Deuteronomy 33:9
הָאֹמֵ֞ר לְאָבִ֤יו וּלְאִמֹּו֙ לֹ֣א רְאִיתִ֔יו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֙ לֹ֣א הִכִּ֔יר וְאֶת־בְּנֹ֖ו לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃
Prophetic Identity: הָאֹמֵר לְאָבִיו וּלְאִמּוֹ לֹא רְאִיתִיו
הָאֹמֵר — Qal participle ms from אָמַר, “the one who says.” This participial form functions substantivally, referring to a specific group (the Levites) characterized by their verbal disavowal.
לְאָבִיו וּלְאִמּוֹ — “to his father and to his mother.”
- אָבִיו and אִמּוֹ — nouns with 3ms suffixes
This phrase highlights familial relationships, which are rejected in favor of a higher loyalty.
לֹא רְאִיתִיו — “I have not seen him.”
- רְאִיתִיו — Qal perfect 1cs + 3ms suffix, “I saw him”
- Negated with לֹא to express a deliberate distancing
This construction creates a poetic figure of speech: refusal to acknowledge or aid close kin when it conflicts with covenantal fidelity.
Fraternal and Parental Disavowal: וְאֶת־אֶחָיו לֹא הִכִּיר וְאֶת־בְּנוֹ לֹא יָדָע
וְאֶת־אֶחָיו — “and his brothers.”
- אֶת marks the direct object; אֶחָיו — “his brothers,” with 3ms suffix
לֹא הִכִּיר — Hifil perfect 3ms of נ־כ־ר, “to recognize.” In Hifil: “he did not acknowledge.”
וְאֶת־בְּנוֹ — “and his son.” Again, direct object with possessive suffix.
לֹא יָדָע — Qal perfect 3ms of י־ד־ע, “to know.”
The repetition of “did not see,” “did not recognize,” “did not know” strengthens the depiction of zealous impartiality — no exceptions, even for family.
Covenantal Justification: כִּי שָׁמְרוּ אִמְרָתֶךָ וּבְרִיתְךָ יִנְצֹרוּ
כִּי — “Because” — introducing the reason for such radical devotion.
שָׁמְרוּ — Qal perfect 3mp of ש־מ־ר, “to guard, keep.”
“They have kept…” — refers to the Levites’ obedience.
אִמְרָתֶךָ — “your word.”
- אִמְרָה — “utterance, word” + 2ms suffix
וּבְרִיתְךָ — “and your covenant” — another noun + 2ms suffix
יִנְצֹרוּ — Qal imperfect 3mp of נ־צ־ר, “to guard, watch over.”
A parallel to שָׁמְרוּ, reinforcing their faithful stewardship of divine revelation and law.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Deuteronomy 33:9
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| הָאֹמֵר | א־מ־ר | Qal participle ms | “The one who says” — characterizes the subject (Levite) |
| רְאִיתִיו | ר־א־ה | Qal perfect 1cs + 3ms suffix | “I saw him” — negated expression of disassociation |
| הִכִּיר | נ־כ־ר | Hifil perfect 3ms | “He recognized” — used with object “brothers” |
| שָׁמְרוּ | ש־מ־ר | Qal perfect 3mp | “They kept” — loyalty to YHWH’s word |
| יִנְצֹרוּ | נ־צ־ר | Qal imperfect 3mp | “They shall guard” — parallel to שָׁמְרוּ |
When Zeal Silences Kinship
Deuteronomy 33:9 compresses the dramatic moral devotion of the Levites into a chain of perfect and participial verbs. The familial pronouns and direct objects intensify the tension between natural affection and covenant loyalty. Hebrew syntax conveys the stark decisiveness: they saw not, knew not, recognized not — because they guarded the divine word. The result is a grammar of holy exclusion — where love of YHWH transcends even blood.
