וַיְצַ֨ו שָׁא֜וּל אֶת־עֲבָדָ֗ו דַּבְּר֨וּ אֶל־דָּוִ֤ד בַּלָּט֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֨ה חָפֵ֤ץ בְּךָ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכָל־עֲבָדָ֖יו אֲהֵב֑וּךָ וְעַתָּ֖ה הִתְחַתֵּ֥ן בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
And Shaʾul commanded his servants, “Speak to Dawid secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’”
Morphology
- וַיְצַ֨ו (va-yetsáv) – Root: צוה (tsavah); Form: Piel wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he commanded”; Notes: Piel stem emphasizes giving orders.
- שָׁא֜וּל (Shaʾul) – Root: שאל (shaʾal); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Shaʾul”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- אֶת־עֲבָדָ֗ו (ʾet-ʿavadáv) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his servants”; Notes: Object of the command.
- דַּבְּר֨וּ (dabberú) – Root: דבר (dabar); Form: Piel imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Speak”; Notes: Direct command to the servants.
- אֶל־דָּוִ֤ד (ʾel-Dawíd) – Root: דוד (Dawid); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular with preposition; Translation: “to Dawid”; Notes: Recipient of speech.
- בַּלָּט֙ (ba-lat) – Root: לט (lat); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite; Translation: “secretly”; Notes: Indicates private communication.
- לֵאמֹ֔ר (lemór) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- הִנֵּ֨ה (hinneh) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Draws attention.
- חָפֵ֤ץ (ḥaféts) – Root: חפץ (ḥafats); Form: Qal participle, masculine singular; Translation: “delights”; Notes: Describes the king’s favor.
- בְּךָ֙ (bekhá) – Root: בך (bekha); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in you”; Notes: Indicates personal favor.
- הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ha-mélekh) – Root: מלך (melek); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite; Translation: “the king”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul.
- וְכָל־עֲבָדָ֖יו (ve-khol-ʿavadáv) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and all his servants”; Notes: Includes the royal household.
- אֲהֵב֑וּךָ (ʾahevúkha) – Root: אהב (ʾahav); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “they love you”; Notes: Expresses affection.
- וְעַתָּ֖ה (ve-ʿattáh) – Root: עתה (ʿattah); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Now therefore”; Notes: Signals a call to action.
- הִתְחַתֵּ֥ן (hitḥattén) – Root: חתן (ḥatan); Form: Hitpael imperative masculine singular; Translation: “become a son-in-law”; Notes: Reflexive form, indicating taking on the status.
- בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ (ba-mélekh) – Root: מלך (melek); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite with preposition; Translation: “to the king”; Notes: Refers to marriage alliance with Shaʾul.