וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֹתֹ֜ו יִצְחָ֤ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ בָּנָ֔יו אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה עֶפְרֹ֤ן בֶּן־צֹ֨חַר֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵֽא׃
And Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre.
Morphology
וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ (wayyiqbəru)
- Root: קבר (qbr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3mp
- Translation: “And they buried”
אֹתֹ֜ו (ʾōṯō)
- Form: Direct object marker with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “him”
יִצְחָ֤ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (wəyišmāʿēl)
- Root: ישמעאל (yšmʿʾl)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “and Ishmael”
בָּנָ֔יו (bānāyw)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his sons”
אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת (ʾel-məʿāraṯ)
- Root: מערה (mʿrh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with preposition
- Translation: “to the cave of”
הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה (hammaḵpēlāh)
- Root: כפל (kpl)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Machpelah”
אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה (ʾel-śəḏê)
- Root: שדה (śdh)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with preposition
- Translation: “to the field of”
עֶפְרֹ֤ן (ʿephrōn)
- Root: עפרן (ʿprn)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Ephron”
בֶּן־צֹ֨חַר֙ (ben-ṣōḥar)
- Root: צחר (ṣḥr)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct
- Translation: “the son of Zohar”
הַֽחִתִּ֔י (haḥittî)
- Root: חת (ḥt)
- Form: Adjective, masculine singular
- Translation: “the Hittite”
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (ʾăšer)
- Form: Relative pronoun
- Translation: “which”
עַל־פְּנֵ֥י (ʿal-pənê)
- Root: פני (pny)
- Form: Prepositional phrase
- Translation: “before” / “in front of”
מַמְרֵֽא (mamrē)
- Root: ממרא (mmrʾ)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Mamre”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the main verb וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ (“And they buried”), indicating the action performed by the subjects יִצְחָ֤ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (“Isaac and Ishmael”). The prepositional phrases אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה (“in the cave of Machpelah”) and אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה עֶפְרֹ֤ן בֶּן־צֹ֨חַר֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י (“in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite”) provide locational context, followed by אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵֽא (“which is before Mamre”) for additional specificity.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal verb וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ (“And they buried”) is in the imperfect form, indicating completed action in a narrative context. The use of proper nouns throughout emphasizes the historicity and specific location of the burial.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- קבר (qbr): The root refers to the act of burial, often associated with formal interment in familial or significant locations.
- מערה (mʿrh): A cave, frequently used for burial sites in ancient times, emphasizing a place of rest or honor.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are noted in major sources such as the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, or the Old Latin versions. The consistency across these texts indicates a reliable transmission of the verse.