וַיַּ֣רְא הַצֹּפֶה֮ אִישׁ־אַחֵ֣ר רָץ֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶל־הַשֹּׁעֵ֔ר וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה־אִ֖ישׁ רָ֣ץ לְבַדֹּ֑ו וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ גַּם־זֶ֥ה מְבַשֵּֽׂר׃
And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, a man is running alone.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing news.”
Morphology
- וַיַּרְא (vayyarʾ) – Root: ראה; Form: Wayyiqtol Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “And he saw”; Notes: Refers to the watchman observing someone else.
- הַצֹּפֶה (ha-tsofeh) – Root: צפה; Form: Definite active participle masculine singular; Translation: “the watchman”; Notes: Subject of the verb “saw.”
- אִישׁ־אַחֵר (ʾish-aḥer) – Root: אישׁ, אחר; Form: Noun + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “another man”; Notes: Indicates a second runner.
- רָץ (raṣ) – Root: רוץ; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “running”; Notes: Describes action of the second man.
- וַיִּקְרָא (vayyiqra) – Root: קרא; Form: Wayyiqtol Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “and he called”; Notes: Refers again to the watchman.
- הַצֹּפֶה (ha-tsofeh) – Root: צפה; Form: Definite active participle masculine singular; Translation: “the watchman”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis of action.
- אֶל־הַשֹּׁעֵר (el-ha-shoʿer) – Root: שׁער; Form: Preposition + definite participle masculine singular; Translation: “to the gatekeeper”; Notes: Likely the one responsible for informing the king.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Wayyiqtol Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Direct speech follows.
- הִנֵּה־אִישׁ (hinneh-ʾish) – Root: הנה, אישׁ; Form: Interjection + noun masculine singular; Translation: “Behold, a man”; Notes: Emphasizes surprise or notice.
- רָץ (raṣ) – Root: רוץ; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “running”; Notes: Describes what the watchman sees.
- לְבַדֹּו (levaddo) – Root: בדד; Form: Preposition + noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix; Translation: “alone”; Notes: Implies a separate message or messenger.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Wayyiqtol Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Refers to the king’s comment.
- הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Subject of the response.
- גַּם־זֶה (gam-zeh) – Root: גם, זה; Form: Conjunction + demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “this one also”; Notes: Indicates expectation of similar role.
- מְבַשֵּׂר (mevaser) – Root: בשר; Form: Piel participle masculine singular; Translation: “is bringing news”; Notes: Refers to carrying a report or message.