וַיָּרֵעוּ אֹתָ֛נוּ הַמִּצְרִ֖ים וַיְעַנּ֑וּנוּ וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ עָלֵ֖ינוּ עֲבֹדָ֥ה קָשָֽׁה׃
And the Mitserim dealt evilly with us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard labor.
Morphology
- וַיָּרֵעוּ (vayyareʿu) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they dealt evilly”; Notes: Describes the mistreatment by the Mitsrites.
- אֹתָ֛נוּ (otanu) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Direct object marker with suffix; Translation: “us”; Notes: Indicates that Israel was the recipient of this action.
- הַמִּצְרִ֖ים (ha-Mitsrim) – Root: מצרים (Mitsrayim); Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “the Mitsrites”; Notes: Refers to the Egyptians.
- וַיְעַנּ֑וּנוּ (vayʿannunu) – Root: ענה (ʿanah); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with suffix; Translation: “and they afflicted us”; Notes: Indicates oppression.
- וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ (vayyitnu) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they laid”; Notes: Refers to imposing burdens.
- עָלֵ֖ינוּ (ʿaleinu) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition with suffix; Translation: “upon us”; Notes: Specifies who bore the burden.
- עֲבֹדָ֥ה (ʿavodah) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “labor”; Notes: Refers to forced labor.
- קָשָֽׁה׃ (qashah) – Root: קשה (qashah); Form: Adjective, feminine singular; Translation: “hard”; Notes: Describes the severity of labor.