וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֜ע שֵֽׁב־נָ֣א פֹ֗ה כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי עַד־בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע חַי־יְהוָ֥ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ וַיֵּרְד֖וּ בֵּֽית־אֵֽל׃
And Eliyyahu said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for YHWH has sent me as far as Beit-el.” But Elisha said, “As YHWH lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Beit-el.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces Eliyyahu’s speech.
- אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ (Eliyahu) – Root: אליהו; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Eliyyahu”; Notes: The prophet speaking.
- אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֜ע (el-Elisha) – Root: אלישע; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Elisha”; Notes: His prophetic disciple.
- שֵֽׁב־נָ֣א (shev-na) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular + particle of entreaty; Translation: “Please stay”; Notes: Request with politeness.
- פֹּה (poh) – Root: פה (poh); Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “here”; Notes: Indicates location.
- כִּ֤י (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces causal explanation.
- יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Divine agent sending Eliyyahu.
- שְׁלָחַ֣נִי (shelachani) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “has sent me”; Notes: Emphasizes divine mission.
- עַד־בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל (ʿad-Beit-El) – Root: בית + אל; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “as far as Beit-El”; Notes: A sacred city associated with prophetic activity.
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces Elisha’s reply.
- אֱלִישָׁ֔ע (Elisha) – Root: אלישע; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Elisha”; Notes: Faithful disciple of Eliyyahu.
- חַי־יְהוָ֥ה (ḥai-YHWH) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Interjection + proper noun; Translation: “As YHWH lives”; Notes: Solemn oath formula.
- וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ (ve-ḥei-nafshekha) – Root: חיה + נפש; Form: Coordinated oath clause; Translation: “and as your soul lives”; Notes: Double oath emphasizing loyalty.
- אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ (im-eʿezvekha) – Root: עזב (ʿazav); Form: Conditional particle + Qal imperfect 1st person singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I will not leave you”; Notes: Expresses absolute fidelity.
- וַיֵּרְד֖וּ (va-yerddu) – Root: ירד (yarad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “So they went down”; Notes: Narrates the journey together.
- בֵּֽית־אֵֽל (Beit-El) – Root: בית + אל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Beit-El”; Notes: Important northern sanctuary site.