וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֵלָ֗יו יַעַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה וְלֹֽא־שָׁאַ֨לְתָּ לְּךָ֜ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים וְלֹֽא־שָׁאַ֤לְתָּ לְּךָ֙ עֹ֔שֶׁר וְלֹ֥א שָׁאַ֖לְתָּ נֶ֣פֶשׁ אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּ לְּךָ֛ הָבִ֖ין לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself many days, nor have you asked for yourself riches, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself understanding to hear judgment.
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (vayyomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces divine speech, narrative past form.
- אֱלֹהִ֜ים (Elohim) – Root: אלה; Form: Noun, masculine plural in form, singular in meaning; Translation: “Elohim”; Notes: Subject of the speech verb.
- אֵלָ֗יו (elav) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + 3ms suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Shelomoh.
- יַעַן֩ (yaʿan) – Root: יען; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “Because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for divine response.
- אֲשֶׁ֨ר (asher) – Root: אשר; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “that”; Notes: Connects cause to content.
- שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ (shaʾalta) – Root: שאל; Form: Qal perfect 2ms; Translation: “you have asked”; Notes: Main action referenced.
- אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר (et-ha-davar) – Root: דבר; Form: Direct object marker + noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “this thing”; Notes: Refers to Shelomoh’s request.
- הַזֶּ֗ה (hazzeh) – Root: זה; Form: Demonstrative adjective, masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Modifies “the thing.”
- וְלֹֽא־שָׁאַ֨לְתָּ (ve-lo-shaʾalta) – Root: שאל; Form: Conjunction + negative + Qal perfect 2ms; Translation: “and you did not ask”; Notes: First of three negated requests.
- לְּךָ֜ (lekha) – Root: לך; Form: Preposition + 2ms suffix; Translation: “for yourself”; Notes: Indicates personal benefit.
- יָמִ֣ים (yamim) – Root: יום; Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “days”; Notes: Refers to lifespan.
- רַבִּ֗ים (rabbim) – Root: רבב; Form: Adjective, masculine plural; Translation: “many”; Notes: Modifies “days.”
- וְלֹֽא־שָׁאַ֤לְתָּ (ve-lo-shaʾalta) – Root: שאל; Form: Same as above; Translation: “nor did you ask”; Notes: Continued negation.
- לְּךָ֙ (lekha) – Form: Same as above; Translation: “for yourself”
- עֹ֔שֶׁר (ʿosher) – Root: עשר; Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “riches”; Notes: Material wealth.
- וְלֹ֥א (ve-lo) – Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “nor”; Notes: Continues parallel structure.
- שָׁאַ֖לְתָּ (shaʾalta) – Form: Qal perfect 2ms again; Translation: “you have asked”
- נֶ֣פֶשׁ (nefesh) – Root: נפש; Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “life”; Notes: Refers to one’s being or life essence.
- אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ (ʾoyvekha) – Root: אויב; Form: Noun, masculine plural construct + 2ms suffix; Translation: “your enemies”; Notes: Object of the unrequested benefit.
- וְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּ (ve-shaʾalta) – Form: Qal perfect 2ms with conjunction; Translation: “but you asked”
- לְּךָ֛ (lekha) – Form: Preposition + 2ms suffix; Translation: “for yourself”
- הָבִ֖ין (havin) – Root: בין; Form: Hiphil infinitive absolute; Translation: “understanding”; Notes: Expresses intensity or focus on insight.
- לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ (lishmoaʿ) – Root: שמע; Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to hear”; Notes: Completes phrase “understanding to hear.”
- מִשְׁפָּֽט (mishpaṭ) – Root: שפט; Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “judgment”; Notes: Refers to justice, legal decision-making.