וַיֹּ֡אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֣נִי נָ֡א כִּ֣י זֶבַח֩ מִשְׁפָּחָ֨ה לָ֜נוּ בָּעִ֗יר וְה֤וּא צִוָּֽה־לִי֙ אָחִ֔י וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ אִמָּ֥לְטָה נָּ֖א וְאֶרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־אֶחָ֑י עַל־כֵּ֣ן לֹא־בָ֔א אֶל־שֻׁלְחַ֖ן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
And he said, “Let me go, please, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me. And now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me escape, please, and see my brothers. Therefore, he has not come to the king’s table.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֡אמֶר (vayyoʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular, Qal; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- שַׁלְּחֵ֣נִי (shalleḥeni) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular, Piel + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “Let me go”; Notes: A polite request.
- נָ֡א (na) – Root: נא (na); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “please”; Notes: Adds politeness.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces reason.
- זֶבַח֩ (zevaḥ) – Root: זבח (zevaḥ); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “sacrifice”; Notes: Refers to a ritual offering.
- מִשְׁפָּחָ֨ה (mishpaḥah) – Root: משפחה (mishpaḥah); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct; Translation: “of family”; Notes: Indicates a familial event.
- לָ֜נוּ (lanu) – Root: לנו (lanu); Form: Preposition + 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “for us”; Notes: Refers to the speaker’s family.
- בָּעִ֗יר (ba-ʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Noun, feminine singular definite; Translation: “in the city”; Notes: Specifies location.
- וְה֤וּא (ve-hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Pronoun, masculine singular; Translation: “and he”; Notes: Refers to the brother.
- צִוָּֽה־לִי֙ (tsiwwah-li) – Root: צוה (tsavah); Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine singular, Piel + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “has commanded me”; Notes: Indicates obligation.
- אָחִ֔י (aḥi) – Root: אח (aḥ); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my brother”; Notes: Subject of the previous verb.
- וְעַתָּ֗ה (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עתה (ʿattah); Form: Adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Marks transition.
- אִם־מָצָ֤אתִי (im-matsaʾti) – Root: מצא (matsa); Form: Perfect 1st person singular, Qal; Translation: “if I have found”; Notes: Expresses conditional request.
- חֵן֙ (ḥen) – Root: חן (ḥen); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “favor”; Notes: Seeking approval.
- בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ (be-ʿeineikha) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Noun, feminine dual with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Idiomatic expression for approval.
- אִמָּ֥לְטָה (immaltah) – Root: מלט (malat); Form: Cohortative 1st person singular, Nifal; Translation: “let me escape”; Notes: Expresses urgency.
- נָּ֖א (na) – Root: נא (na); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “please”; Notes: Adds politeness.
- וְאֶרְאֶ֣ה (ve-ʾereh) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Imperfect 1st person singular, Qal; Translation: “and see”; Notes: Purpose of the request.
- אֶת־אֶחָ֑י (et-eḥai) – Root: אח (aḥ); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my brothers”; Notes: Object of the verb.
- עַל־כֵּ֣ן (ʿal-ken) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Prepositional phrase; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Introduces consequence.
- לֹא־בָ֔א (lo-ba) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine singular, Qal; Translation: “he has not come”; Notes: Negated action.
- אֶל־שֻׁלְחַ֖ן (el-shulḥan) – Root: שולחן (shulḥan); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “to the table”; Notes: Specifies location.
- הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul.