וַיִּגְּשׁ֣וּ עֲבָדָיו֮ וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָיו֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אָבִי֙ דָּבָ֣ר גָּדֹ֗ול הַנָּבִ֛יא דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ הֲלֹ֣וא תַעֲשֶׂ֑ה וְאַ֛ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רְחַ֥ץ וּטְהָֽר׃
And his servants came near and spoke to him, and they said, “My father, had the prophet spoken a great thing to you, would you not have done it? How much more then when he said to you, ‘Wash and be clean’?”
Morphology
- וַיִּגְּשׁוּ (va-yiggeshu) – Root: נגשׁ; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they came near”; Notes: Refers to the respectful approach of the servants.
- עֲבָדָיו (avadav) – Root: עבד; Form: Noun masculine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his servants”; Notes: Those under Naʿaman’s command.
- וַיְדַבְּרוּ (va-yedabberu) – Root: דבר; Form: Piel wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they spoke”; Notes: Emphasizes earnestness or persuasion.
- אֵלָיו (elav) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Indicates Naʿaman is the recipient.
- וַיֹּאמְרוּ (va-yomru) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Continues their appeal.
- אָבִי (avi) – Root: אב; Form: Noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my father”; Notes: A respectful address to a superior, common in courtly speech.
- דָּבָר (davar) – Root: דבר; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a thing”; Notes: Refers to an action or instruction.
- גָּדֹול (gadol) – Root: גדל; Form: Adjective masculine singular absolute; Translation: “great”; Notes: Indicates something significant or difficult.
- הַנָּבִיא (ha-naviʾ) – Root: נבא; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the prophet”; Notes: Refers to Elisha.
- דִּבֶּר (dibber) – Root: דבר; Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “spoke”; Notes: Strong form implying authoritative speech.
- אֵלֶיךָ (elekha) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Directed to Naʿaman.
- הֲלֹוא (halo) – Root: —; Form: Interrogative + negative particle; Translation: “would you not”; Notes: Used rhetorically to emphasize expected action.
- תַעֲשֶׂה (taʿaseh) – Root: עשה; Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “do it”; Notes: Hypothetical response to a difficult task.
- וְאַף (ve-af) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction/adverb; Translation: “how much more”; Notes: Used for rhetorical emphasis.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “when” or “since”; Notes: Explains the basis for action.
- אָמַר (amar) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he said”; Notes: Refers to Elisha’s instruction.
- אֵלֶיךָ (elekha) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis.
- רְחַץ (reḥatz) – Root: רחץ; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “wash”; Notes: The prophet’s simple command.
- וּטְהָר (u-tehar) – Root: טהר; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and be clean”; Notes: Result of obedient action.