וַתִּקֹּ֣ד בַּת־שֶׁ֔בַע וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מַה־לָּֽךְ׃
And Bat-sheva bowed and prostrated herself to the king, and the king said, “What is with you?”
Morphology
- וַתִּקֹּ֣ד (va-tikkod) – Root: קדד (kadad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “And she bowed”; Notes: Physical act of respect, performed by Bat-sheva.
- בַּת־שֶׁ֔בַע (Bat-Shevaʿ) – Root: בת שבע (Bat-Shevaʿ); Form: Proper noun, feminine singular in construct; Translation: “Bat-sheva”; Notes: Subject of the verbs in the verse.
- וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ (va-tishtakhu) – Root: שחה (shakha); Form: Hishtaphel (reflexive) wayyiqtol 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and she prostrated herself”; Notes: Formal act of submission before royalty.
- לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (la-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Preposition + definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “to the king”; Notes: Object of the reverential action.
- וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Refers to King Dawid responding to Bat-sheva.
- הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Subject of the speech verb.
- מַה־לָּֽךְ׃ (mah-lakh) – Root: מה (mah), לך (lakh); Form: Interrogative + preposition with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “What is with you?”; Notes: Common biblical expression asking for the reason for distress or concern.