וַיְהִ֗י כִּֽי־חָטְא֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם הַמַּעֲלֶ֤ה אֹתָם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם מִתַּ֕חַת יַ֖ד פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיִּֽירְא֖וּ אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים׃
And it came to pass when the sons of Yisraʾel sinned against YHWH their God, who brought them up from the land of Mitsrayim from under the hand of Parʿo king of Mitsrayim, that they feared other gods.
Morphology
- וַיְהִי (va-yehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Introduces a narrative event or historical summary.
- כִּי־חָטְאוּ (ki-ḥaṭeʾu) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Conjunction כִּי + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “when they sinned”; Notes: Causal/temporal clause explaining the reason or time.
- בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל (benei-Yisraʾel) – Root: בן (ben) + ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Construct noun plural + proper noun; Translation: “sons of Yisraʾel”; Notes: A collective expression for the people of Yisraʾel.
- לַיהוָה (la-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Preposition לְ + proper noun with definite article; Translation: “against YHWH”; Notes: In this context, expressing sin against YHWH.
- אֱלֹהֵיהֶם (ʾEloheihem) – Root: אלוה (ʾEloah); Form: Plural construct noun + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their God”; Notes: Emphasizes covenantal relationship.
- הַמַּעֲלֶה (ha-maʿaleh) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Hiphil participle masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “who brought up”; Notes: Describes God’s redemptive act from Mitsrayim.
- אֹתָם (ʾotam) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers back to the sons of Yisraʾel.
- מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם (me-ʾerets Mitsrayim) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets) + מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Preposition מִן + noun + proper noun; Translation: “from the land of Mitsrayim”; Notes: Indicates location of deliverance.
- מִתַּחַת (mi-taḥat) – Root: תחת (taḥat); Form: Preposition מִן + noun; Translation: “from under”; Notes: Denotes subjugation or oppression.
- יַד (yad) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “hand”; Notes: Symbol of power or control.
- פַּרְעֹה (Parʿo) – Root: Egyptian name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Parʿo”; Notes: Title for the king of Mitsrayim (Pharaoh).
- מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַיִם (melekh-Mitsrayim) – Root: מלך (melekh) + מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “king of Mitsrayim”; Notes: Emphasizes the political ruler under whom Yisraʾel was enslaved.
- וַיִּירְאוּ (va-yirʾu) – Root: ירא (yara); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they feared”; Notes: Often implies worship or reverence in biblical usage.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלוה (ʾEloah); Form: Plural noun; Translation: “gods”; Notes: Refers to false or foreign deities.
- אֲחֵרִים (ʾakherim) – Root: אחר (ʾakher); Form: Adjective plural masculine; Translation: “other”; Notes: Emphasizes their deviation from YHWH.