תֶּ֗בֶן אֵ֤ין נִתָּן֙ לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּלְבֵנִ֛ים אֹמְרִ֥ים לָ֖נוּ עֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ מֻכִּ֖ים וְחָטָ֥את עַמֶּֽךָ׃
Straw is not being given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten, and the fault is with your people.”
Morphology
- תֶּ֗בֶן (teven) – Root: תבן (t-v-n); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Straw”; Notes: Refers to a critical material for brick-making.
- אֵ֤ין (ʾein) – Root: אין (ʾ-y-n); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “Not”; Notes: Denotes absence.
- נִתָּן֙ (nittan) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Niphal perfect, 3ms; Translation: “Is being given”; Notes: Passive voice indicates an ongoing situation.
- לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (laʿavadekha) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “To your servants”; Notes: Refers to the Israelites addressing Parʿo.
- וּלְבֵנִ֛ים (ulevenim) – Root: לבנה (l-v-n-h); Form: Noun, feminine plural; Translation: “Bricks”; Notes: Essential for the construction tasks.
- אֹמְרִ֥ים (ʾomrim) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal participle, masculine plural; Translation: “They say”; Notes: Indicates ongoing speech.
- לָ֖נוּ (lanu) – Root: לנו (l-n-u); Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix; Translation: “To us”; Notes: Refers to the speakers, the Israelites.
- עֲשׂ֑וּ (ʿasu) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Qal imperative, masculine plural; Translation: “Make”; Notes: A command directed at the workers.
- וְהִנֵּ֧ה (vehineh) – Root: הנה (h-n-h); Form: Interjection; Translation: “And behold”; Notes: Draws attention to the situation.
- עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ (ʿavadekha) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “Your servants”; Notes: Repeats the subject to emphasize their plight.
- מֻכִּ֖ים (mukkim) – Root: נכה (n-k-h); Form: Pual participle, masculine plural; Translation: “Are beaten”; Notes: Describes their suffering as a result of unfulfilled demands.
- וְחָטָ֥את (veḥatat) – Root: חטא (ḥ-t-ʾ); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct; Translation: “And the fault”; Notes: Refers to wrongdoing or blame.
- עַמֶּֽךָ (ʿammekha) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “Is with your people”; Notes: Places responsibility on Parʿo’s people.