וַיִּתְמֹדֵ֤ד עַל־הַיֶּ֨לֶד֙ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֔ים וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י תָּ֥שָׁב נָ֛א נֶֽפֶשׁ־הַיֶּ֥לֶד הַזֶּ֖ה עַל־קִרְבֹּֽו׃
And he stretched himself out upon the child three times, and he called to YHWH and said, “YHWH my God, let the soul of this child, please, return into his body.”
Morphology
- וַיִּתְמֹדֵ֤ד (va-yitmoded) – Root: מדד (madad); Form: Hitpael wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he stretched himself out”; Notes: Physical act of intercession over the child.
- עַל־הַיֶּ֨לֶד (ʿal-ha-yeled) – Root: ילד (yeled); Form: Preposition + definite noun; Translation: “upon the child”; Notes: Indicates the object of his action.
- שָׁלֹ֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֔ים (shalosh peʿamim) – Root: שלש (shalosh), פעם (paʿam); Form: Numeral + plural noun; Translation: “three times”; Notes: Emphasizes persistent effort in prayer.
- וַיִּקְרָ֥א (va-yiqra) – Root: קרא (qaraʾ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he called”; Notes: Addressing YHWH in supplication.
- אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה (el-YHWH) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: Direct object of the calling.
- וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (va-yomar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Begins the recorded prayer.
- יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י (YHWH ʾElohai) – Root: יהוה (YHWH), אלה (ʾelohim); Form: Proper noun + noun with 1cs suffix; Translation: “YHWH my God”; Notes: Personal invocation of the divine name.
- תָּ֥שָׁב (tashav) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperfect jussive 3fs; Translation: “let return”; Notes: Supplicatory request in prayer.
- נָ֛א (na) – Root: נא (na); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “please”; Notes: Softens the imperative tone in prayer.
- נֶֽפֶשׁ־הַיֶּ֥לֶד (nefesh-ha-yeled) – Root: נפש (nefesh), ילד (yeled); Form: Construct noun + definite noun; Translation: “the soul of the child”; Notes: Refers to life or life-force.
- הַזֶּ֖ה (hazzeh) – Root: זה (zeh); Form: Demonstrative adjective, masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Specifies the child being referenced.
- עַל־קִרְבֹּֽו (ʿal-qirbo) – Root: קרב (qerev); Form: Preposition + noun with 3ms suffix; Translation: “into his body”; Notes: Literally “into his inward parts” — idiomatic for “back into him.”