וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר מֹשֶׁ֛ה כֵּ֖ן אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָ֖ה קָשָֽׁה׃ פ
And Moshe spoke thus to the children of Yisra’el, but they did not listen to Moshe because of shortness of spirit and hard labor.
Morphology
- וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (va-yedabber) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Form: Piel imperfect, 3ms, with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And he spoke”; Notes: Indicates Moshe’s action in addressing the people.
- מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moshe) – Root: משה (m-sh-h); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Moshe”; Notes: The leader of Yisra’el.
- כֵּ֖ן (ken) – Root: כן (k-n); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Thus”; Notes: Refers to the message previously commanded by YHWH.
- אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י (el-bnei) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, mp construct with preposition; Translation: “To the children of”; Notes: Indicates direct speech toward Yisra’el.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Yisra’el) – Root: שרי (s-r-y); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to the collective people of the covenant.
- וְלֹ֤א (ve-lo) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “But not”; Notes: Introduces the contrast in response.
- שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ (shamʿu) – Root: שמע (sh-m-ʿ); Form: Qal perfect, 3mp; Translation: “They listened”; Notes: Indicates the lack of obedience or reception.
- אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה (el-Moshe) – Root: משה (m-sh-h); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “To Moshe”; Notes: Indicates the direct object of their rejection.
- מִקֹּ֣צֶר (miqotzer) – Root: קצר (q-ṣ-r); Form: Noun, ms construct with preposition; Translation: “Because of shortness”; Notes: Refers to an internal state of despair.
- ר֔וּחַ (ruaḥ) – Root: רוח (r-w-ḥ); Form: Noun, fs; Translation: “Spirit”; Notes: Describes the emotional or psychological condition of Yisra’el.
- וּמֵעֲבֹדָ֖ה (u-meʿavodah) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Noun, fs construct with preposition; Translation: “And because of labor”; Notes: Indicates the external factor of their hard toil.
- קָשָֽׁה׃ (qashah) – Root: קשה (q-sh-h); Form: Adjective, fs; Translation: “Hard”; Notes: Modifies “labor,” emphasizing the harsh conditions.