וַיֹּאמֶר֩ לֹ֨ו אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע שֵֽׁב־נָ֣א פֹ֗ה כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי יְרִיחֹ֔ו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהוָ֥ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ יְרִיחֹֽו׃
And Eliyyahu said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for YHWH has sent me to Yericho.” But he said, “As YHWH lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” And they came to Yericho.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Marks Eliyyahu’s continued instruction.
- לֹ֨ו (lo) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Elisha.
- אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu) – Root: אליהו; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Eliyyahu”; Notes: The prophet delivering the message.
- אֱלִישָׁ֣ע (Elisha) – Root: אלישע; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Elisha”; Notes: Eliyyahu’s disciple and successor.
- שֵֽׁב־נָ֣א (shev-na) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular + particle of entreaty; Translation: “please stay”; Notes: A polite command.
- פֹה (poh) – Root: פה; Form: Adverb; Translation: “here”; Notes: Indicates location.
- כִּ֤י (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the command.
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Divine subject sending Eliyyahu.
- שְׁלָחַ֣נִי (shelachani) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “has sent me”; Notes: Eliyyahu declares his divine mission.
- יְרִיחֹו (Yericho) – Root: יריחו; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yericho”; Notes: Ancient city in the Jordan Valley.
- וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “But he said”; Notes: Elisha’s determined response.
- חַי־יְהוָה (ḥai-YHWH) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Oath formula; Translation: “As YHWH lives”; Notes: Solemn vow formula.
- וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ (ve-ḥei-nafshekha) – Root: חיה + נפש; Form: Coordinated oath phrase; Translation: “and as your soul lives”; Notes: Reinforces oath with personal attachment.
- אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶךָּ (im-eʿezvekha) – Root: עזב (ʿazav); Form: Conditional particle + Qal imperfect 1st person singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I will not leave you”; Notes: Expression of unwavering loyalty.
- וַיָּבֹאוּ (va-yavoʾu) – Root: בוא (bo); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they came”; Notes: Narrative continuation of their journey.
- יְרִיחֹו (Yericho) – Root: יריחו; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yericho”; Notes: Destination of their travel.