לֹֽא־אוּכַ֤ל אָנֹכִי֙ לְבַדִּ֔י לָשֵׂ֖את אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֥י כָבֵ֖ד מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
Morphology
- לֹֽא־אוּכַ֤ל (lo-ukhal) – Root: יכל (y-k-l); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I am not able”; Notes: Indicates Moshe’s inability or limitation.
- אָנֹכִי֙ (anokhi) – Root: אנכ (ʾ-n-k); Form: Independent pronoun, 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphasizes the speaker’s personal involvement.
- לְבַדִּ֔י (levaddi) – Root: בדד (b-d-d); Form: Preposition with singular suffix; Translation: “Alone”; Notes: Reflects isolation in bearing responsibility.
- לָשֵׂ֖את (laset) – Root: נשא (n-s-ʾ); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “To bear”; Notes: Indicates carrying a burden.
- אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֣ם (et-kol-ha-am) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Form: Direct object marker with noun and definite article; Translation: “All the people”; Notes: Refers to the collective group of Yisra’el.
- הַזֶּ֑ה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (z-h); Form: Masculine singular demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “This”; Notes: Specifies the immediate group addressed.
- כִּ֥י (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “Because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for Moshe’s inability.
- כָבֵ֖ד (kaved) – Root: כבד (k-b-d); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “Heavy”; Notes: Describes the burden’s weightiness.
- מִמֶּֽנִּי (mimeni) – Root: מן (m-n); Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “For me”; Notes: Indicates the burden exceeds Moshe’s capacity.
This verse captures Moshe’s despair and acknowledgment of his limitations in leading and providing for the people on his own. It reflects his dependence on divine assistance and communal support.