וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֶצְבַּ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִ֑וא וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק לֵב־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְלֹֽא־שָׁמַ֣ע אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ ס
The magicians said to Parʿo, “This is the finger of God.” But Parʿo’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as YHWH had spoken.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (vayyomru) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3mp with vav consecutive; Translation: “They said”; Notes: Refers to the magicians addressing Parʿo.
- הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙ (haḥartummim) – Root: חרטם (ḥ-r-t-m); Form: Noun, mp, with definite article; Translation: “The magicians”; Notes: Designates Egyptian magicians or sorcerers.
- אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה (ʾel-Parʿo) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “To Parʿo”; Notes: Refers to the Pharaoh of Egypt.
- אֶצְבַּ֥ע (ʾetsbaʿ) – Root: אצב (ʾ-s-b); Form: Noun, fs; Translation: “Finger”; Notes: Indicates a small or precise act of divine power.
- אֱלֹהִ֖ים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “God”; Notes: A plural form used here to refer to the singular deity.
- הִ֑וא (hi) – Root: N/A; Form: Pronoun, 3fs; Translation: “It is”; Notes: Refers back to “finger of God.”
- וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק (vayyeḥezaq) – Root: חזק (ḥ-z-q); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav consecutive; Translation: “Was hardened”; Notes: Refers to the strengthening or hardening of Parʿo’s heart.
- לֵב־פַּרְעֹ֙ה (lev-Parʿo) – Root: לב (l-v); Form: Noun, ms construct + proper noun; Translation: “The heart of Parʿo”; Notes: Indicates his will or resolve.
- וְלֹֽא־שָׁמַ֣ע (velo-shamaʿ) – Root: שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3ms; Translation: “And he did not listen”; Notes: Refers to Parʿo ignoring the magicians and Moses.
- אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (ʾalehem) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition + 3mp suffix; Translation: “To them”; Notes: Refers to Moses and Aaron.
- כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (kaʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-sh-r); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “As”; Notes: Introduces a comparison or correlation.
- דִּבֶּ֥ר (dibber) – Root: דבר (d-b-r); Form: Verb, Piel, Perfect, 3ms; Translation: “Had spoken”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s earlier declaration.
- יְהוָֽה (YHWH) – Root: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The personal name of the God of Israel.