וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים כִּ֣י הֽוּבְאוּ֮ בֵּ֣ית יֹוסֵף֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ עַל־דְּבַ֤ר הַכֶּ֨סֶף֙ הַשָּׁ֤ב בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֨ינוּ֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה אֲנַ֖חְנוּ מֽוּבָאִ֑ים לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙ וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣ל עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְלָקַ֧חַת אֹתָ֛נוּ לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ׃
And the men were afraid because they were brought to Yosef’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks at first, that we are being brought in, to charge us and fall upon us, and to take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
Morphology
- וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ (vayyiru) – Root: יָרֵא (yare); Form: Verb, Qal, Consecutive Imperfect, 3mp; Translation: “And they were afraid”; Notes: Indicates the fear felt by the men upon entering Yosef’s house.
- הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (ha-anashim) – Root: אֱנוֹשׁ (enosh); Form: Noun, mp with definite article; Translation: “the men”; Notes: Refers to Yosef’s brothers.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for their fear.
- הֽוּבְאוּ֮ (huve’u) – Root: בּוֹא (bo); Form: Verb, Hofal, Perfect, 3mp; Translation: “they were brought”; Notes: Describes the passive action of being brought to Yosef’s house.
- בֵּ֣ית (beit) – Root: בַּיִת (bayit); Form: Noun, ms construct; Translation: “house of”; Notes: Construct form indicating possession.
- יֹוסֵף֒ (Yosef) – Root: יֹוסֵף (Yosef); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yosef”; Notes: Refers to the house of Yosef.
- וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (vayomru) – Root: אָמַר (amar); Form: Verb, Qal, Consecutive Imperfect, 3mp; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Indicates the brothers’ speech regarding their fear.
- עַל־דְּבַ֤ר (al-devar) – Root: דָּבָר (davar); Form: Preposition + Noun, ms; Translation: “because of”; Notes: Indicates the reason for being brought to Yosef’s house.
- הַכֶּ֨סֶף֙ (ha-kesef) – Root: כֶּסֶף (kesef); Form: Noun, ms with definite article; Translation: “the money”; Notes: Refers to the money that was returned in their sacks.
- הַשָּׁ֤ב (ha-shav) – Root: שׁוּב (shuv); Form: Participle, Qal, ms with definite article; Translation: “which was returned”; Notes: Describes the money that was placed back in their sacks.
- בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֨ינוּ֙ (be-amtechoteinu) – Root: אַמְתַּחַת (amtachat); Form: Noun, fp with 1cp suffix; Translation: “in our sacks”; Notes: Possessive form indicating the location of the returned money.
- בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה (ba-techillah) – Root: תְּחִלָּה (techillah); Form: Noun, fs with definite article; Translation: “at first”; Notes: Specifies the time when the money was returned.
- אֲנַ֖חְנוּ (anachnu) – Form: Pronoun, 1cp; Translation: “we”; Notes: Refers to Yosef’s brothers as the subject of the statement.
- מֽוּבָאִ֑ים (muva’im) – Root: בּוֹא (bo); Form: Verb, Hofal, Participle, mp; Translation: “we are being brought”; Notes: Passive form, indicating their sense of compulsion.
- לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל (lehitgolel) – Root: גָּלַל (galal); Form: Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive; Translation: “to charge us”; Notes: Reflects their concern about the purpose of their arrival.
- עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙ (aleinu) – Root: עַל (al); Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix; Translation: “upon us”; Notes: Emphasizes the focus of the potential accusation.
- וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣ל (ulehitnapel) – Root: נָפַל (nafal); Form: Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive; Translation: “and to fall upon”; Notes: Indicates an aggressive action they fear might occur.
- עָלֵ֔ינוּ (aleinu) – Root: עַל (al); Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix; Translation: “upon us”; Notes: Reiterates their anxiety about being the target.
- וְלָקַ֧חַת (ve-la-kachat) – Root: לקח (lakach); Form: Qal, infinitive construct; Translation: “and to take”; Notes: The purpose of the supposed deception, implying their capture.
- אֹתָ֛נוּ (o-ta-nu) – Root: את (et); Form: direct object marker with 1cp suffix; Translation: “us”; Notes: Emphasizes that they are the object of the threat.
- לַעֲבָדִ֖ים (la-a-va-dim) – Root: עבד (eved); Form: noun, mp with preposition; Translation: “as slaves”; Notes: Suggests the feared consequence of servitude.
- וְאֶת־ (ve-et) – Direct object marker; Translation: “and”; Notes: Marks an additional item related to the main action.
- חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ (cha-mo-re-nu) – Root: חמור (chamor); Form: noun, mp with 1cp suffix; Translation: “our donkeys”; Notes: Includes their possessions in the anticipated loss.