וַיְהִ֣י בַּיֹּ֣ום הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ לְאֵֽשֶׁת־שִׁמְשֹׁון֙ פַּתִּ֣י אֶת־אִישֵׁ֗ךְ וְיַגֶּד־לָ֨נוּ֙ אֶת־הַ֣חִידָ֔ה פֶּן־נִשְׂרֹ֥ף אֹותָ֛ךְ וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית אָבִ֖יךְ בָּאֵ֑שׁ הַלְיָרְשֵׁ֕נוּ קְרָאתֶ֥ם לָ֖נוּ הֲלֹֽא׃
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to the wife of Shimshon, “Entice your husband, that he may tell us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us to impoverish us? Is it not so?”
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֣י (vayehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Standard biblical narrative opening.
- בַּיֹּ֣ום (bayyom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article and preposition; Translation: “on the day”; Notes: The definite article specifies a particular day.
- הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (ha-sheviʿi) – Root: שבע (sheva); Form: Adjective, ordinal, masculine singular; Translation: “the seventh”; Notes: Modifies “day.”
- וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (vayomru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Narrative form indicating sequential action.
- לְאֵֽשֶׁת־שִׁמְשֹׁון֙ (le-eshet Shimshon) – Root: אשה (ishah) + שמשון (Shimshon); Form: Noun construct with proper noun; Translation: “to the wife of Shimshon”; Notes: Indicates the person being addressed.
- פַּתִּ֣י (patti) – Root: פתה (patah); Form: Piel imperative 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “Entice”; Notes: Strong imperative, commanding persuasion.
- אֶת־אִישֵׁ֗ךְ (et-ishekh) – Root: איש (ish); Form: Noun, masculine singular with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your husband”; Notes: The direct object marker (את) highlights the recipient of the action.
- וְיַגֶּד־לָ֨נוּ֙ (veyagged-lanu) – Root: נגד (nagad); Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “that he may tell us”; Notes: Expresses purpose.
- אֶת־הַ֣חִידָ֔ה (et-haḥidah) – Root: חוד (ḥud); Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article; Translation: “the riddle”; Notes: Refers to the puzzle given by Shimshon.
- פֶּן־נִשְׂרֹ֥ף (pen-nisrof) – Root: שרף (saraf); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person plural preceded by “lest”; Translation: “lest we burn”; Notes: Expresses a conditional threat.
- אֹותָ֛ךְ (otakh) – Root: את (ʾet) + את (at); Form: Direct object pronoun, 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “you”; Notes: Refers to Shimshon’s wife.
- וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית אָבִ֖יךְ (ve-et-bet avikh) – Root: בית (bayit) + אב (av); Form: Noun construct with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “and your father’s house”; Notes: Emphasizes the entire household being at risk.
- בָּאֵ֑שׁ (ba’esh) – Root: אש (esh); Form: Noun, feminine singular with preposition; Translation: “with fire”; Notes: Indicates means of destruction.
- הַלְיָרְשֵׁ֕נוּ (haleyarsheinu) – Root: ירש (yarash); Form: Hifil infinitive construct with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “to impoverish us”; Notes: Expresses perceived betrayal.
- קְרָאתֶ֥ם (qratem) – Root: קרא (qara); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person plural; Translation: “Have you invited”; Notes: Suggests intention behind the invitation.
- לָ֖נוּ (lanu) – Root: ל (l) + אנחנו (anachnu); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “for us”; Notes: Indicates the perceived purpose of their presence.
- הֲלֹֽא (halo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “Is it not so?”; Notes: Rhetorical question emphasizing their accusation.