Deuteronomy 33:9

“who says of his father and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him’; and his brothers he did not acknowledge, and his sons he did not know, for they kept your word and guard your covenant.”

Deuteronomy 33:9 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

9

Deuteronomy 33:9, word by word

who saysאֹמֵרomer

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “omer” appears
of his fatherאָבִיavi

father

The man who begets a child and heads his household.

Where else “avi” appears
and of his motherאִמּim

mother

The woman who gives birth to and raises her children, and who is owed honor.

Where else “im” appears
seen him’רְאִיתִיreiti

see

To see with one's eyes.

Where else “reiti” appears
and his brothersאֶחָיechay

brother

A son of the same father or the same mother.

Where else “echay” appears
acknowledgeהִכִּירhikir

recognize

To realize who someone is, or notice them.

Where else “hikir” appears
and his sonsבָּנָיbanay

son

The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.

Where else “banay” appears
knowיָדָעyada

know

To know something, realize.

Where else “yada” appears
they keptשָׁמְרוּshamru

keep

To obey the covenant or the commands.

Where else “shamru” appears
your wordאִמְרָתֶimrate

word, saying

Saying, spoken word.

Where else “imrate” appears
and guardיִנְצֹרוּyintsoru

observe

To put into practice what is commanded and guard it like a treasure.

Where else “yintsoru” appears
your covenantבְרִיתְverit

covenant

The commitment God makes with his people, with promises and commands.

Where else “verit” appears

Translation note

It can be understood as recalling what happened after the golden calf, when the Levites took the side of YHWH (Exodus 32:26-29).

The context

8And of Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim belong to your faithful man, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah;

9 · This verse (above)

10They shall teach your rules to Jacob and your instruction to Israel; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offering on your altar.

Read all of Deuteronomy 33

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