וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּתֹ֖ו בְּחִידֹֽות׃
And the Queen of Sheva heard of the report of Shelomo for the name of YHWH, and she came to test him with riddles.
Morphology
- וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א (u-malkat-Sheva) – Root: מלך (mlk); Form: Conjunction with construct noun, feminine singular; Translation: “And the Queen of Sheva”; Notes: Construct form indicates possession or relation; Sheva is a proper name of a place.
- שֹׁמַ֛עַת (shomaʿat) – Root: שמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “heard”; Notes: Participial form functioning as present or past narrative depending on context.
- אֶת־שֵׁ֥מַע (ʾet-shemaʿ) – Root: שמע (shamaʿ); Form: Definite direct object marker with noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the report”; Notes: Direct object of the verb “heard.”
- שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Shelomoh) – Root: שלם (sh.l.m); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Shelomoh”; Notes: Refers to King Solomon.
- לְשֵׁ֣ם (le-shem) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular; Translation: “for the name”; Notes: Indicates purpose or cause, as in reputation or fame.
- יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) – Root: היה (h.y.h); Form: Proper noun, Tetragrammaton; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The personal name of the God of Yisraʾel.
- וַתָּבֹ֥א (va-tavo) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and she came”; Notes: Sequential narrative form (wayyiqtol) indicating action following the previous clause.
- לְנַסֹּתֹ֖ו (le-nassoto) – Root: נסה (n.s.h); Form: Preposition with Piel infinitive construct + 3rd masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to test him”; Notes: Piel intensifies the action of trying or proving.
- בְּחִידֹֽות׃ (be-ḥidot) – Root: חידה (ḥidah); Form: Preposition with plural noun, feminine plural; Translation: “with riddles”; Notes: Plural of riddle or enigmatic question.