וַיַּחְתְּר֣וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים לְהָשִׁ֛יב אֶל־הַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה וְלֹ֣א יָכֹ֑לוּ כִּ֣י הַיָּ֔ם הֹולֵ֥ךְ וְסֹעֵ֖ר עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
And the men rowed to return to the dry land, but they were not able, for the sea was going and storming against them.
Morphology
- וַיַּחְתְּר֣וּ (va-yachtᵉru) – Root: חתר (ḥ-t-r); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp; Translation: “And they rowed”; Notes: Describes the sailors’ frantic effort to reach land.
- הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (ha-anashim) – Root: אנשׁ (ʾ-n-sh); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the men”; Notes: Refers to the sailors.
- לְהָשִׁ֛יב (le-hashiv) – Root: שׁוב (sh-w-b); Form: Preposition לְ + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to return”; Notes: Indicates their goal of reaching land.
- אֶל־הַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה (el-ha-yabbashah) – Root: יבשׁ (y-b-sh); Form: Preposition אֶל + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “to the dry land”; Notes: Contrasts with the stormy sea.
- וְלֹ֣א (ve-lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle; Translation: “but not”; Notes: Introduces failure of their attempt.
- יָכֹ֑לוּ (yacholu) – Root: יכל (y-k-l); Form: Qal perfect 3mp; Translation: “they were able”; Notes: Denotes inability due to overwhelming storm.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for their failure.
- הַיָּ֔ם (ha-yam) – Root: ים (y-m); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the sea”; Notes: Subject of the following participles.
- הֹולֵ֥ךְ (holekh) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Qal participle ms; Translation: “was going”; Notes: Indicates ongoing turbulent motion.
- וְסֹעֵ֖ר (ve-soʿer) – Root: סער (s-ʿ-r); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal participle ms; Translation: “and storming”; Notes: Further intensifies the sea’s violence.
- עֲלֵיהֶֽם (aleihem) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 3mp; Translation: “against them”; Notes: Marks the sailors as the target of the storm’s force.