יֹאמַר־נָ֤א אֲדֹנֵ֨נוּ֙ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ יְבַקְשׁ֕וּ אִ֕ישׁ יֹדֵ֖עַ מְנַגֵּ֣ן בַּכִּנֹּ֑ור וְהָיָ֗ה בִּֽהְיֹ֨ות עָלֶ֤יךָ רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים֙ רָעָ֔ה וְנִגֵּ֥ן בְּיָדֹ֖ו וְטֹ֥וב לָֽךְ׃ פ
Let our lord now command your servants before you, that they seek a man who knows how to play the lyre. And it shall be, when an evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play with his hand, and it will be good for you.”
Morphology
- יֹאמַר־נָ֤א (yomar-na) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with particle; Translation: “Let him say now”; Notes: Expresses a request.
- אֲדֹנֵ֨נוּ֙ (ʾadoneinu) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “Our lord”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul.
- עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ (ʿavadeikha) – Root: עבד (ʿeved); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your servants”; Notes: Refers to those serving Shaʾul.
- לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (lefanekha) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Before you”; Notes: Indicates subordination.
- יְבַקְשׁ֕וּ (yevakkeshu) – Root: בקש (baqash); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “Let them seek”; Notes: Expresses an imperative request.
- אִ֕ישׁ (ʾish) – Root: איש (ʾish); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “A man”; Notes: Refers to the musician sought.
- יֹדֵ֖עַ (yodeaʿ) – Root: ידע (yadaʿ); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “Who knows”; Notes: Describes the musician’s skill.
- מְנַגֵּ֣ן (menaggen) – Root: נגן (nagan); Form: Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “Playing”; Notes: Indicates musical ability.
- בַּכִּנֹּ֑ור (bakkinnor) – Root: כנור (kinnor); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “The lyre”; Notes: Refers to the musical instrument.
- וְהָיָ֗ה (vehayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it shall be”; Notes: Introduces a consequence.
- בִּֽהְיֹ֨ות (biheyot) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “When it is”; Notes: Introduces temporal condition.
- עָלֶ֤יךָ (ʿalekha) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Upon you”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul.
- רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים֙ (ruaḥ-ʾElohim) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ) + אלוהים (ʾElohim); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct + divine name; Translation: “A spirit of God”; Notes: Refers to supernatural influence.
- רָעָ֔ה (raʿah) – Root: רע (raʿ); Form: Adjective, feminine singular; Translation: “Evil”; Notes: Describes the spirit.
- וְנִגֵּ֥ן (veniggen) – Root: נגן (nagan); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Then he shall play”; Notes: Describes the musician’s action.
- בְּיָדֹ֖ו (beyado) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “With his hand”; Notes: Indicates instrumental action.
- וְטֹ֥וב (vetov) – Root: טוב (tov); Form: Adjective, masculine singular; Translation: “And it will be good”; Notes: Indicates relief for Shaʾul.
- לָֽךְ׃ (lakh) – Root: לך (lakh); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “For you”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul.