וִיהוֹן פִּתְגָּמַיָּא הָאִלֵּין דִּי אֲנָא מְפַקְּדָךְ יוֹמָא דֵין עַל לִבָּךְ
And these words which I am commanding you today shall be upon your heart.
Why This Verse?
This pivotal line from Targum Onkelos on Deuteronomy 6:6, part of the daily Shema, showcases:
- Emphatic demonstrative construction: פִּתְגָּמַיָּא הָאִלֵּין
- Paʿel verb with object suffix: מְפַקְּדָךְ
- Temporal immediacy: יוֹמָא דֵין
- Internalization: עַל לִבָּךְ
Targum Onkelos is generally more literal than Targum Jonathan, and this verse is a prime example of its restrained yet precise interpretive style.
Morphological and Syntactic Analysis
| Form | Root | Part of Speech / Stem | Structure | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| פִּתְגָּמַיָּא | פ־ת־ג | Noun (pl. emphatic) | Emphatic plural of פִּתְגָם | The words / statements |
| הָאִלֵּין | — | Demonstrative pronoun | Plural emphatic | These |
| דִּי | — | Relative particle | Links the clause | That / which |
| מְפַקְּדָךְ | פ־ק־ד | Paʿel Imperfect | 1cs verb + 2ms object suffix | I command you |
| יוֹמָא דֵין | — | Noun + demonstrative | “This day” (temporal phrase) | Today |
| עַל לִבָּךְ | ל־ב־ב | Prepositional phrase | “Upon” + noun + 2ms suffix | Upon your heart |
Syntax and Structure
1. Demonstrative Chain
– פִּתְגָּמַיָּא הָאִלֵּין = “These words”
– This emphatic construction highlights specificity and presentness.
– Targum Onkelos maintains the Hebrew parallelism (הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה), but translates “words” as פִּתְגָּמַיָּא, a formal or legal term.
2. Object Suffix Verb: מְפַקְּדָךְ
– Paʿel imperfect adds an ongoing tone of instruction.
– The 2ms suffix (–ךְ) makes the command personal and direct.
3. Temporal Adverbial: יוֹמָא דֵין
– “This day” sets the urgency and relevance of the command.
– Onkelos preserves the Hebrew syntax exactly here (הַיּוֹם → יוֹמָא דֵין).
4. Final Placement: עַל לִבָּךְ
– This phrase emphasizes the internalization of divine instruction.
– The use of עַל rather than “in” parallels the Hebrew עַל־לְבָבֶךָ, expressing intellectual and emotional focus.
Upon the Heart, Not in the Air
Targum Onkelos on Deuteronomy 6:6 faithfully mirrors the Hebrew while injecting legal and moral clarity through Aramaic precision. With suffix intimacy, demonstrative weight, and temporal immediacy, this verse is not just about commandments — it’s about implanting them where they must dwell: upon the heart.
