וַתִּקַּ֣ח הָאִשָּׁ֗ה וַתִּפְרֹ֤שׂ אֶת־הַמָּסָךְ֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח עָלָ֖יו הָֽרִפֹ֑ות וְלֹ֥א נֹודַ֖ע דָּבָֽר׃
And the woman took and spread the covering over the face of the well, and she scattered grain on it, and nothing was known.
Morphology
- וַתִּקַּ֣ח (vattiqqaḥ) – Root: לקח; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd feminine singular; Translation: “And she took”; Notes: Refers to the unnamed woman hiding the men.
- הָאִשָּׁ֗ה (ha-ʾishah) – Root: אשה; Form: Definite noun, feminine singular; Translation: “the woman”; Notes: Subject of the verbs in this verse.
- וַתִּפְרֹ֤שׂ (vattifros) – Root: פרשׂ; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd feminine singular; Translation: “and she spread”; Notes: Action of concealing the well’s opening.
- אֶת־הַמָּסָךְ֙ (et-ha-masakh) – Root: מסך; Form: Definite direct object noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the covering”; Notes: Used to hide the well entrance.
- עַל־פְּנֵ֣י (ʿal-penei) – Root: פנה; Form: Preposition + construct noun, masculine plural; Translation: “over the face of”; Notes: Spatial expression referring to surface of the well.
- הַבְּאֵ֔ר (ha-beʾer) – Root: באר; Form: Definite noun, feminine singular; Translation: “the well”; Notes: Location where the messengers were hiding.
- וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח (vattishṭaḥ) – Root: שטח; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd feminine singular; Translation: “and she spread out/scattered”; Notes: Refers to covering the surface further.
- עָלָ֖יו (ʿalav) – Root: על; Form: Preposition + 3rd masculine singular suffix; Translation: “on it”; Notes: Refers to the well or the covering.
- הָרִפֹ֑ות (ha-rifot) – Root: רפה or possibly ריפת; Form: Definite plural noun, feminine; Translation: “the grain” or “bruised grain”; Notes: Likely a cereal product to disguise the hiding place.
- וְלֹ֥א (ve-lo) – Root: לא; Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and not”; Notes: Denotes negation of result.
- נֹודַ֖ע (nodaʿ) – Root: ידע; Form: Nifal perfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “was known”; Notes: Passive form, implies successful concealment.
- דָּבָֽר (davar) – Root: דבר; Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a thing / matter”; Notes: Refers to the entire situation or hiding of the men.