וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־הַבָּקָ֗ר וַיָּ֨רָץ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אֵֽלִיָּ֔הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶשְּׁקָה־נָּא֙ לְאָבִ֣י וּלְאִמִּ֔י וְאֵלְכָ֖ה אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ לֵ֣ךְ שׁ֔וּב כִּ֥י מֶה־עָשִׂ֖יתִי לָֽךְ׃
And he left the oxen and ran after Eliyyahu and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go, return; for what have I done to you?”
Morphology
- וַיַּעֲזֹב (va-yaʿazov) – Root: עזב (ʿazav); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he left”; Notes: Action indicating a decisive break from previous occupation.
- אֶת־הַבָּקָר (et-ha-bakar) – Root: בקר (baqar); Form: Accusative marker אֶת with noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the oxen”; Notes: Refers to the animals Elisha was plowing with.
- וַיָּרָץ (va-yarats) – Root: רץ (ratz); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he ran”; Notes: Indicates eagerness and urgency in following Eliyyahu.
- אַחֲרֵי (aḥarei) – Root: אחר (aḥar); Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Directional preposition showing pursuit.
- אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyyahu) – Root: אליהו (Eliyyahu); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Eliyyahu”; Notes: Refers to the prophet Elijah.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- אֶשְּׁקָה־נָּא (eshqah-na) – Root: נשק (nashaq); Form: Qal cohortative 1st person common singular + particle נָא; Translation: “Let me kiss, please”; Notes: Polite request to delay departure briefly.
- לְאָבִי (le-avi) – Root: אב (av); Form: Preposition לְ with noun, masculine singular with 1st person common singular suffix; Translation: “my father”; Notes: Expression of affection and respect.
- וּלְאִמִּי (u-le-imi) – Root: אם (em); Form: Conjunction וְ with preposition לְ and noun, feminine singular with 1st person common singular suffix; Translation: “and my mother”; Notes: Continues the address to both parents.
- וְאֵלְכָה (ve-elekha) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal cohortative 1st person common singular with conjunction; Translation: “and I will go”; Notes: Voluntary action to follow Eliyyahu after saying farewell.
- אַחֲרֶיךָ (aḥarekha) – Root: אחר (aḥar); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “after you”; Notes: Declares intent to become a disciple or follower.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Eliyyahu’s response.
- לֹו (lo) – Root: לו (lo); Form: Preposition לְ with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Directs the speech to Elisha.
- לֵךְ (lekh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Go”; Notes: Permission to go and return.
- שׁוּב (shuv) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “return”; Notes: Further reinforces the permission.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces explanation.
- מֶה־עָשִׂיתִי (meh-ʿasiti) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Interrogative particle + Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “what have I done”; Notes: Rhetorical question expressing that the decision lies with Elisha.
- לָךְ (lakh) – Root: לך (lakh); Form: Preposition לְ with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Personal address to Elisha.