וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ חֶ֨סֶד֙ עַל־עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ כִּ֚י בִּבְרִ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה הֵבֵ֥אתָ אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֖ עִמָּ֑ךְ וְאִם־יֶשׁ־בִּ֤י עָוֹן֙ הֲמִיתֵ֣נִי אַ֔תָּה וְעַד־אָבִ֖יךָ לָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה תְבִיאֵֽנִי׃ פ
And show kindness to your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of YHWH with you. But if there is in me iniquity, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”
Morphology
- וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ (ve-ʿasita) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Conjunctive vav + perfect 2nd person masculine singular, Qal; Translation: “And you shall do”; Notes: Refers to an action of showing kindness.
- חֶ֨סֶד֙ (ḥesed) – Root: חסד (ḥesed); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “kindness”; Notes: Often denotes loyal love or covenant faithfulness.
- עַל־עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ (ʿal-ʿavdekha) – Root: עבד (ʿeved); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “upon your servant”; Notes: Refers to Dawid.
- כִּ֚י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the request.
- בִּבְרִ֣ית (bi-verit) – Root: ברית (berit); Form: Noun, feminine singular, definite with preposition; Translation: “in a covenant”; Notes: Refers to a sacred agreement.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the covenant-keeping God.
- הֵבֵ֥אתָ (heveita) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Perfect 2nd person masculine singular, Hiphil; Translation: “you have brought”; Notes: Indicates causation.
- אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֖ (et-ʿavdekha) – Root: עבד (ʿeved); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your servant”; Notes: Refers to Dawid.
- עִמָּ֑ךְ (ʿimmakh) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with you”; Notes: Indicates inclusion in the covenant.
- וְאִם־יֶשׁ־בִּ֤י (ve-im-yesh-bi) – Root: יש (yesh); Form: Conjunctive vav + conditional particle + existential particle + prepositional pronoun; Translation: “But if there is in me”; Notes: Introduces a condition.
- עָוֹן֙ (ʿavon) – Root: עון (ʿavon); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “iniquity”; Notes: Refers to guilt or wrongdoing.
- הֲמִיתֵ֣נִי (hamiteni) – Root: מות (mut); Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular, Hiphil + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “kill me”; Notes: A direct command.
- אַ֔תָּה (attah) – Root: אתה (attah); Form: Pronoun, 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you”; Notes: Emphasizes the subject.
- וְעַד־אָבִ֖יךָ (ve-ʿad-avikha) – Root: עד (ʿad) + אב (av); Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and to your father”; Notes: Refers to Shaʾul.
- לָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה (lammah-zeh) – Root: למה (lammah) + זה (zeh); Form: Interrogative adverb + demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “why this”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question.
- תְבִיאֵֽנִי׃ (teviʾeni) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular, Hiphil + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “should you bring me”; Notes: Expresses concern.