וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖ם

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖ם

   oo-veh-khook-koh-TEE-hem

   and in their statutes
2. clause🔊 וּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֶֽרֶץ־כְּנַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אֶתְכֶ֥ם שָׁ֙מָּה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א תֵלֵֽכוּ׃

   oo-keh-mah-ah-SEH eh-rets-keh-na-AN a-SHER a-NI meh-VEE et-KHEM shahm-MAH LO tah-ah-SOO oo-veh-khook-koh-TEE-hem LO teh-LEH-khoo

   not do and like the deed of the land of Canaan which I bringing you there not walk and in their statutes
3. sentence🔊 כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֧ה אֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֛יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְשַׁבְתֶּם־בָּ֖הּ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֑וּ וּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֶֽרֶץ־כְּנַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אֶתְכֶ֥ם שָׁ֙מָּה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א תֵלֵֽכוּ׃

   keh-mah-ah-SEH eh-rets-mits-RAH-yim a-SHER yeh-shahv-TEM-bah LO tah-ah-SOO oo-keh-mah-ah-SEH eh-rets-keh-na-AN a-SHER a-NI meh-VEE et-KHEM shahm-MAH LO tah-ah-SOO oo-veh-khook-koh-TEE-hem LO teh-LEH-khoo

   not do like the deed of the land of Egypt where dwelt in it not do and like the deed of the land of Canaan which I bringing you there not walk and in their statutes

Exegesis

The phrase u-vechukoteihem {וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶם | u-və-ḥu-qō-ṯê-hêm} ‘and in their statutes’ broadens the prohibition from occasional acts to entire legal and religious systems. The English “follow the practices” renders ta’asu’s nuance of habitual conformity, and “walk in their statutes” reflects the Hebrew metaphor for lifestyle direction.

Root and etymology

Root🔊 ח־ק־קchaqaq

“statute, ordinance”