7.
טָמֵ֥אuncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjectiveטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean, impure'; ritual classification, predicated of the pig.
ה֖וּאit (is)independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the predicate clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms independent pronoun, subject of טָמֵא.
לָכֶ֑םto youprep + suff 2mp · לְDative of reference completing the predicateלְ + 2mp suffix, 'to/for you' — unclean for Israel's consumption specifically.
מִבְּשָׂרָם֙from their fleshprep מִן + N m sg constr + suff 3mp · בָּשָׂר (H1320)Prepositional phrase, partitive object of the prohibitionבָּשָׂר (H1320) 'flesh, meat'; מִן partitive, 'from/of their flesh' — a new, distinct prohibition on eating the meat of these unclean animals.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תֹאכֵלוּלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
תֹאכֵ֔לוּyou shall eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding consumptionאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; prohibitive.
וּבְנִבְלָתָ֖םand their carcassconj וְ + prep בְּ + N f sg constr + suff 3mp · נְבֵלָה (H5038)Prepositional phrase, object of תִגָּעוּנְבֵלָה (H5038) 'carcass, corpse'; a dead animal's body, whether from natural death or improper killing (cf. v.21). A separate, stricter prohibition on touching, beyond simply not eating.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תִגָּעוּלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
תִגָּֽעוּyou shall touchQal impf 2mp · נָגַע (H5060)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding physical contactנָגַע (H5060) 'to touch'; a distinct, stricter prohibition than eating — even contact with the carcass transmits impurity (cf. Lev 11:8).
9
אֶת זֶה֙ תֹּֽאכְל֔וּ מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּמָּ֑יִם כֹּ֧ל אֲשֶׁר ל֛וֹ סְנַפִּ֥יר וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂת תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
This you may eat, from all that is in the water: everything that has fins and scales you may eat.
Shifts from land animals to water creatures, applying a single positive criterion (fins and scales) rather than the double land-animal test; sets up v.10's negative counterpart for anything lacking either feature.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker, fronted with זֶהאֵת (H853), nota accusativi, marking the fronted demonstrative זֶה.
זֶה֙thisdemonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Direct object, anticipating the fin-and-scale criterionזֶה (H2088) 'this'; opens the water-creature section, echoing the list-heading formula of v.4.
תֹּֽאכְל֔וּyou may eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (permissive), main clause→ Yiqtol (permissive/modal): what is allowedאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; permissive, opening the water-creature rule.
מִכֹּ֖לfrom allprep מִן + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase restricting the class to water creaturesכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; מִן partitive, restricting the following rule's scope to creatures in the water.
אֲשֶׁ֣רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the qualifying clause 'that is in the water'.
בַּמָּ֑יִםin the waterprep בְּ + art + N m pl abs · מַיִם (H4325)Prepositional phrase (locative)מַיִם (H4325) 'water'; plural form, locative — the domain of the creatures now being classified.
כֹּ֧לeverythingN m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Subject of the criterion clause, resuming the water-creature classכֹּל (H3605) 'all, everything'; resumes as head of the specific fin-and-scale criterion.
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker introducing the fin-and-scale testאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing 'that has fins and scales'.
ל֛וֹit hasprep + suff 3ms · לְPossessive construction ('that which belongs to it')לְ + 3ms suffix, possessive idiom 'which has [fins and scales]'.
סְנַפִּ֥ירfinN m sg abs · סְנַפִּיר (H5579)Subject of the possessive clause (first criterion)סְנַפִּיר (H5579) 'fin'; a rare term occurring only in this pericope and its Leviticus 11 parallel, of uncertain etymology.
וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂתand scaleconj וְ + N f sg abs · קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת (H7193)Second item of the possessive clause (second criterion)קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת (H7193) 'scale(s)'; a reduplicated noun from a root meaning 'to scrape, be rough', describing fish scales — the second half of the diagnostic pair.
תֹּאכֵֽלוּyou may eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (permissive), concluding clause→ Yiqtol (permissive/modal): what is allowedאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; permissive, restating and closing the fin-and-scale rule.
10
וְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֵֽין ל֛וֹ סְנַפִּ֥יר וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑לוּ טָמֵ֥א ה֖וּא לָכֶֽם
And everything that does not have fins and scales, you shall not eat; it is unclean to you.
Completes the water-creature rule with its negative half; shellfish, catfish, eels, and other scaleless or finless creatures fall under this exclusion, a point later elaborated in rabbinic halakha.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְכֹ֨לand everythingconj וְ + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Subject, resuming כֹּל from v.9 with the negated criterionכֹּל (H3605) 'all, everything'; introduces the negative counterpart to v.9's positive rule.
אֲשֶׁ֧רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the negated fin-and-scale clause.
אֵֽיןthere is notexistential negative particle · אַיִן (H369)Negates the possessive clauseאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'; the standard existential negative used to deny possession in a nominal clause.
ל֛וֹit (does not) haveprep + suff 3ms · לְPossessive construction negated by אֵיןלְ + 3ms suffix, possessive idiom 'which it does not have [fins and scales]'.
סְנַפִּ֥ירfinN m sg abs · סְנַפִּיר (H5579)Subject of the negated possessive clauseסְנַפִּיר (H5579) 'fin'; here negated — the disqualifying absence.
וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂתand scaleconj וְ + N f sg abs · קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת (H7193)Second item of the negated possessive clauseקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת (H7193) 'scale(s)'; here negated — this exclusion covers shellfish, catfish, eels, and other scaleless or finless water creatures.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תֹאכֵלוּלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
תֹאכֵ֑לוּyou shall eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding consumptionאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; prohibitive, closing the water-creature rule.
טָמֵ֥אuncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjectiveטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; ritual classification, predicated of any finless/scaleless water creature.
ה֖וּאit (is)independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the predicate clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms independent pronoun, subject of טָמֵא.
לָכֶֽםto youprep + suff 2mp · לְDative of reference completing the predicateלְ + 2mp suffix, 'to/for you' — unclean for Israel's consumption specifically.
11
כָּל צִפּ֥וֹר טְהֹרָ֖ה תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
Every clean bird you may eat.
A terse permissive heading opening the unclean-bird catalogue (vv.12-18); unlike land and water creatures, no anatomical test is given — cleanness for birds is established solely by the enumerated exclusion list.
Word-by-word analysis· 4 words
כָּלeveryN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing צִפּוֹרכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; opens the bird section's heading formula.
צִפּ֥וֹרbirdN c/b sg abs · צִפּוֹר (H6833)Head noun, subject of the heading clauseצִפּוֹר (H6833) generic 'bird, sparrow'; unlike land and water animals, no anatomical test is given — cleanness is established purely by the enumerated exclusion list of vv.12-18.
טְהֹרָ֖הcleanadj f sg abs · טָהוֹר (H2889)Attributive adjective modifying צִפּוֹרטָהוֹר (H2889) 'clean, pure'; ritual classification, antonym of טָמֵא throughout the chapter.
תֹּאכֵֽלוּyou may eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (permissive)→ Yiqtol (permissive/modal): what is allowedאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; permissive, opening the bird section by general principle before the exclusion list.
12
וְזֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא תֹאכְל֖וּ מֵהֶ֑ם הַנֶּ֥שֶׁר וְהַפֶּ֖רֶס וְהָֽעָזְנִיָּֽה
And this is what you shall not eat of them: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,
Begins the roughly twenty-one-item list of forbidden birds (vv.12-18), starting with large raptors; several identifications in this list are genuinely uncertain and are flagged individually rather than presented as settled.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְזֶ֕הand thisconj וְ + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Subject of the heading clause, opening the bird exclusion listזֶה (H2088) 'this'; resumes the list-heading formula of vv.4, 11, now introducing the negative bird catalogue.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the qualifying clause 'that you shall not eat'.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תֹאכְלוּלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
תֹאכְל֖וּyou shall eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (prohibition), governing the whole bird list→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding consumptionאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; the single verb governing the entire roughly twenty-one-item bird catalogue of vv.12-18.
מֵהֶ֑םof themprep מִן + suff 3mp · מִןPartitive prepositional phrase resuming 'birds'מִן + 3mp suffix, 'of/from them' — resumes 'birds' (v.11) as the class from which the following are excluded.
הַנֶּ֥שֶׁרthe eagleart + N m sg abs · נֶשֶׁר (H5404)First item in the unclean-bird listנֶשֶׁר (H5404), traditionally 'eagle', though several scholars argue it denotes the griffon vulture (its baldness is noted in Mic 1:16) — the identification of the largest raptor named here remains debated.
וְהַפֶּ֖רֶסand the vultureconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · פֶּרֶס (H6538)Second item in the listפֶּרֶס (H6538), from a root 'to break, tear'; widely identified as the bearded vulture/lammergeier, known for dropping bones to crack them — a fittingly rare term for a distinctive raptor.
וְהָֽעָזְנִיָּֽהand the black vultureconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · עָזְנִיָּה (H5822)Third item in the listעָזְנִיָּה (H5822), possibly related to עֹז 'strength'; traditionally 'black vulture', though 'osprey' has also been proposed — a rare term whose precise referent is uncertain.
13
וְהָרָאָה֙ וְאֶת הָ֣אַיָּ֔ה וְהַדַּיָּ֖ה לְמִינָֽהּ
and the kite, and the falcon, and the buzzard, according to its kind,
Continues the catalogue with three more birds of prey; לְמִינָהּ ('according to its kind') signals that a whole genus/family is meant, not a single species — the same formula used of creatures in Genesis 1 and 6-7.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וְהָרָאָה֙and the kiteconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · רָאָה (H7201)Fourth item in the unclean-bird listרָאָה (H7201), a rare term found only here (the Leviticus 11:14 parallel has דָּאָה, likely an orthographic variant of the same bird); probably a kite (Milvus sp.), though certainty is low.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the next birdאֵת (H853), marking הָאַיָּה as object.
הָ֣אַיָּ֔הthe falconart + N f sg abs · אַיָּה (H344)Fifth item in the listאַיָּה (H344) 'falcon, hawk'; also named in Job 28:7 as a keen-sighted bird — probably a falcon or small hawk species, though the exact species is uncertain.
וְהַדַּיָּ֖הand the buzzardconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · דַּיָּה (H1772)Sixth item in the listדַּיָּה (H1772), from a root related to דָּאָה 'to fly swiftly, soar'; likely another kite or buzzard species distinguished from רָאָה above — the list assumes distinct types without giving diagnostic detail.
לְמִינָֽהּaccording to its kindprep לְ + N m sg constr + suff 3fs · מִין (H4327)Adverbial phrase of classification, modifying דַּיָּהמִין (H4327) 'kind, species'; the classifying formula (also used in Gen 1) signals that a whole genus/family of related birds is intended, not one narrow species.
14
וְאֵ֥ת כָּל עֹרֵ֖ב לְמִינֽוֹ
and every raven, according to its kind,
The raven family is treated as a single well-known genus ('every raven ... according to its kind') rather than being subdivided by named subspecies, unlike the more granular raptor entries of vv.12-13.
Word-by-word analysis· 4 words
וְאֵ֥תand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the raven entryאֵת (H853), marking כָּל עֹרֵב as object.
כָּלeveryN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing עֹרֵבכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; here the whole raven/corvid family is treated as one entry, unlike the more granular raptor list.
עֹרֵ֖בravenN m sg abs · עֹרֵב (H6158)Nomen rectum completing כָּל עֹרֵבעֹרֵב (H6158) 'raven, crow' (Corvus corax and relatives); securely identified, associated elsewhere with scavenging (1 Kgs 17:4-6; Gen 8:7).
לְמִינֽוֹaccording to its kindprep לְ + N m sg constr + suff 3ms · מִין (H4327)Adverbial phrase of classification, modifying עֹרֵבמִין (H4327) 'kind, species'; classifies the whole corvid genus as unclean, treated more summarily than the individually named raptors.
15
וְאֵת֙ בַּ֣ת הַֽיַּעֲנָ֔ה וְאֶת הַתַּחְמָ֖ס וְאֶת הַשָּׁ֑חַף וְאֶת הַנֵּ֖ץ לְמִינֵֽהוּ
and the ostrich, and the nighthawk, and the seagull, and the hawk, according to its kind,
Four more birds, several with genuinely uncertain identifications (בַּת הַיַּעֲנָה, תַּחְמָס, שָׁחַף are all debated); נֵץ 'hawk' is comparatively secure, attested independently in Job 39:26.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְאֵת֙and [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the ostrich entryאֵת (H853), marking בַּת הַיַּעֲנָה as object.
בַּ֣תdaughter ofN f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Construct, first half of the idiom for 'ostrich'בַּת (H1323) 'daughter'; construct in the fixed idiom בַּת הַיַּעֲנָה, 'ostrich' (lit. 'daughter of greed/the wasteland').
הַֽיַּעֲנָ֔הthe ostrichart + N f sg abs · יַעֲנָה (H3284)Nomen rectum completing בַּת הַיַּעֲנָהיַעֲנָה (H3284), etymology debated (perhaps 'greed' or connected to desert wasteland); the whole idiom בַּת הַיַּעֲנָה is traditionally and plausibly 'ostrich', supported by its association with desolate places (Isa 13:21; Lam 4:3).
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the next birdאֵת (H853), marking הַתַּחְמָס as object.
הַתַּחְמָ֖סthe nighthawkart + N m sg abs · תַּחְמָס (H8464)Direct object, next item in the listתַּחְמָס (H8464), a hapax legomenon; traditionally 'nighthawk' or a nocturnal bird, though 'male ostrich' has also been proposed — the root gives no reliable guidance and the identification is uncertain.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the next birdאֵת (H853), marking הַשָּׁחַף as object.
הַשָּׁ֑חַףthe seagullart + N m sg abs · שַׁחַף (H7828)Direct object, next item in the listשַׁחַף (H7828), from a root meaning 'to be lean/gaunt'; traditionally 'seagull', though 'cuckoo' has also been proposed — versions diverge, and the identification is uncertain.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the final bird of this verseאֵת (H853), marking הַנֵּץ as object.
הַנֵּ֖ץthe hawkart + N m sg abs · נֵץ (H5322)Direct object, final named bird before the classifierנֵץ (H5322) 'hawk'; comparatively secure, attested in Job 39:26 as a bird noted for its migratory flight — likely covers several hawk/falcon species collectively.
לְמִינֵֽהוּaccording to its kindprep לְ + N m sg constr + suff 3ms · מִין (H4327)Adverbial phrase of classification, modifying הַנֵּץמִין (H4327) 'kind, species'; classifies the hawk genus, and by the list's convention likely covers this whole cluster of four birds.
16
אֶת הַכּ֥וֹס וְאֶת הַיַּנְשׁ֖וּף וְהַתִּנְשָֽׁמֶת
the little owl, and the owl, and the white owl,
A cluster of owl-type birds; כּוֹס, יַנְשׁוּף, and תִּנְשֶׁמֶת are all rare terms whose species-level identification beyond the general 'owl' family remains uncertain, and ancient versions render the sequence somewhat differently.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the owl clusterאֵת (H853), marking הַכּוֹס as object.
הַכּ֥וֹסthe little owlart + N m sg abs · כּוֹס (H3563)Direct object, next item in the listכּוֹס (H3563) likely 'little owl' (Athene noctua); attested elsewhere as a bird of desolate ruins (Ps 102:7), lending reasonable support to the owl identification.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the next birdאֵת (H853), marking הַיַּנְשׁוּף as object.
הַיַּנְשׁ֖וּףthe owlart + N m sg abs · יַנְשׁוּף (H3244)Direct object, next item in the listיַנְשׁוּף (H3244), root uncertain, likely a larger owl species (perhaps eagle owl); recurs among desolation-imagery birds in Isa 34:11.
וְהַתִּנְשָֽׁמֶתand the white owlconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · תִּנְשֶׁמֶת (H8580)Final item in the verse's owl clusterתִּנְשֶׁמֶת (H8580), probably from a root for heavy breathing/hissing; here in a bird context most likely 'barn owl' (Tyto alba). The same word denotes a lizard in the separate Lev 11:30 reptile list — a striking case where one Hebrew term covers two unrelated referents in two different catalogues, and translators must decide by context alone.
17
וְהַקָּאָ֥ת וְאֶֽת הָרָחָ֖מָה וְאֶת הַשָּׁלָֽךְ
and the pelican, and the carrion vulture, and the cormorant,
Three more birds associated with water or carrion; רָחָם is one of the more securely identified terms in the whole catalogue, via an Arabic cognate for the Egyptian vulture.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וְהַקָּאָ֥תand the pelicanconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · קָאָת (H6893)First item in this verse's listקָאָת (H6893), from a root possibly meaning 'to vomit' (perhaps referring to a pelican's regurgitative feeding of its young); traditionally 'pelican', attested in desolation imagery (Ps 102:7; Isa 34:11; Zeph 2:14), though 'desert owl' has also been proposed.
וְאֶֽתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the next birdאֵת (H853), marking הָרָחָמָה as object.
הָרָחָ֖מָהthe carrion vultureart + N m sg abs (fem form) · רָחָם (H7360)Direct object, next item in the listרָחָם (H7360), cognate to Arabic rakham; one of the more confidently identified birds here, the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), a carrion-eating scavenger.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker introducing the final bird of this verseאֵת (H853), marking הַשָּׁלָךְ as object.
הַשָּׁלָֽךְthe cormorantart + N m sg abs · שָׁלָךְ (H7994)Direct object, final item in this verseשָׁלָךְ (H7994), from a root 'to cast, throw', plausibly describing the plunge-diving fishing technique of the cormorant — a reasonable but not certain identification.
18
וְהַ֣חֲסִידָ֔ה וְהָאֲנָפָ֖ה לְמִינָ֑הּ וְהַדּוּכִיפַ֖ת וְהָעֲטַלֵּֽף
and the stork, and the heron according to its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.
Closes the specifically-named bird catalogue with stork, heron, hoopoe, and bat — the last a flying mammal grouped with birds by ancient taxonomy based on flight; v.19 then adds a summary category for winged swarming creatures.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וְהַ֣חֲסִידָ֔הand the storkconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · חֲסִידָה (H2624)First item in this verse's listחֲסִידָה (H2624) 'stork', from the root חֶסֶד 'kindness, loyalty' (ancient folk etymology for its perceived devotion to young/parents); securely identified, noted elsewhere for its migratory regularity (Jer 8:7; Ps 104:17).
וְהָאֲנָפָ֖הand the heronconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · אֲנָפָה (H601)Second item in this verse's listאֲנָפָה (H601), root disputed (perhaps related to אַף 'anger/snorting', describing temperament); reasonably identified as a heron species, though which one (grey heron, egret) is unclear.
לְמִינָ֑הּaccording to its kindprep לְ + N m sg constr + suff 3fs · מִין (H4327)Adverbial phrase of classification, modifying אֲנָפָהמִין (H4327) 'kind, species'; classifies the heron genus as a whole.
וְהַדּוּכִיפַ֖תand the hoopoeconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · דּוּכִיפַת (H1744)Third item in this verse's listדּוּכִיפַת (H1744) 'hoopoe' (Upupa epops); a fairly secure identification, supported by later Jewish tradition (rabbinic נגר טורא) for this distinctively crested bird.
וְהָעֲטַלֵּֽףand the batconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · עֲטַלֵּף (H5847)Fourth and final item, closing the individually-named bird listעֲטַלֵּף (H5847) 'bat'; securely identified. Not a bird zoologically, but classed with עוֹף ('flying creature') in ancient Hebrew taxonomy, which groups by the functional trait of flight rather than modern biological categories.
19
וְכֹל֙ שֶׁ֣רֶץ הָע֔וֹף טָמֵ֥א ה֖וּא לָכֶ֑ם לֹ֖א יֵאָכֵֽלוּ
And every swarming winged creature is unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.
A catch-all negative category for small flying/swarming creatures (insects), paralleling Lev 11:20-23, which there allows an exception for certain locusts — an exception this Deuteronomy text omits entirely, giving a starker blanket prohibition.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְכֹל֙and everyconj וְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing שֶׁרֶץכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; opens a summary catch-all category after the individually-named birds.
שֶׁ֣רֶץswarmer ofN m sg constr · שֶׁרֶץ (H8318)Construct governing הָעוֹףשֶׁרֶץ (H8318) 'swarming thing'; a term for small creatures that teem or swarm (insects, small reptiles); construct before הָעוֹף specifies 'swarmers of the winged kind' — flying insects.
הָע֔וֹףthe winged (creature)art + N m sg abs · עוֹף (H5775)Nomen rectum completing שֶׁרֶץ הָעוֹףעוֹף (H5775) 'winged/flying creature'; the same generic term used in vv.11, 20 for birds, here extended to flying insects via the construct with שֶׁרֶץ.
טָמֵ֥אuncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjectiveטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; ritual classification, predicated of all winged swarmers as a category.
ה֖וּאit (is)independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the predicate clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms independent pronoun, subject of טָמֵא (agreeing with the collective category as singular).
לָכֶ֑םto youprep + suff 2mp · לְDative of reference completing the predicateלְ + 2mp suffix, 'to/for you' — unclean for Israel's consumption.
לֹ֖אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the passive verb יֵאָכֵלוּלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
יֵאָכֵֽלוּthey shall be eatenNiphal impf 3mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (passive prohibition)→ Yiqtol passive (prohibitive): a notable shift to impersonal passive voice for this catch-all categoryאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; Niphal passive 'be eaten' — unlike the chapter's usual 2mp active prohibitions, this summary clause is phrased impersonally, matching its blanket, unenumerated scope.
20
כָּל ע֥וֹף טָה֖וֹר תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
Every clean winged creature you may eat.
Balances v.19's blanket exclusion with a positive complementary statement, closing the whole bird/flying-creature unit before the chapter turns to the carcass and kid-in-milk coda.
Word-by-word analysis· 4 words
כָּלeveryN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing עוֹףכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; opens the closing permissive statement of the bird/flying-creature unit.
ע֥וֹףwinged (creature)N m sg abs · עוֹף (H5775)Nomen rectum completing כָּל עוֹףעוֹף (H5775) 'winged/flying creature'; here broader than birds alone, potentially including clean flying insects, though the text does not itemize a positive list as Lev 11:21-22 does for locusts.
טָה֖וֹרcleanadj m sg abs · טָהוֹר (H2889)Attributive adjective modifying עוֹףטָהוֹר (H2889) 'clean, pure'; ritual classification, antonym of טָמֵא.
תֹּאכֵֽלוּyou may eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (permissive)→ Yiqtol (permissive/modal): what is allowedאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; permissive, closing the bird/flying-creature unit before the chapter turns to carcasses and the kid-in-milk prohibition (v.21).
21
לֹ֣א תֹאכְל֣וּ כָל נְ֠בֵלָה לַגֵּ֨ר אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֜יךָ תִּתְּנֶ֣נָּה וַאֲכָלָ֗הּ א֤וֹ מָכֹר֙ לְנָכְרִ֔י כִּ֣י עַ֤ם קָדוֹשׁ֙ אַתָּ֔ה לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹֽא תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל גְּדִ֖י בַּחֲלֵ֥ב אִמּֽוֹ
You shall not eat any carcass; you may give it to the sojourner within your gates, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner — for you are a holy people to YHWH your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.
Closes the dietary section with two distinct prohibitions bound by the 'holy people... your God' formula repeated verbatim from v.2, forming an inclusio around vv.2-21. The sojourner/foreigner carcass provision is unique to Deuteronomy (contrast Lev 17:15). The kid-in-milk maxim recurs at Exod 23:19 and 34:26; its original rationale is genuinely debated among scholars.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the verb, opening the closing codaלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
תֹאכְל֣וּyou shall eatQal impf 2mp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding consumptionאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; prohibitive, opening the closing coda of the dietary section.
כָלanyN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing נְבֵלָהכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; construct before נְבֵלָה, 'any carcass'.
נְ֠בֵלָהcarcassN f sg abs · נְבֵלָה (H5038)Direct objectנְבֵלָה (H5038) 'carcass, corpse'; an animal that died of itself or was killed improperly — distinct from meat slaughtered according to law and thus not automatically defiling for non-Israelites (contrast Lev 17:15, which requires even the resident alien to bear impurity for eating it).
לַגֵּ֨רto the sojournerprep לְ + art + N m sg abs · גֵּר (H1616)Indirect object, fronted for emphasisגֵּר (H1616) 'sojourner, resident alien'; a non-Israelite living among Israel, protected by law though distinguished from the native-born.
אֲשֶׁרwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying הַגֵּראֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the qualifying clause 'who is within your gates'.
בִּשְׁעָרֶ֜יךָin your gatesprep בְּ + N m pl constr + suff 2ms · שַׁעַר (H8179)Prepositional phrase (locative), completing the relative clauseשַׁעַר (H8179) 'gate'; idiomatic plural 'in your gates' = within your towns/settlements.
תִּתְּנֶ֣נָּהyou shall give itQal impf 2ms + suff 3fs · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (permissive/directive), main clause→ Yiqtol (permissive): what is allowed toward the sojournerנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; with 3fs suffix resuming נְבֵלָה — permission (not obligation) to give the carcass to the resident sojourner.
וַאֲכָלָ֗הּand he shall eat itconj וְ + Qal perf 3ms + suff 3fs (weqatal) · אָכַל (H398)Weqatal continuing the sequence, subject shifts to the sojourner→ Weqatal: consequential continuation — the sojourner's resulting actionאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; weqatal continuing תִּתְּנֶנָּה, subject now the sojourner — 'that he may eat it'.
א֤וֹordisjunctive conj · אוֹ (H176)Coordinating disjunction between the two permitted optionsאוֹ (H176) 'or'; offers the alternative of a commercial sale to a foreigner.
מָכֹר֙sellQal inf abs · מָכַר (H4376)Infinitive absolute functioning as a finite verb, continuing the sequence→ Infinitive absolute standing for a finite verb: a common idiom continuing a preceding yiqtol/weqatal chainמָכַר (H4376) 'to sell'; infinitive absolute used verbally, 'or [you may] sell [it]' — a commercial transaction with the non-resident foreigner, contrasted with the charitable gift to the resident sojourner.
לְנָכְרִ֔יto a foreignerprep לְ + adj (substantival) m sg abs · נָכְרִי (H5237)Indirect object of מָכֹרנָכְרִי (H5237) 'foreigner, stranger'; unlike the resident גֵּר, a non-resident foreigner with whom purely commercial dealings are in view.
כִּ֣יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction, grounding the whole dietary section in Israel's statusכִּי (H3588) 'for'; introduces the same rationale-formula as v.2, closing an inclusio around the dietary law.
עַ֤םa peopleN m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Predicate nounעַם (H5971) 'people'; predicate, repeating v.2's formula verbatim to close the inclusio.
קָדוֹשׁ֙holyadj m sg abs · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Attributive adjective modifying עַםקָדוֹשׁ (H6918) 'holy, set apart'; verbatim repetition of v.2, forming an inclusio around the entire dietary unit (vv.2-21).
אַתָּ֔הyou (are)independent pron 2ms · אַתָּה (H859)Subject of nominal clauseאַתָּה (H859) 2ms independent pronoun, subject.
לַיהוָ֖הto YHWHprep לְ + Np · יְהוָה (H3068)Complement of possessionיְהוָה (H3068); לְ marks relational belonging — 'holy to YHWH'.
אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, closing the verbatim repetition of v.2's formula.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תְבַשֵּׁל, opening a new, distinct maximלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
תְבַשֵּׁ֥לyou shall boilPiel impf 2ms · בָּשַׁל (H1310)Predicate verb (prohibition)→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding a specific actבָּשַׁל (H1310) 'to boil, cook'; Piel. This maxim occurs three times in the Torah (also Exod 23:19; 34:26); its original rationale is debated — an older cult-parody theory (a supposed Canaanite ritual) is now largely discredited, and a general ethical concern about mixing categories of life and death, or a food-preparation taboo, is more likely.
גְּדִ֖יa kidN m sg abs · גְּדִי (H1423)Direct objectגְּדִי (H1423) 'kid, young goat'; the animal in question — precisely a young goat, though the principle was extended by later interpreters to all meat and dairy.
בַּחֲלֵ֥בin the milk ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · חָלָב (H2461)Prepositional phrase (instrumental/locative)חָלָב (H2461) 'milk'; construct governing אִמּוֹ, specifying whose milk.
אִמּֽוֹits motherN f sg constr + suff 3ms · אֵם (H517)Nomen rectum completing the construct chainאֵם (H517) 'mother'; with 3ms suffix — the maxim's precise force turns on the kid being boiled specifically in its OWN mother's milk, the detail that has generated the most scholarly discussion of the clause's rationale.
22
עַשֵּׂ֣ר תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר אֵ֖ת כָּל תְּבוּאַ֣ת זַרְעֶ֑ךָ הַיֹּצֵ֥א הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה שָׁנָ֥ה שָׁנָֽה
You shall surely tithe all the produce of your seed that comes out of the field, year by year.
Shifts topic from diet to the annual tithe; the infinitive-absolute-plus-finite-verb construction (עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר) intensifies the obligation ('you shall surely tithe'), signaling the seriousness of the material that follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
עַשֵּׂ֣רsurely (tithe)Piel inf abs · עָשַׂר (H6237)Infinitive absolute intensifying the following finite verb→ Infinitive absolute: emphatic reinforcement — 'you shall SURELY tithe', without failעָשַׂר (H6237), denominative from עֶשֶׂר 'ten', 'to tithe'; the infinitive absolute doubling the finite verb is the standard Hebrew way of stressing certainty/obligation.
תְּעַשֵּׂ֔רyou shall tithePiel impf 2ms · עָשַׂר (H6237)Predicate verb (main clause), reinforced by the preceding infinitive absolute→ Yiqtol (obligatory): a binding, annually-repeated dutyעָשַׂר (H6237) 'to tithe, take a tenth'; opens the chapter's second major topic, the annual agricultural tithe.
אֵ֖ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi, marking כָּל תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ as object.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing תְּבוּאַתכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct before תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ.
תְּבוּאַ֣תproduce ofN f sg constr · תְּבוּאָה (H8393)Construct governing זַרְעֶךָ, direct objectתְּבוּאָה (H8393) 'produce, yield, income', from בּוֹא 'to come in'; the annual agricultural harvest.
זַרְעֶ֑ךָyour seedN m sg constr + suff 2ms · זֶרַע (H2233)Nomen rectum completing the construct chainזֶרַע (H2233) 'seed'; here metonymy for what you sow — your crops generally.
הַיֹּצֵ֥אthat comes outart + Qal ptc ms · יָצָא (H3318)Attributive participle modifying תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ→ Participle: attributive, describing the produce's emergence from the fieldיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; substantival/attributive participle, 'that which comes forth' — the yield emerging from the ground.
הַשָּׂדֶ֖הthe fieldart + N m sg abs · שָׂדֶה (H7704)Source complement of the participle הַיֹּצֵאשָׂדֶה (H7704) 'field'; the source from which the produce emerges.
שָׁנָ֥הyearN f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)First half of the reduplicated adverbial idiomשָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; reduplicated with the following שָׁנָה to form the idiom 'year by year, annually' (cf. 1 Sam 1:7; 2 Chr 24:5).
שָׁנָֽהby yearN f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Second half of the reduplicated adverbial idiomשָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; the repetition completes the distributive idiom, 'year by year'.
23
וְאָכַלְתָּ֞ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ בַּמָּק֣וֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר֮ לְשַׁכֵּ֣ן שְׁמ֣וֹ שָׁם֒ מַעְשַׂ֤ר דְּגָֽנְךָ֙ תִּֽירֹשְׁךָ֣ וְיִצְהָרֶ֔ךָ וּבְכֹרֹ֥ת בְּקָרְךָ֖ וְצֹאנֶ֑ךָ לְמַ֣עַן תִּלְמַ֗ד לְיִרְאָ֛ה אֶת יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ כָּל הַיָּמִֽים
And you shall eat before YHWH your God, in the place that he will choose to make his name dwell there, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear YHWH your God always.
Introduces the centralization formula ('the place he will choose to make his name dwell') that structures worship throughout Deuteronomy; the tithe is not simply set aside but eaten in a joyful, pedagogical meal whose stated purpose (לְמַעַן) is to cultivate lifelong reverence for YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
וְאָכַלְתָּ֞and you shall eatconj וְ + Qal perf 2ms (weqatal) · אָכַל (H398)Weqatal continuing the tithe instruction from v.22→ Weqatal: consequential continuation, the required next actאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; weqatal continuing v.22 — the tithe is not merely set aside but eaten in a cultic meal.
לִפְנֵ֣יbeforeprep לְ + N c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase (locative, cultic presence)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; the idiom לִפְנֵי יְהוָה 'before/in the presence of YHWH' denotes worship at the sanctuary.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of preposition לִפְנֵייְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, in apposition to the divine name.
בַּמָּק֣וֹםin the placeprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · מָקוֹם (H4725)Prepositional phrase (locative)מָקוֹם (H4725) 'place'; the technical Deuteronomic term for the single, YHWH-chosen central sanctuary (cf. Deut 12:5, 11, 14, 18, 21, 26).
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying הַמָּקוֹםאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the centralization formula's qualifying clause.
יִבְחַר֮he will chooseQal impf 3ms · בָּחַר (H977)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: the key verb of Deuteronomy's recurring centralization formulaבָּחַר (H977) 'to choose'; the standard verb of Deuteronomy's centralization formula, recurring throughout chs. 12-26.
לְשַׁכֵּ֣ןto cause to dwellprep לְ + Piel inf constr · שָׁכַן (H7931)Purpose infinitive clause→ Infinitive construct: purpose, the goal of YHWH's choosingשָׁכַן (H7931) 'to dwell'; Piel causative 'cause to dwell' — God's name (not necessarily God's full presence) takes up residence at the chosen site, foundational to Deuteronomy's 'Name theology'.
שְׁמ֣וֹhis nameN m sg constr + suff 3ms · שֵׁם (H8034)Object of the infinitive לְשַׁכֵּןשֵׁם (H8034) 'name'; with 3ms suffix, referring to YHWH's name as the mode of his presence at the sanctuary.
שָׁם֒thereadverb · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial complement of לְשַׁכֵּןשָׁם (H8033) 'there'; resumes הַמָּקוֹם, closing the centralization formula.
מַעְשַׂ֤רthe tithe ofN m sg constr · מַעֲשֵׂר (H4643)Construct, direct object of וְאָכַלְתָּמַעֲשֵׂר (H4643) 'tithe, tenth'; resumes v.22's theme, now itemizing what is eaten.
דְּגָֽנְךָ֙your grainN m sg constr + suff 2ms · דָּגָן (H1715)First item, nomen rectum of מַעְשַׂרדָּגָן (H1715) 'grain'; first of the standard triad grain/wine/oil representing Israel's staple produce.
תִּֽירֹשְׁךָ֣your new wineN m sg constr + suff 2ms · תִּירוֹשׁ (H8492)Second item in the triadתִּירוֹשׁ (H8492) 'new wine, must'; second of the grain/wine/oil triad.
וְיִצְהָרֶ֔ךָand your oilconj וְ + N m sg constr + suff 2ms · יִצְהָר (H3323)Third item, completing the triadיִצְהָר (H3323) 'fresh oil'; completes the standard דָּגָן/תִּירוֹשׁ/יִצְהָר triad for Israel's staple crops.
וּבְכֹרֹ֥תand the firstborn ofconj וְ + N c/b pl constr · בְּכוֹר (H1062)Additional item, coordinated with the tithe itemsבְּכוֹר (H1062) 'firstborn'; adds livestock firstlings to the crop-tithe as further material to be eaten at the sanctuary (cf. Deut 15:19-20).
בְּקָרְךָ֖your herdN c/b sg constr + suff 2ms · בָּקָר (H1241)Nomen rectum completing וּבְכֹרֹתבָּקָר (H1241) 'herd, cattle'; the large-livestock category.
וְצֹאנֶ֑ךָand your flockconj וְ + N c/b sg constr + suff 2ms · צֹאן (H6629)Second nomen rectum, completing the pairצֹאן (H6629) 'flock, sheep and goats'; the small-livestock category, paired with בָּקָר.
לְמַ֣עַןso thatpurpose conj · לְמַעַן (H4616)Purpose conjunction, introducing the rationale for the tithe-mealלְמַעַן (H4616) 'in order that, so that'; states the pedagogical goal of the whole tithe-eating practice.
תִּלְמַ֗דyou may learnQal impf 2ms · לָמַד (H3925)Predicate verb of the purpose clause→ Yiqtol: purposive result — the didactic aim of the tithe-mealלָמַד (H3925) 'to learn'; the recurring meal at the sanctuary is explicitly pedagogical, forming reverence through repeated practice.
לְיִרְאָ֛הto fearprep לְ + Qal inf constr · יָרֵא (H3372)Complementary infinitive of תִּלְמַד→ Infinitive construct: the content of what is learnedיָרֵא (H3372) 'to fear'; reverent awe toward YHWH — the stated goal of the entire tithe-meal practice.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ as the object of יִרְאָה.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of לְיִרְאָהיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, in apposition, closing the purpose clause.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing הַיָּמִיםכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct before הַיָּמִים forming the idiom 'always, continually'.
הַיָּמִֽיםthe daysart + N m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Nomen rectum completing כָּל הַיָּמִיםיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; the idiom כָּל הַיָּמִים 'all the days' means 'always, continually' — reverence is to be a lifelong, repeated formation, not a one-time act.
24
וְכִֽי יִרְבֶּ֨ה מִמְּךָ֜ הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ כִּ֣י לֹ֣א תוּכַ֘ל שְׂאֵתוֹ֒ כִּֽי יִרְחַ֤ק מִמְּךָ֙ הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִבְחַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לָשׂ֥וּם שְׁמ֖וֹ שָׁ֑ם כִּ֥י יְבָרֶכְךָ֖ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ
And if the distance is too great for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place that YHWH your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you, when YHWH your God blesses you —
Opens a long conditional sentence completed only in v.25 ('then you shall turn it into silver...'); anticipates the practical difficulty of transporting a full tithe to a potentially distant central sanctuary — a distinctly Deuteronomic accommodation tied to its centralization program.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וְכִֽיand ifconj וְ + conditional conj · כִּי (H3588)Conditional conjunction opening a new casuistic provisionכִּי (H3588) 'if'; opens the protasis of a long conditional sentence completed only in v.25.
יִרְבֶּ֨הit is too muchQal impf 3ms · רָבָה (H7235)Predicate verb of the conditional clause→ Yiqtol (hypothetical): a possible future circumstanceרָבָה (H7235) 'to be much, increase'; here of distance being too great — a practical, sympathetic accommodation to real geography.
מִמְּךָ֜from youprep מִן + suff 2ms · מִן (H4480)Comparative prepositional phrase ('too much for you')מִן (H4480) comparative, 'beyond/more than you [can manage]'.
הַדֶּ֗רֶךְthe distanceart + N c/b sg abs · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Subject of יִרְבֶּהדֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'way, road, journey'; here concretely the distance/travel involved in bringing the tithe.
כִּ֣יso thatconj · כִּי (H3588)Result/reason conjunctionכִּי (H3588), here marking result — 'so that you are not able'.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תוּכַללֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
תוּכַ֘לyou are ableQal impf 2ms · יָכֹל (H3201)Predicate verb, negated→ Yiqtol (hypothetical, negated): incapacity within the conditional scenarioיָכֹל (H3201) 'to be able'; negated, expressing the practical impossibility that triggers the alternative provision.
שְׂאֵתוֹ֒to carry itQal inf constr + suff 3ms · נָשָׂא (H5375)Complementary infinitive of תוּכַל→ Infinitive construct: the specific act found impossibleנָשָׂא (H5375) 'to lift, carry'; with 3ms suffix resuming the tithe — physically transporting the full produce-tithe over a long distance.
כִּֽיbecauseconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction, explaining the distance problemכִּי (H3588) 'because'; introduces the reason for the difficulty — the sanctuary's distance.
יִרְחַ֤קit is farQal impf 3ms · רָחַק (H7368)Predicate verb, subject הַמָּקוֹם→ Yiqtol (hypothetical): a possible circumstance of geographic distanceרָחַק (H7368) 'to be far'; predicated of the sanctuary's distance from the worshiper's home.
מִמְּךָ֙from youprep מִן + suff 2ms · מִן (H4480)Comparative prepositional phraseמִן (H4480), 'from you' — completing 'too far from you'.
הַמָּק֔וֹםthe placeart + N m sg abs · מָקוֹם (H4725)Subject of יִרְחַקמָקוֹם (H4725) 'place'; again the central sanctuary of the choice-formula.
אֲשֶׁ֤רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying הַמָּקוֹםאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the centralization formula's qualifying clause.
יִבְחַר֙he will chooseQal impf 3ms · בָּחַר (H977)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: the recurring centralization-formula verbבָּחַר (H977) 'to choose'; repeats the centralization formula from v.23.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of יִבְחַריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, in apposition.
לָשׂ֥וּםto putprep לְ + Qal inf constr · שִׂים (H7760)Purpose infinitive clause→ Infinitive construct: purpose, the goal of YHWH's choosingשִׂים (H7760) 'to put, place'; purpose infinitive parallel to לְשַׁכֵּן in v.23 — a stylistic variation for the same 'Name theology' concept.
שְׁמ֖וֹhis nameN m sg constr + suff 3ms · שֵׁם (H8034)Object of the infinitive לָשׂוּםשֵׁם (H8034) 'name'; YHWH's name residing at the chosen sanctuary.
שָׁ֑םthereadverb · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial complement of לָשׂוּםשָׁם (H8033) 'there'; resumes הַמָּקוֹם.
כִּ֥יwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Temporal/causal conjunction introducing the blessing clauseכִּי (H3588), here temporal-causal, 'when/because YHWH blesses you' — the reason the tithe has grown large enough to be burdensome.
יְבָרֶכְךָ֖he blesses youPiel impf 3ms + suff 2ms · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb of the causal clause→ Yiqtol: an ongoing/repeated divine action (blessing that increases the harvest)בָּרַךְ (H1288) 'to bless'; the abundance that makes distance a genuine practical problem is itself framed positively, as divine blessing rather than burden.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of יְבָרֶכְךָיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, closing the verse's long conditional protasis (resumed and resolved only in v.25).
25
וְנָתַתָּ֖ה בַּכָּ֑סֶף וְצַרְתָּ֤ הַכֶּ֨סֶף֙ בְּיָ֣דְךָ֔ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙ אֶל הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בּֽוֹ
then you shall turn it into silver, and bind up the silver in your hand, and go to the place that YHWH your God will choose,
Resolves the conditional opened in v.24: instead of hauling the physical produce-tithe, convert it to silver, carry the silver, and travel to the sanctuary — a pragmatic accommodation without parallel in Leviticus's tithe law.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וְנָתַתָּ֖הand you shall turn (it into)conj וְ + Qal perf 2ms (weqatal) · נָתַן (H5414)Weqatal apodosis, resolving v.24's conditional→ Weqatal: the required resolution once the condition of v.24 obtainsנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; idiom נָתַן בְּ 'give for' = exchange, convert — resolving the distance problem by converting produce to portable silver.
בַּכָּ֑סֶףfor silverprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Prepositional phrase completing נָתַתָּה's idiomכֶּסֶף (H3701) 'silver'; the standard medium of exchange in ancient Israel, used here as portable value in place of bulky produce.
וְצַרְתָּ֤and you shall bind upconj וְ + Qal perf 2ms (weqatal) · צָרַר (H6887)Weqatal continuing the apodosis sequence→ Weqatal: sequential required actionצָרַר (H6887) 'to bind, wrap up'; describes securing the silver (in a purse or cloth bundle) for the journey.
הַכֶּ֨סֶף֙the silverart + N m sg abs · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Direct object of וְצַרְתָּכֶּסֶף (H3701) 'silver', resumed from the previous clause.
בְּיָ֣דְךָ֔in your handprep בְּ + N c/b sg constr + suff 2ms · יָד (H3027)Prepositional phrase (locative)יָד (H3027) 'hand'; idiom for personal possession and control while traveling.
וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙and you shall goconj וְ + Qal perf 2ms (weqatal) · הָלַךְ (H1980)Weqatal continuing the apodosis sequence→ Weqatal: sequential required actionהָלַךְ (H1980) 'to go, walk'; the journey to the sanctuary, now unburdened by bulky produce.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (allative), object of וְהָלַכְתָּאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; directional preposition.
הַמָּק֔וֹםthe placeart + N m sg abs · מָקוֹם (H4725)Object of preposition אֶלמָקוֹם (H4725) 'place'; again the central sanctuary.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying הַמָּקוֹםאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the centralization formula's qualifying clause.
יִבְחַ֛רhe will chooseQal impf 3ms · בָּחַר (H977)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: the recurring centralization-formula verbבָּחַר (H977) 'to choose'; the formula's third occurrence in this chapter (vv.23, 24, 25).
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of יִבְחַריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, in apposition.
בּֽוֹin itprep + suff 3ms · בְּPrepositional phrase resuming הַמָּקוֹםבְּ + 3ms suffix, 'in it' — resumes 'the place', completing the sentence.
26
וְנָתַתָּ֣ה הַכֶּ֡סֶף בְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁר תְּאַוֶּ֨ה נַפְשְׁךָ֜ בַּבָּקָ֣ר וּבַצֹּ֗אן וּבַיַּ֨יִן֙ וּבַשֵּׁכָ֔ר וּבְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּֽשְׁאָלְךָ֖ נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְאָכַ֣לְתָּ שָּׁ֗ם לִפְנֵי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֖ אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵיתֶֽךָ
And you shall spend the silver on whatever your soul desires — on oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your soul asks of you — and you shall eat there before YHWH your God, and rejoice, you and your household.
The famous 'whatever your soul desires' clause is striking in its breadth, explicitly including intoxicants (יַיִן, שֵׁכָר); it frames the tithe-meal as an occasion of genuine festive joy rather than mere ritual obligation, shared with the whole household.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וְנָתַתָּ֣הand you shall spendconj וְ + Qal perf 2ms (weqatal) · נָתַן (H5414)Weqatal continuing the apodosis sequence→ Weqatal: sequential required actionנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; here 'lay out, spend' — using the silver to purchase what will be eaten at the sanctuary.
הַכֶּ֡סֶףthe silverart + N m sg abs · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Direct object of וְנָתַתָּהכֶּסֶף (H3701) 'silver', resumed from v.25.
בְּכֹל֩on whateverprep בְּ + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase, opening the list of purchasable itemsכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; בְּ marks the purchase's object — 'on whatever [your soul desires]'.
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the desire-clause.
תְּאַוֶּ֨הit desiresPiel impf 3fs · אָוָה (H183)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: ongoing appetite/desireאָוָה (H183) 'to desire, crave'; predicated of נֶפֶשׁ, the appetite — the clause grants remarkably broad latitude in what may be purchased and eaten.
נַפְשְׁךָ֜your soulN c/b sg constr + suff 2ms · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of תְּאַוֶּהנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, self, appetite'; here specifically the seat of desire/craving — 'whatever you crave'.
בַּבָּקָ֣רon oxenprep בְּ + art + N c/b sg abs · בָּקָר (H1241)First item in the purchase listבָּקָר (H1241) 'herd, cattle'; the first of four named categories illustrating the breadth of 'whatever you desire'.
וּבַצֹּ֗אןor on sheepconj וְ + prep בְּ + art + N c/b sg abs · צֹאן (H6629)Second item in the purchase listצֹאן (H6629) 'flock, sheep and goats'; second named category.
וּבַיַּ֨יִן֙or on wineconj וְ + prep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יַיִן (H3196)Third item in the purchase listיַיִן (H3196) 'wine'; third named category — notably, the tithe-meal provisions explicitly include alcoholic drink.
וּבַשֵּׁכָ֔רor on strong drinkconj וְ + prep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · שֵׁכָר (H7941)Fourth item in the purchase listשֵׁכָר (H7941) 'strong/fermented drink' (e.g. beer), distinct from grape יַיִן; the pair יַיִן/שֵׁכָר together cover intoxicating beverages broadly, underscoring the meal's festive, non-ascetic character.
וּבְכֹ֛לor on whateverconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase reopening the general category after the specific examplesכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; the general formula recurs after the four specific examples, framing the list as illustrative rather than exhaustive.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the second desire-clause.
תִּֽשְׁאָלְךָ֖it asks of youQal impf 3fs + suff 2ms · שָׁאַל (H7592)Predicate verb of the second relative clause→ Yiqtol: ongoing request/desireשָׁאַל (H7592) 'to ask, request'; personifies נֶפֶשׁ as making a request of you — a vivid idiom for whatever one's appetite calls for.
נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָyour soulN c/b sg constr + suff 2ms · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of תִּשְׁאָלְךָנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, appetite'; repeated for emphasis, framing the whole clause.
וְאָכַ֣לְתָּand you shall eatconj וְ + Qal perf 2ms (weqatal) · אָכַל (H398)Weqatal resuming the eating theme from v.23→ Weqatal: sequential required actionאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; resumes and completes the tithe-meal instruction begun in v.23.
שָּׁ֗םthereadverb · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial complement of וְאָכַלְתָּשָׁם (H8033) 'there'; at the chosen sanctuary.
לִפְנֵי֙beforeprep לְ + N c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase (locative, cultic presence)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; the idiom 'before YHWH' recurs, resuming v.23.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of preposition לִפְנֵייְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, in apposition.
וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֖and you shall rejoiceconj וְ + Qal perf 2ms (weqatal) · שָׂמַח (H8055)Weqatal, climactic command of the tithe-meal instruction→ Weqatal: the meal's climactic, mandated emotional responseשָׂמַח (H8055) 'to rejoice, be glad'; an explicit command to festive joy, a hallmark of Deuteronomy's cultic theology (cf. 12:7, 12, 18; 16:11, 14-15).
אַתָּ֥הyouindependent pron 2ms · אַתָּה (H859)Subject, resumed/emphasized alongside וּבֵיתֶךָאַתָּה (H859) 2ms independent pronoun, paired with 'your household' to specify who rejoices.
וּבֵיתֶֽךָand your householdconj וְ + N m sg constr + suff 2ms · בַּיִת (H1004)Second subject, coordinated with אַתָּהבַּיִת (H1004) 'house, household'; the whole family shares in the sanctuary joy — this meal is domestic and communal, not solitary.
27
וְהַלֵּוִ֥י אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תַֽעַזְבֶ֑נּוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין ל֛וֹ חֵ֥לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ
And the Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him, for he has no portion or inheritance with you.
Introduces the rationale (landlessness) behind the Levite's dependence on the tithe system, transitioning from the annual tithe-meal (vv.22-26) to the triennial local tithe for the vulnerable (vv.28-29).
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְהַלֵּוִ֥יand the Leviteconj וְ + art + gentilic N m sg abs · לֵוִי (H3881)Fronted direct object of תַעַזְבֶנּוּ, resumed by the suffixלֵוִי (H3881) 'Levite'; a member of the priestly tribe, which received no tribal land allotment (cf. Num 18:20-24; Deut 18:1-2) and depended on tithes and offerings.
אֲשֶׁרwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying הַלֵּוִיאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the qualifying clause 'who is within your gates'.
בִּשְׁעָרֶ֖יךָin your gatesprep בְּ + N m pl constr + suff 2ms · שַׁעַר (H8179)Prepositional phrase (locative), completing the relative clauseשַׁעַר (H8179) 'gate'; idiomatic plural, 'within your towns'.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates תַעַזְבֶנּוּלֹא (H3808), standard verbal negative.
תַֽעַזְבֶ֑נּוּyou shall forsake himQal impf 2ms + suff 3ms · עָזַב (H5800)Predicate verb (prohibition), main clause→ Yiqtol (prohibitive): forbidding neglect of an ongoing social obligationעָזַב (H5800) 'to abandon, forsake'; a strong verb of neglect — the Levite's landlessness creates an ongoing communal duty of support, not optional charity.
כִּ֣יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction, grounding the prohibitionכִּי (H3588) 'for'; explains why the Levite must not be neglected.
אֵ֥יןthere is notexistential negative particle · אַיִן (H369)Negates the possessive clauseאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'; standard existential negative for possession.
ל֛וֹto himprep + suff 3ms · לְPossessive construction negated by אֵיןלְ + 3ms suffix, possessive — 'he has no...'.
חֵ֥לֶקportionN m sg abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Subject of the negated possessive clauseחֵלֶק (H2506) 'portion, share'; a technical term for allotted land/property, denied to the Levites in favor of tithe support.
וְנַחֲלָ֖הor inheritanceconj וְ + N f sg abs · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Second subject, coordinated with חֵלֶקנַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance'; the hereditary tribal land allotment that other tribes received but Levi did not (Num 18:20-24).
עִמָּֽךְwith youprep + suff 2fs · עִם (H5973)Prepositional phrase completing the clauseעִם (H5973) 'with'; i.e., alongside the other tribes who did receive a land allotment.
28
מִקְצֵ֣ה שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים תּוֹצִיא֙ אֶת כָּל מַעְשַׂר֙ תְּבוּאָ֣תְךָ֔ בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הַהִ֑וא וְהִנַּחְתָּ֖ בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ
At the end of three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and deposit it within your gates.
Every third year the tithe is redirected from the central sanctuary to local storage — a structural exception to vv.22-26's annual pilgrimage-tithe, whose purpose is explained in v.29 as provision for those without land.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
מִקְצֵ֣הat the end ofprep מִן + N c/b sg constr · קָצֶה (H7097)Prepositional phrase (temporal), opening the triennial provisionקָצֶה (H7097) 'end, extremity'; מִן + construct, 'at the end of' — marking a new temporal unit distinct from the annual tithe of vv.22-26.
שָׁלֹ֣שׁthreenumeral f sg abs · שָׁלוֹשׁ (H7969)Numeral modifying שָׁנִיםשָׁלוֹשׁ (H7969) 'three'; specifies the triennial cycle.
שָׁנִ֗יםyearsN f pl abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Nomen rectum completing מִקְצֵה שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִיםשָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; plural completing the temporal phrase 'every three years'.
תּוֹצִיא֙you shall bring outHiphil impf 2ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol (obligatory): a required action on this triennial cycleיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; Hiphil causative 'bring out, set aside' — the produce is removed from ordinary use for this special allocation.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking כָּל מַעְשַׂר תְּבוּאָתְךָ as object.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct quantifier governing מַעְשַׂרכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct before מַעְשַׂר תְּבוּאָתְךָ.
מַעְשַׂר֙the tithe ofN m sg constr · מַעֲשֵׂר (H4643)Construct governing תְּבוּאָתְךָמַעֲשֵׂר (H4643) 'tithe, tenth'; resumes the tithe theme, now for the triennial provision.
תְּבוּאָ֣תְךָ֔your produceN f sg constr + suff 2ms · תְּבוּאָה (H8393)Nomen rectum completing the construct chainתְּבוּאָה (H8393) 'produce, yield'; with 2ms suffix, completing 'the tithe of your produce'.
בַּשָּׁנָ֖הin the yearprep בְּ + art + N f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Prepositional phrase (temporal)שָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; specifying the particular third year of the cycle.
הַהִ֑ואthatart + demonstrative pron f sg (as adj) · הִיא (H1931)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַשָּׁנָההַהִוא, lit. 'the she/that'; the article-plus-pronoun construction functions as a demonstrative adjective, 'that (specific) year'.
וְהִנַּחְתָּ֖and you shall depositconj וְ + Hiphil perf 2ms (weqatal) · נוּחַ (H3240)Weqatal, second predicate of the triennial instruction→ Weqatal: sequential required actionנוּחַ (H3240) 'to rest'; Hiphil causative 'cause to rest, deposit, leave' — storing the tithe locally rather than carrying it to the sanctuary, the key structural difference from the annual tithe.
בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָin your gatesprep בְּ + N m pl constr + suff 2ms · שַׁעַר (H8179)Prepositional phrase (locative), completing the clauseשַׁעַר (H8179) 'gate'; 'in your towns' — the tithe stays local, in contrast to vv.22-26's pilgrimage to the central sanctuary.
29
וּבָ֣א הַלֵּוִ֡י כִּ֣י אֵֽין לוֹ֩ חֵ֨לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֜ה עִמָּ֗ךְ וְ֠הַגֵּר וְהַיָּת֤וֹם וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ וְאָכְל֖וּ וְשָׂבֵ֑עוּ לְמַ֤עַן יְבָרֶכְךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶֽׂה
then the Levite shall come, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the orphan, and the widow who are within your gates, and they shall eat and be satisfied, so that YHWH your God may bless you in all the work of your hand that you do.
Names the Levite, sojourner, orphan, and widow together — Deuteronomy's recurring quartet of the economically vulnerable (cf. 10:18; 24:19-21; 26:12-13) — as beneficiaries of the local triennial tithe. The chapter closes by tying YHWH's blessing on 'all the work of your hand' to how Israel treats those without land or family support, forming a fitting bridge back to the chapter's opening claim of Israel's own dependent status as YHWH's 'sons' (v.1).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
וּבָ֣אand he shall comeconj וְ + Qal perf 3ms (weqatal) · בּוֹא (H935)Weqatal, predicate verb opening the final verse→ Weqatal: sequential required action, completing the triennial-tithe instructionבּוֹא (H935) 'to come'; the Levite (and the others named) come to the local storehouse rather than traveling to the sanctuary.
הַלֵּוִ֡יthe Leviteart + gentilic N m sg abs · לֵוִי (H3881)Subject of וּבָאלֵוִי (H3881) 'Levite'; first-named beneficiary of the local triennial tithe.
כִּ֣יbecauseconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction, repeating v.27's rationaleכִּי (H3588) 'because'; repeats the Levite's landlessness rationale from v.27.
אֵֽיןthere is notexistential negative particle · אַיִן (H369)Negates the possessive clauseאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'; standard existential negative.
לוֹ֩to himprep + suff 3ms · לְPossessive construction negated by אֵיןלְ + 3ms suffix, possessive — 'he has no...'.
חֵ֨לֶקportionN m sg abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Subject of the negated possessive clauseחֵלֶק (H2506) 'portion, share'; repeats v.27's term for allotted land.
וְנַחֲלָ֜הor inheritanceconj וְ + N f sg abs · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Second subject, coordinated with חֵלֶקנַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance'; repeats v.27's term for the tribal land allotment Levi lacked.
עִמָּ֗ךְwith youprep + suff 2fs · עִם (H5973)Prepositional phrase completing the clauseעִם (H5973) 'with'; alongside the landed tribes.
וְ֠הַגֵּרand the sojournerconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · גֵּר (H1616)Second beneficiary, coordinated subject of the coming verbsגֵּר (H1616) 'sojourner, resident alien'; second of Deuteronomy's recurring quartet of the economically vulnerable (cf. 10:18; 24:19-21; 26:12-13).
וְהַיָּת֤וֹםand the orphanconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · יָתוֹם (H3490)Third beneficiary, coordinated subjectיָתוֹם (H3490) 'orphan, fatherless'; third of the vulnerable quartet, lacking a father's economic protection.
וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙and the widowconj וְ + art + N f sg abs · אַלְמָנָה (H490)Fourth beneficiary, coordinated subjectאַלְמָנָה (H490) 'widow'; completes Deuteronomy's stock quartet of the vulnerable — Levite, sojourner, orphan, widow — all lacking a husband's, father's, or tribal land's economic support.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying the whole preceding listאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing 'who are within your gates', qualifying sojourner/orphan/widow (and implicitly the Levite).
בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָin your gatesprep בְּ + N m pl constr + suff 2ms · שַׁעַר (H8179)Prepositional phrase (locative), completing the relative clauseשַׁעַר (H8179) 'gate'; 'within your towns' — local, matching the tithe's local storage (v.28).
וְאָכְל֖וּand they shall eatconj וְ + Qal perf 3cp (weqatal) · אָכַל (H398)Weqatal, predicate verb of the beneficiaries→ Weqatal: sequential required action/resultאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; the vulnerable are provided an actual meal, not merely a legal claim.
וְשָׂבֵ֑עוּand be satisfiedconj וְ + Qal perf 3cp (weqatal) · שָׂבַע (H7646)Weqatal, second predicate continuing וְאָכְלוּ→ Weqatal: the intended full result — genuine satisfaction, not mere subsistenceשָׂבַע (H7646) 'to be satisfied, full'; the standard denotes real sufficiency, echoing the joyful abundance of vv.24-26.
לְמַ֤עַןso thatpurpose conj · לְמַעַן (H4616)Purpose conjunction, introducing the chapter's closing rationaleלְמַעַן (H4616) 'so that'; echoes v.23's לְמַעַן תִּלְמַד, now tying divine blessing to generosity toward the landless.
יְבָרֶכְךָ֙he may bless youPiel impf 3ms + suff 2ms · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb of the purpose clause→ Yiqtol: purposive result — the promised outcome of caring for the vulnerableבָּרַךְ (H1288) 'to bless'; the chapter's closing promise directly ties YHWH's blessing to Israel's treatment of the landless — practical generosity, not merely ritual, secures divine favor.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of יְבָרֶכְךָיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָyour GodN m pl constr + suff 2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, in apposition.
בְּכָלin allprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase, object of the blessingכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct before מַעֲשֵׂה יָדְךָ.
מַעֲשֵׂ֥הthe work ofN m sg constr · מַעֲשֶׂה (H4639)Construct governing יָדְךָמַעֲשֶׂה (H4639) 'work, deed'; construct before יָדְךָ, the standard idiom for one's productive labor/livelihood.
יָדְךָ֖your handN c/b sg constr + suff 2ms · יָד (H3027)Nomen rectum completing מַעֲשֵׂהיָד (H3027) 'hand'; idiom for one's own labor and productivity.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker, modifying מַעֲשֵׂה יָדְךָאֲשֶׁר (H834), introducing the chapter's final clause, 'that you do'.
תַּעֲשֶֽׂהyou doQal impf 2ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb of the relative clause, closing the chapter→ Yiqtol: habitual/characteristic ongoing activityעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; the chapter's final word, closing on the theme of covenant blessing tied to Israel's ongoing, obedient generosity toward the landless.