וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־לְבַדֹּ֖ו בְּשֹׂורָ֣ה בְּפִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָלֹ֖וךְ וְקָרֵֽב׃
And the watchman called and told the king, and the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came steadily nearer.
Morphology
- וַיִּקְרָא (vayyiqra) – Root: קרא; Form: Wayyiqtol Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “And he called”; Notes: Refers to the watchman calling out.
- הַצֹּפֶה (ha-tsofeh) – Root: צפה; Form: Definite Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “the watchman”; Notes: Subject of the verb “called.”
- וַיַּגֵּד (vayyagged) – Root: נגד; Form: Wayyiqtol Hifil imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “and he told”; Notes: Causative form—reporting to the king.
- לַמֶּלֶךְ (la-melekh) – Root: מלך; Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the king”; Notes: Recipient of the message.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Wayyiqtol Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Refers to the king’s response.
- הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Subject of the speech that follows.
- אִם־לְבַדֹּו (im-levaddo) – Root: בדד; Form: Conditional particle + preposition + noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “if he is alone”; Notes: Introduces a condition.
- בְּשֹׂורָה (besorah) – Root: בשר; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “news”; Notes: Refers to a message or report.
- בְּפִיו (be-fiv) – Root: פה; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in his mouth”; Notes: Figurative expression for carrying a message.
- וַיֵּלֶךְ (vayyelekh) – Root: הלך; Form: Wayyiqtol Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “and he went”; Notes: Describes movement of the runner.
- הָלֹוךְ (halokh) – Root: הלך; Form: Infinitive absolute; Translation: “going”; Notes: Paired with finite verb for continuous motion—“steadily.”
- וְקָרֵב (ve-qarev) – Root: קרב; Form: Qal active participle masculine singular; Translation: “and drawing near”; Notes: Describes progressive approach toward the king.