וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָעִבְרִ֖ים נִקְרָ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ נֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֡א דֶּרֶךְ֩ שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת יָמִ֜ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר וְנִזְבְּחָה֙ לַֽיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ פֶּ֨ן־יִפְגָּעֵ֔נוּ בַּדֶּ֖בֶר אֹ֥ו בֶחָֽרֶב׃
And they said, “The God of the Hebrews has called upon us. Let us go, please, a three-day journey into the wilderness, and let us sacrifice to YHWH our God, lest He strike us with pestilence or with the sword.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (vayyomru) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect with vav consecutive, 3mp; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Refers to Moses and Aaron speaking.
- אֱלֹהֵ֥י (ʾelohei) – Root: אלֹה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun, construct state; Translation: “The God of”; Notes: Indicates possession, linked with “the Hebrews.”
- הָעִבְרִ֖ים (haʿIvrim) – Root: עבר (ʿ-v-r); Form: Noun, masculine plural definite; Translation: “The Hebrews”; Notes: Refers to the people of Israel.
- נִקְרָ֣א (niqra) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Niphal perfect, 3ms; Translation: “Has called”; Notes: Indicates a divine calling or meeting.
- עָלֵ֑ינוּ (ʿaleinu) – Root: עלה (ʿ-l-h); Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix; Translation: “Upon us”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s attention or focus.
- נֵ֣לֲכָה (nelakhah) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Qal cohortative, 1cp; Translation: “Let us go”; Notes: Expresses a request or intent.
- נָּ֡א (na) – Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “Please”; Notes: Adds politeness to the request.
- דֶּרֶךְ֩ (derekh) – Root: דרך (d-r-k); Form: Noun, singular; Translation: “Journey” or “way”; Notes: Refers to the intended path.
- שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת (sheloshet) – Root: שלש (sh-l-sh); Form: Cardinal number in construct; Translation: “Three”; Notes: Specifies the length of the journey.
- יָמִ֜ים (yamim) – Root: יום (y-m); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “Days”; Notes: Refers to the duration of travel.
- בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר (bamidbar) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Form: Noun, singular definite with prefix; Translation: “In the wilderness”; Notes: Describes the location of the journey.
- וְנִזְבְּחָה֙ (venizbḥah) – Root: זבח (z-b-ḥ); Form: Qal cohortative, 1cp; Translation: “And let us sacrifice”; Notes: Indicates intent to offer sacrifices.
- לַֽיהוָ֣ה (laYHWH) – Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “To YHWH”; Notes: The object of the sacrifice.
- אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ (ʾeloheinu) – Root: אלֹה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun, construct state with 1cp suffix; Translation: “Our God”; Notes: Indicates relationship with YHWH.
- פֶּ֨ן־יִפְגָּעֵ֔נוּ (pen-yifgaʿenu) – Root: פגע (p-g-ʿ); Form: Qal imperfect, 3ms with 1cp suffix; Translation: “Lest He strike us”; Notes: Warns of divine punishment.
- בַּדֶּ֖בֶר (baddaver) – Root: דבר (d-v-r); Form: Noun, singular definite with prefix; Translation: “With pestilence”; Notes: Indicates a possible plague.
- אֹ֥ו (ʾo) – Form: Conjunction; Translation: “Or”; Notes: Links the two possible consequences.
- בֶחָֽרֶב (beḥarev) – Root: חרב (ḥ-r-b); Form: Noun, singular definite with prefix; Translation: “With the sword”; Notes: Refers to violent judgment.