וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתֹּ֤ורֶד כַּדָּהּ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ וְגַ֥ם הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים הִשְׁקָֽתָה׃
And she hurried and lowered her jar from upon her, and she said, ‘Drink, and also your camels I will give to drink.’ So I drank, and also the camels she gave to drink.
Morphology
- וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר (vatemaheir) – Root: מהר (m-h-r); Form: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, 3fs with vav consecutive; Translation: “And she hurried”; Notes: Indicates swift action.
- וַתֹּ֤ורֶד (vattored) – Root: ירד (y-r-d); Form: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, 3fs with vav consecutive; Translation: “and she lowered”; Notes: Action of moving the jar down.
- כַּדָּהּ֙ (kaddah) – Root: כד (k-d); Form: Noun, fs with 3fs suffix; Translation: “her jar”; Notes: Refers to the vessel used for drawing water.
- מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ (meʿaleha) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition + noun with 3fs suffix; Translation: “from upon her”; Notes: Indicates the jar’s position.
- וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (vattomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3fs with vav consecutive; Translation: “and she said”; Notes: Direct speech marker.
- שְׁתֵ֔ה (shteh) – Root: שתה (sh-t-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperative, 2ms; Translation: “Drink”; Notes: An invitation or command.
- וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ (vegam-gemaleikha) – Root: גמל (g-m-l); Form: Conjunction + noun, mp with 2ms suffix; Translation: “and also your camels”; Notes: Refers to the camels of the man.
- אַשְׁקֶ֑ה (ʾashqeh) – Root: שקה (sh-q-h); Form: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, 1cs; Translation: “I will give to drink”; Notes: Commitment to provide water for the camels.
- וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ (vaʾesht) – Root: שתה (sh-t-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 1cs with vav consecutive; Translation: “so I drank”; Notes: The man’s response to the offer.
- וְגַ֥ם (vegam) – Root: N/A; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “and also”; Notes: Adds emphasis to the subsequent clause.
- הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים (hagemalim) – Root: גמל (g-m-l); Form: Noun, mp definite; Translation: “the camels”; Notes: Refers to the animals she watered.
- הִשְׁקָֽתָה (hishqatah) – Root: שקה (sh-q-h); Form: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, 3fs; Translation: “she gave to drink”; Notes: Concludes the act of watering the camels.
Morphological Analysis
- וַתְּמַהֵר (vat’temeher):
- Root: מהר (mahar) – to hurry
- Part of speech: Verb
- Gender: Feminine
- Number: Singular
- Person: 3rd
- Binyan: Qal
- וַתֹּורֶד (vat’tored):
- Root: ירד (yarad) – to go down
- Part of speech: Verb
- Gender: Feminine
- Number: Singular
- Person: 3rd
- Binyan: Qal
- כַּדָּהּ (kaddah):
- Root: כד (kad) – pitcher
- Part of speech: Noun
- Gender: Feminine
- Number: Singular
- מֵֽעָלֶיהָ (me’aleyha):
- Root: מעל (ma’al) – from above
- Part of speech: Preposition + pronoun
- וַתֹּאמֶר (vat’tomer):
- Root: אמר (amar) – to say
- Part of speech: Verb
- Gender: Feminine
- Number: Singular
- Person: 3rd
- Binyan: Qal
- שְׁתֵה (sh’teh):
- Root: שתה (shatah) – to drink
- Part of speech: Verb
- Gender: Feminine
- Number: Singular
- Person: 2nd
- Binyan: Qal
- וְגַם (vegam):
- Root: גם (gam) – also
- Part of speech: Conjunction
- גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ (g’mal’cha):
- Root: גמל (gamal) – camel
- Part of speech: Noun
- Gender: Masculine
- Number: Plural
- אַשְׁקֶ֑ה (ash’keh):
- Root: השק (hashq) – to water
- Part of speech: Verb
- Gender: Feminine
- Number: Singular
- Person: 1st
- Binyan: Hif’il
- וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ (v’ash’te):
- Root: שתה (shatah) – to drink
- Part of speech: Verb
- Gender: Feminine
- Number: Singular
- Person: 1st
- Binyan: Qal
- וְגַ֥ם (vegam):
- Root: גם (gam) – also
- Part of speech: Conjunction
- הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים (ha’gemalim):
- Root: גמל (gamal) – camels
- Part of speech: Noun
- Gender: Masculine
- Number: Plural
- הִשְׁקָֽתָה (hish’ka’tah):
- Root: השק (hashq) – to water
- Part of speech: Verb
- Gender: Feminine
- Number: Singular
- Person: 3rd
- Binyan: Hif’il
Grammatical Analysis
The verse features a series of actions performed by Rebekah. The verbs are predominantly in the past tense, indicating completed actions. There are coordinating clauses connecting actions, emphasizing the promptness and eagerness of the subject to serve.
Lexical Semantics
Analyze the significance of words such as “drink” and “water,” especially in the cultural context of hospitality in ancient Near Eastern societies.
Textual Criticism
Examine the verse against the Septuagint, Targums, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Peshitta for any textual variants or insights that might enhance understanding.