וַיַּ֨עַל כַּיֹּונֵ֜ק לְפָנָ֗יו וְכַשֹּׁ֨רֶשׁ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צִיָּ֔ה לֹא־תֹ֥אַר לֹ֖ו וְלֹ֣א הָדָ֑ר וְנִרְאֵ֥הוּ וְלֹֽא־מַרְאֶ֖ה וְנֶחְמְדֵֽהוּ׃
And he came up like a young plant before him, and like a root from dry ground. He had no form and no majesty; and when we saw him, there was no appearance that we should desire him.
Morphology
- וַיַּ֨עַל (va-yaʿal) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he came up”; Notes: Narrative form indicating the servant’s emergence or growth.
- כַּיֹּונֵ֜ק (ka-yoneq) – Root: ינק (yanaq); Form: Preposition + masculine singular participle; Translation: “like a young plant”; Notes: Symbol of vulnerability and new growth.
- לְפָנָ֗יו (lefanav) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “before him”; Notes: Likely refers to YHWH or the speaker’s perspective.
- וְכַשֹּׁ֨רֶשׁ (ve-ka-shoresh) – Root: שרש (shoresh); Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and like a root”; Notes: Continues the simile of growth from humble beginnings.
- מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (meʾerets) – Root: ארץ (ʾaretz); Form: Preposition + noun feminine singular; Translation: “from a land”; Notes: Context of dryness or barrenness.
- צִיָּ֔ה (tsiyyah) – Root: ציה (tsiyyah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “dry”; Notes: Metaphor for desolation or spiritual barrenness.
- לֹא־תֹ֥אַר (lo-toʾar) – Root: תאר (toʾar); Form: Negative particle + noun masculine singular; Translation: “no form”; Notes: Refers to physical appearance—no impressive form.
- לֹ֖ו (lo) – Root: ל + הוא; Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Marks possession or association.
- וְלֹ֣א (ve-lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Conjunction + negative particle; Translation: “and no”; Notes: Introduces further negation.
- הָדָ֑ר (hadar) – Root: הדר (hadar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “majesty” / “splendor”; Notes: Denotes regal or attractive bearing, which he lacks.
- וְנִרְאֵ֥הוּ (ve-nirʾehu) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Conjunction + Nifal perfect 1st person plural + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and we saw him”; Notes: Nifal emphasizes the act of observing passively.
- וְלֹֽא־מַרְאֶ֖ה (ve-lo-marʾeh) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Conjunction + negative particle + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and no appearance”; Notes: Continues the theme of external unattractiveness.
- וְנֶחְמְדֵֽהוּ (ve-neḥmedeu) – Root: חמד (ḥamad); Form: Conjunction + Nifal imperfect 1st person plural + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and we should desire him”; Notes: Expresses lack of physical appeal or desirability.