וַיְהִ֣י כְעָבְרָ֗ם וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ אָמַ֤ר אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע֙ שְׁאַל֙ מָ֣ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֔ךְ בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֶלָּקַ֣ח מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע וִֽיהִי־נָ֛א פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֥יִם בְּרוּחֲךָ֖ אֵלָֽי׃
And it came to pass, when they had crossed over, that Eliyyahu said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֣י (va-yehi) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Marks the beginning of a significant narrative moment.
- כְעָבְרָ֗ם (ke-ʿavram) – Root: עבר (ʿavar); Form: Preposition + Qal infinitive construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “when they had crossed over”; Notes: Refers to the crossing of the Yarden by Eliyyahu and Elisha.
- וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ (ve-Eliyahu) – Root: אליהו; Form: Conjunction + proper noun; Translation: “and Eliyyahu”; Notes: Subject of the following speech.
- אָמַ֤ר (amar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “said”; Notes: Introduces his direct speech to Elisha.
- אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע (el-Elisha) – Root: אלישע; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to Elisha”; Notes: The recipient of Eliyyahu’s request.
- שְׁאַל (sheʾal) – Root: שׁאל (shaʾal); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Ask”; Notes: Eliyyahu invites Elisha to request something meaningful.
- מָ֣ה (mah) – Root: מה; Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “what”; Notes: Direct object of the imperative verb “ask.”
- אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֔ךְ (eʿeseh-lakh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular + preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I shall do for you”; Notes: Eliyyahu offers a final gesture before his departure.
- בְּטֶ֖רֶם (be-terem) – Root: טרם; Form: Preposition; Translation: “before”; Notes: Introduces a temporal clause related to Eliyyahu’s departure.
- אֶלָּקַ֣ח (ellakach) – Root: לקח (laqach); Form: Nifal imperfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I am taken”; Notes: Passive voice expressing divine removal.
- מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ (me-ʿimmakh) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “from you”; Notes: Describes physical separation.
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces Elisha’s response.
- אֱלִישָׁע (Elisha) – Root: אלישע; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Elisha”; Notes: The speaker making the request.
- וִֽיהִי־נָ֛א (vi-yehi-na) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Jussive with particle of entreaty; Translation: “Let it be, please”; Notes: A respectful petition.
- פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֥יִם (pi-shenayim) – Root: פה + שנים (peh + shenayim); Form: Construct form + dual; Translation: “a double portion”; Notes: Refers to the inheritance portion of a firstborn or successor.
- בְּרוּחֲךָ֖ (be-ruḥakha) – Root: רוח (ruaḥ); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “of your spirit”; Notes: Refers to prophetic power or divine empowerment.
- אֵלָֽי (elay) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “upon me”; Notes: Indicates desired recipient of the prophetic spirit.