וַיַּחְגְּרוּ֩ שַׂקִּ֨ים בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֜ם וַחֲבָלִ֣ים בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶ֗ם וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ עַבְדְּךָ֧ בֶן־הֲדַ֛ד אָמַ֖ר תְּחִֽי־נָ֣א נַפְשִׁ֑י וַיֹּ֛אמֶר הַעֹודֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י אָחִ֥י הֽוּא׃
And they girded sackcloth on their loins and ropes upon their heads, and they came to the king of Yisraʾel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let my life live.’” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
Morphology
- וַיַּחְגְּרוּ (va-yaḥgeru) – Root: חגר (ḥagar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they girded”; Notes: Prepared themselves by putting on sackcloth as a sign of mourning or submission.
- שַׂקִּים (saqqim) – Root: שׂק (saq); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “sackcloth”; Notes: Symbolic clothing of mourning or humility.
- בְּמָתְנֵיהֶם (be-motneihem) – Root: מתן (maten); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “on their loins”; Notes: Placement of the sackcloth around their waists.
- וַחֲבָלִים (va-ḥavalim) – Root: חבל (ḥevel); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and ropes”; Notes: Further expression of submission and helplessness.
- בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶם (be-rosheihem) – Root: ראשׁ (rosh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “upon their heads”; Notes: Visual symbol of seeking mercy.
- וַיָּבֹאוּ (va-yavoʾu) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they came”; Notes: Physical approach to the king of Yisraʾel.
- אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל (el-melekh Yisraʾel) – Root: מלך (melekh) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + construct chain; Translation: “to the king of Yisraʾel”; Notes: Target of their plea for mercy.
- וַיֹּאמְרוּ (va-yomeru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Introduces their petition.
- עַבְדְּךָ (avdekha) – Root: עבד (ʿeved); Form: Noun masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your servant”; Notes: Expresses submission of Ben-Hadad to the king of Yisraʾel.
- בֶן־הֲדַד (ven-Hadad) – Root: בן (ben) + הדד (Hadad); Form: Construct chain; Translation: “Ben-Hadad”; Notes: Refers to the Aramean king seeking mercy.
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “says”; Notes: Reported speech format.
- תְּחִי־נָא (teḥi-na) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Qal imperfect jussive 3rd person feminine singular + particle of entreaty; Translation: “Please, let live”; Notes: Request for preservation of life.
- נַפְשִׁי (nafshi) – Root: נפשׁ (nefesh); Form: Noun feminine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my life”; Notes: Direct plea from Ben-hadad.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Response of the king of Yisraʾel.
- הַעֹודֶנּוּ (ha-ʿodennu) – Root: עוד (ʿod); Form: Interrogative particle + pronoun suffix; Translation: “Is he still”; Notes: Inquiry about Ben-Hadad’s survival.
- חַי (ḥai) – Root: חי (ḥai); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “alive”; Notes: State of being.
- אָחִי (aḥi) – Root: אח (aḥ); Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my brother”; Notes: Expresses unexpected fraternal sentiment toward Ben-Hadad.
- הוּא (hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Independent pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “he”; Notes: Affirmation that Ben-Hadad is still alive and regarded as “brother.”