אִם־יוּכַ֞ל לְהִלָּחֵ֤ם אִתִּי֙ וְהִכָּ֔נִי וְהָיִ֥ינוּ לָכֶ֖ם לַעֲבָדִ֑ים וְאִם־אֲנִ֤י אֽוּכַל־לֹו֙ וְהִכִּיתִ֔יו וִהְיִ֤יתֶם לָ֨נוּ֙ לַעֲבָדִ֔ים וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם אֹתָֽנוּ׃
If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, then we shall be your servants; but if I am able to prevail against him and strike him down, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”
Morphology
- אִם־יוּכַ֞ל (ʾim-yukhal) – Root: יכל (yakhol); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “If he is able”; Notes: Introduces a conditional clause.
- לְהִלָּחֵ֤ם (lehillaḥem) – Root: לחם (laḥam); Form: Nifal infinitive construct; Translation: “to fight”; Notes: Reflexive or passive form.
- אִתִּי֙ (itti) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “with me”; Notes: Indicates direct engagement.
- וְהִכָּ֔נִי (ve-hikkani) – Root: נכה (nakhah); Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “and strike me down”; Notes: Causative action.
- וְהָיִ֥ינוּ (ve-hayinu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “then we shall be”; Notes: Expresses future consequence.
- לָכֶ֖ם (lakhem) – Root: אתם (ʾatem); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “for you”; Notes: Indicates possession.
- לַעֲבָדִ֑ים (laʿavadim) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “as servants”; Notes: Denotes status.
- וְאִם־אֲנִ֤י (ve-ʾim-ʾani) – Root: אני (ʾani); Form: Pronoun, 1st person singular with conjunction; Translation: “but if I”; Notes: Introduces a contrasting conditional clause.
- אֽוּכַל־לֹו֙ (ʾukhal-lo) – Root: יכל (yakhol); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “am able to prevail against him”; Notes: Expresses ability.
- וְהִכִּיתִ֔יו (ve-hikkitiv) – Root: נכה (nakhah); Form: Hifil perfect 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and strike him down”; Notes: Causative action.
- וִהְיִ֤יתֶם (vihyitem) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “then you shall be”; Notes: Future consequence.
- לָ֨נוּ֙ (lanu) – Root: אנחנו (ʾanaḥnu); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “for us”; Notes: Indicates possession.
- לַעֲבָדִ֔ים (laʿavadim) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “as servants”; Notes: Denotes status.
- וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם (vaʿavadtem) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and you shall serve”; Notes: Denotes subjugation.
- אֹתָֽנוּ (otanu) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Definite direct object marker with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “us”; Notes: Object of the verb.