וַיְרַגֵּ֣ל בְּעַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַאדֹנִ֤י הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ כְּמַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הַטֹּ֖וב בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃
But he slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God; therefore, do what is good in your eyes.
Morphology
- וַיְרַגֵּל (vayy’raggel) – Root: רגל; Form: Wayyiqtol Piel imperfect 3rd masculine singular; Translation: “and he slandered”; Notes: Piel form implies intensive or deliberate accusation or spying.
- בְּעַבְדְּךָ (be-ʿavdekha) – Root: עבד; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “against your servant”; Notes: Indicates the object of the slander.
- אֶל־אֲדֹנִי (el-adoni) – Root: אדן; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to my lord”; Notes: Refers to King Dawid.
- הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Title of respect and office.
- וַאדֹנִי (va-adoni) – Root: אדן; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “yet my lord”; Notes: Transition from accusation to praise.
- הַמֶּלֶךְ (ha-melekh) – Root: מלך; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes who is being addressed.
- כְּמַלְאַךְ (ke-malʾakh) – Root: מלאך; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like an angel”; Notes: Indicates comparison to divine judgment.
- הָאֱלֹהִים (ha-ʾElohim) – Root: אלה; Form: Definite noun masculine plural (with singular meaning); Translation: “of God”; Notes: Refers to divine authority.
- וַעֲשֵׂה (va-ʿaseh) – Root: עשה; Form: Conjunction + Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “and do”; Notes: Polite request to the king.
- הַטּוֹב (ha-tov) – Root: טוב; Form: Definite adjective masculine singular; Translation: “what is good”; Notes: Moral or beneficial action.
- בְּעֵינֶיךָ (be-ʿeineikha) – Root: עין; Form: Preposition + noun dual with 2nd masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Hebrew idiom meaning “as you see fit.”