וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ הָעָ֔ם לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ בְּקֹ֣ול שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֹּ֔א כִּ֥י אִם־מֶ֖לֶךְ יִֽהְיֶ֥ה עָלֵֽינוּ׃
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Shemuʾel, and they said, “No, but a king shall be over us.
Morphology
- וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ (va-yemaʾanu) – Root: מאן (maʾan); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “But they refused”; Notes: Intensive action indicating a firm rejection.
- הָעָ֔ם (ha-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the people”; Notes: Collective noun referring to Yisraʾel.
- לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ (lishmoaʿ) – Root: שמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “to listen”; Notes: Expresses the purpose of their refusal.
- בְּקֹ֣ול (be-qol) – Root: קול (qol); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “to the voice of”; Notes: Indicates spoken authority.
- שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל (Shemuʾel) – Root: שׁמואל (Shemuʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shemuʾel”; Notes: The prophet’s name.
- וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (va-yomru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Sequential speech.
- לֹּ֔א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “No”; Notes: Strong negation.
- כִּ֥י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “but”; Notes: Introduces contrast.
- אִם־ (im) – Root: אם (ʾim); Form: Conditional particle; Translation: “but rather”; Notes: Reinforces insistence.
- מֶ֖לֶךְ (melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a king”; Notes: Desired leadership figure.
- יִֽהְיֶ֥ה (yihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: Future action.
- עָלֵֽינוּ (ʿaleinu) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “over us”; Notes: Indicates authority.