וַיִּרְאוּ֙ הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים אִ֖ישׁ יֹוצֵ֣א מִן־הָעִ֑יר וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לֹ֗ו הַרְאֵ֤נוּ נָא֙ אֶת־מְבֹ֣וא הָעִ֔יר וְעָשִׂ֥ינוּ עִמְּךָ֖ חָֽסֶד׃
And the guards saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, “Show us now the entrance of the city, and we will deal kindly with you.”
Morphology
- וַיִּרְאוּ֙ (vayirʾu) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they saw”; Notes: Refers to the guards observing the man.
- הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים (ha-shomrim) – Root: שמר (shamar); Form: Qal participle, masculine plural definite; Translation: “the guards”; Notes: Refers to those keeping watch.
- אִ֖ישׁ (ish) – Root: איש (ish); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a man”; Notes: The person they saw.
- יֹוצֵ֣א (yotze) – Root: יצא (yatza); Form: Qal participle, masculine singular; Translation: “coming out”; Notes: Describes the man leaving the city.
- מִן־הָעִ֑יר (min-haʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Noun, feminine singular definite with preposition; Translation: “from the city”; Notes: Indicates the place he was leaving.
- וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (vayomru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- לֹ֗ו (lo) – Root: לו (lo); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: The guards address the man.
- הַרְאֵ֤נוּ (harʾenu) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Hifil imperative masculine singular with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “Show us”; Notes: A request for guidance.
- נָא֙ (na) – Root: נא (na); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “now”; Notes: Adds urgency or politeness.
- אֶת־מְבֹ֣וא (et-mevo) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “the entrance of”; Notes: Refers to the city’s entry point.
- הָעִ֔יר (haʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Noun, feminine singular definite; Translation: “the city”; Notes: The place they wanted access to.
- וְעָשִׂ֥ינוּ (veʿasinu) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “And we will do”; Notes: Expresses intention.
- עִמְּךָ֖ (ʿimmekha) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with you”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of their kindness.
- חָֽסֶד׃ (ḥesed) – Root: חסד (ḥesed); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “kindness”; Notes: A promise of favor in return for help.