וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל שָׁאוּל֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָ֖הוּ יְהוָ֑ה גַּ֧ם בַּחֲלֹמֹ֛ות גַּ֥ם בָּאוּרִ֖ים גַּ֥ם בַּנְּבִיאִֽם׃
And Shaʾul inquired of YHWH, and YHWH did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by the prophets.
Morphology
- וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל (vayishʾal) – Root: שאל (shaʾal); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he inquired”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul asking for guidance or information.
- שָׁאוּל֙ (Shaʾul) – Root: שׁואל (Shaʾul); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shaʾul”; Notes: The king of Yisraʾel.
- בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (ba-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “of YHWH”; Notes: Refers to inquiring of YHWH, the Lord.
- וְלֹ֥א (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Indicates negation in the sentence.
- עָנָ֖הוּ (ʿanahu) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “he answered him”; Notes: Describes the lack of response from YHWH.
- יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the Lord, the God of Israel.
- גַּ֧ם (gam) – Root: גם (gam); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “also”; Notes: Used to indicate a series of ways in which Shaʾul sought an answer.
- בַּחֲלֹמֹ֛ות (ba-ḥalomot) – Root: חלם (ḥalam); Form: Noun, masculine plural with preposition; Translation: “by dreams”; Notes: Refers to the method of receiving communication through dreams.
- גַּ֥ם (gam) – Root: גם (gam); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “also”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes additional ways of communication.
- בָּאוּרִ֖ים (be-Urim) – Root: אור (ur); Form: Noun, masculine plural with preposition; Translation: “by Urim”; Notes: Refers to the sacred lots used for divine revelation.
- גַּ֥ם (gam) – Root: גם (gam); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “also”; Notes: Repeats the conjunction for further emphasis.
- בַּנְּבִיאִֽם (ba-neviʾim) – Root: נביא (navi); Form: Noun, masculine plural with preposition; Translation: “by the prophets”; Notes: Refers to seeking guidance from the prophetic word, indicating a third method of communication.