וַֽתַּחֲבֹשׁ֙ הָֽאָתֹ֔ון וַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֶֽל־נַעֲרָ֖הּ נְהַ֣ג וָלֵ֑ךְ אַל־תַּעֲצָר־לִ֣י לִרְכֹּ֔ב כִּ֖י אִם־אָמַ֥רְתִּי לָֽךְ׃
And she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Drive and go forward. Do not hold back for me to ride unless I tell you.”
Morphology
- וַתַּחֲבֹשׁ (va-taḥavosh) – Root: חבשׁ; Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “And she saddled”; Notes: Refers to placing a saddle on the donkey to prepare for travel.
- הָאָתֹון (ha-aton) – Root: אתן; Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the donkey”; Notes: Used here for transportation to the prophet.
- וַתֹּאמֶר (va-toʾmer) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “And she said”; Notes: Introduces direct speech to the servant.
- אֶל־נַעֲרָהּ (ʾel-naʿarah) – Root: נער; Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “to her servant”; Notes: Likely a young male servant responsible for guiding the donkey.
- נְהַג (nehaġ) – Root: נהג; Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Drive”; Notes: Command to set out quickly or guide the animal.
- וָלֵךְ (va-lekh) – Root: הלך; Form: Qal imperative masculine singular + vav; Translation: “and go”; Notes: Continues the command, urging haste.
- אַל (ʾal) – Root: אל; Form: Negative particle for jussive; Translation: “Do not”; Notes: Used in instruction or prohibition.
- תַּעֲצָר (taʿatsar) – Root: עצר; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “hold back”; Notes: Refers to slowing or stopping the pace of travel.
- לִי (li) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition לְ + first person singular suffix; Translation: “for me”; Notes: Indicates the one being accommodated or delayed for.
- לִרְכֹּב (lirkov) – Root: רכב; Form: Infinitive construct with preposition לְ; Translation: “to ride”; Notes: Infinitive of purpose — riding the donkey.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “unless” (in this context); Notes: Conditional conjunction introducing exception.
- אִם (ʾim) – Root: אם; Form: Conditional particle; Translation: “if”; Notes: Works together with כִּי to form the phrase “unless if.”
- אָמַרְתִּי (amarti) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I tell”; Notes: She instructs not to slow down unless she speaks.
- לָךְ (lakh) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition לְ + second person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: The servant is the recipient of her potential command.