וַיַּ֤עַן הָעָם֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר חָלִ֣ילָה לָּ֔נוּ מֵעֲזֹ֖ב אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה לַעֲבֹ֖ד אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים׃
And the people answered and said, “Far be it from us to forsake YHWH to serve other gods!
Morphology
- וַיַּ֤עַן (vayyaʿan) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he answered”; Notes: A narrative verb introducing a response.
- הָעָם֙ (ha-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “the people”; Notes: The subject of the verb.
- וַיֹּ֔אמֶר (vayyoʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: A common verb for speech.
- חָלִ֣ילָה (ḥalilah) – Root: חלל (ḥalal); Form: Interjection; Translation: “Far be it”; Notes: A strong negation expressing disapproval.
- לָּ֔נוּ (lanu) – Root: לנו (lanu); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “for us”; Notes: Emphasizes the people’s commitment.
- מֵעֲזֹ֖ב (me-ʿazov) – Root: עזב (ʿazav); Form: Qal infinitive construct with prepositional prefix; Translation: “to forsake”; Notes: Expresses negation of an action.
- אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה (et-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun with direct object marker; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The object of the forsaking.
- לַעֲבֹ֖ד (laʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal infinitive construct with prepositional prefix; Translation: “to serve”; Notes: Expresses purpose.
- אֱלֹהִ֥ים (ʾelohim) – Root: אלה (ʾeloah); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “gods”; Notes: Refers to foreign deities.
- אֲחֵרִֽים׃ (aḥerim) – Root: אחר (aḥer); Form: Adjective, masculine plural; Translation: “other”; Notes: Modifies “gods,” indicating their foreign nature.