הַיֹּ֧ום הַחִלֹּ֛תִי לִשְׁאֹ֥ול־לֹ֥ו בֵּאלֹהִ֖ים חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֑י אַל־יָשֵׂם֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ בְּעַבְדֹּ֤ו דָבָר֙ בְּכָל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔י כִּ֠י לֹֽא־יָדַ֤ע עַבְדְּךָ֙ בְּכָל־זֹ֔את דָּבָ֥ר קָטֹ֖ן אֹ֥ו גָדֹֽול׃
Today have I begun to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king lay anything against his servant, nor against all the house of my father, for your servant knew nothing of all this, whether small or great.”
Morphology
- הַיֹּ֧ום (ha-yōm) – Root: יום (yōm); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “Today”; Notes: Refers to the present time.
- הַחִלֹּ֛תִי (ha-ḥillōtī) – Root: חלל (ḥālal); Form: Hifil perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “have I begun”; Notes: Expresses initiation of an action.
- לִשְׁאֹ֥ול־לֹ֥ו (lishʾōl-lō) – Root: שאל (shāʾal); Form: Qal infinitive construct + preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to inquire for him”; Notes: Refers to seeking divine guidance.
- בֵּאלֹהִ֖ים (be-ʾElohim) – Root: אלהים (ʾElohim); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “of God”; Notes: Indicates consulting God.
- חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֑י (ḥālīlāh lī) – Root: חלל (ḥālal); Form: Interjection + preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “Far be it from me”; Notes: Expresses rejection.
- אַל־יָשֵׂם֩ (ʾal-yāśēm) – Root: שם (sīm); Form: Jussive 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Let not place”; Notes: Expresses a plea.
- הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul.
- בְּעַבְדֹּ֤ו (bə-ʿavdō) – Root: עבד (ʿéved); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular construct + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “against his servant”; Notes: Refers to Aḥimelekh.
- דָבָר֙ (dāvar) – Root: דבר (dāvar); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a thing”; Notes: Refers to a charge.
- בְּכָל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔י (bə-khol-bēt ʾāvī) – Root: בית (bāyit) + אב (ʾāv); Form: Preposition + noun construct + noun construct + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “against all the house of my father”; Notes: Refers to his family.
- כִּ֠י (kī) – Root: כי (kī); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces a reason.
- לֹֽא־יָדַ֤ע (lō-yādaʿ) – Root: ידע (yādaʿ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “knew not”; Notes: Denotes ignorance.
- עַבְדְּךָ֙ (ʿavdəkha) – Root: עבד (ʿéved); Form: Noun, masculine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your servant”; Notes: Refers to Aḥimelekh.
- בְּכָל־זֹ֔את (bə-khol-zōt) – Root: זה (zōt); Form: Preposition + demonstrative pronoun, feminine singular; Translation: “in all this”; Notes: Refers to the accusations.
- דָּבָ֥ר (dāvar) – Root: דבר (dāvar); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a thing”; Notes: Further clarification.
- קָטֹ֖ן (qatōn) – Root: קטן (qatān); Form: Adjective, masculine singular; Translation: “small”; Notes: Comparison of importance.
- אֹ֥ו (ʾō) – Root: או (ʾō); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or”; Notes: Connects alternatives.
- גָדֹֽול׃ (gādōl) – Root: גדל (gādal); Form: Adjective, masculine singular; Translation: “great”; Notes: Denotes magnitude.