וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּשְּׁבִעִ֔ית וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה־עָ֛ב קְטַנָּ֥ה כְּכַף־אִ֖ישׁ עֹלָ֣ה מִיָּ֑ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עֲלֵ֨ה אֱמֹ֤ר אֶל־אַחְאָב֙ אֱסֹ֣ר וָרֵ֔ד וְלֹ֥א יַעַצָרְכָ֖ה הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a small cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Aḥʾav, ‘Harness and go down, so that the rain does not stop you.’”
Morphology
- וַֽיְהִי֙ (va-yehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Marks a transition or result in narrative.
- בַּשְּׁבִעִ֔ית (ba-sheviʿit) – Root: שבע (shevaʿ); Form: Definite ordinal feminine; Translation: “at the seventh [time]”; Notes: Refers to the seventh attempt of the servant.
- וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “he said”; Notes: The servant reports what he sees.
- הִנֵּה־עָ֛ב (hinneh-ʿav) – Roots: הנה (hinneh), עב (ʿav); Form: Interjection + noun masculine singular; Translation: “Behold, a cloud”; Notes: Introduction of a sign.
- קְטַנָּ֥ה (qetanah) – Root: קטן (qatan); Form: Adjective, feminine singular; Translation: “small”; Notes: Modifies the cloud.
- כְּכַף־אִ֖ישׁ (ke-kaf-ish) – Roots: כף (kaf), אישׁ (ish); Form: Simile construct; Translation: “like a man’s hand”; Notes: Vivid imagery for the shape or size.
- עֹלָ֣ה (ʿolah) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “rising”; Notes: Describes the movement of the cloud.
- מִיָּ֑ם (mi-yam) – Root: ים (yam); Form: Preposition + noun; Translation: “from the sea”; Notes: Indicates the origin of the cloud.
- וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Eliyahu responds to the report.
- עֲלֵ֨ה (ʿaleh) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “Go up”; Notes: Command to the servant or to go inform Aḥʾav.
- אֱמֹ֤ר (emor) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “say”; Notes: Instruction to deliver a message.
- אֶל־אַחְאָב֙ (el-Aḥʾav) – Root: אחאב (Aḥʾav); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Aḥʾav”; Notes: Direct address to the king.
- אֱסֹ֣ר (esor) – Root: אסר (ʾasar); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “harness [your chariot]”; Notes: Urgent preparation for travel.
- וָרֵ֔ד (va-red) – Root: ירד (yarad); Form: Qal imperative 2ms with vav; Translation: “and go down”; Notes: Continue the command to descend.
- וְלֹ֥א יַעַצָרְכָ֖ה (ve-lo yaʿatsorkha) – Root: עצר (ʿatsar); Form: Negative + Qal imperfect 3ms + 2ms suffix; Translation: “so that it does not stop you”; Notes: Refers to being prevented by the coming rain.
- הַגָּֽשֶׁם (ha-gashem) – Root: גשם (gashem); Form: Definite masculine singular noun; Translation: “the rain”; Notes: The long-awaited outpouring is imminent.