וַיִּשְׁמְע֥וּ אֵלָ֛יו גֹּויִ֖ם בְּשַׁחְתָּ֣ם נִתְפָּ֑שׂ וַיְבִאֻ֥הוּ בַֽחַחִ֖ים אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
And nations heard of him; in their pit he was taken, and they brought him with hooks to the land of Mitsrayim.
Morphology
- וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ (va-yishmeʿu) – Root: שׁמע (shamaʿ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they heard”; Notes: Refers to foreign nations responding to the lion’s fame or threat.
- אֵלָיו (ʾelav) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + third person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “of him / to him”; Notes: Indicates the object of their attention.
- גֹּויִם (goyim) – Root: גוי (goy); Form: Noun masculine plural absolute; Translation: “nations”; Notes: Refers to surrounding peoples.
- בְּשַׁחְתָּם (be-shaḥtam) – Root: שׁחת (shaḥat); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular “pit” + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in their pit”; Notes: Likely refers to a trap or pit set for capture.
- נִתְפָּשׂ (nitpas) – Root: תפשׂ (tafes); Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he was taken”; Notes: Passive form indicates he was caught in their snare.
- וַיְבִאֻהוּ (va-yeviʾuhu) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Hiphil wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and they brought him”; Notes: Refers to the nations delivering the captured lion.
- בַחַחִים (va-ḥachim) – Root: חח (ḥaḥ); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural definite; Translation: “with hooks”; Notes: Used for restraining wild animals, a humiliating image of captivity.
- אֶל (ʾel) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Introduces the direction of movement.
- אֶרֶץ (ʾerets) – Root: ארץ (ʾerets); Form: Noun feminine singular absolute; Translation: “land”; Notes: Commonly denotes territory or country.
- מִצְרָיִם (Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Mitsrayim”; Notes: Refers to Egypt, destination of the captured one.