וָאֶקֹּ֥ד וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַיהוָ֑ה וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִנְחַ֨נִי֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֱמֶ֔ת לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־בַּת־אֲחִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י לִבְנֹֽו׃
And I bowed and worshiped YHWH, and I blessed YHWH, the God of my master Avraham, who guided me on the right way to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.
Morphology
- וָאֶקֹּ֥ד (vaʾeqod) – Root: קדד (q-d-d); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 1cs with vav consecutive; Translation: “And I bowed”; Notes: Describes the act of bowing in reverence.
- וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה (vaʾeshtaḥaveh) – Root: חוה (ḥ-w-h); Form: Verb, Hishtaphel, Imperfect, 1cs with vav consecutive; Translation: “And I worshiped”; Notes: Denotes an act of worship or prostration.
- לַיהוָ֑ה (laYHWH) – Root: יהוה (Y-H-W-H); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “to the LORD”; Notes: Indicates the object of worship.
- וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ (vaʾavarekh) – Root: ברך (b-r-k); Form: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, 1cs with vav consecutive; Translation: “And I blessed”; Notes: Expresses praise or gratitude.
- אֶת־יְהוָה֙ (ʾet-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (Y-H-W-H); Form: Direct object marker + proper noun; Translation: “the LORD”; Notes: Specifies the recipient of the blessing.
- אֱלֹהֵי֙ (ʾelohei) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun, construct, mp; Translation: “God of”; Notes: Establishes a relationship.
- אֲדֹנִ֣י (adonai) – Root: אדן (ʾ-d-n); Form: Noun, ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “my master”; Notes: Refers to Abraham.
- אַבְרָהָ֔ם (Avraham) – Root: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Abraham”; Notes: Name of the patriarch.
- אֲשֶׁ֤ר (asher) – Root: N/A; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a clause.
- הִנְחַ֨נִי֙ (hinḥani) – Root: נחה (n-ḥ-h); Form: Verb, Hiphil, Perfect, 3ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “guided me”; Notes: Indicates divine guidance.
- בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ (baderakh) – Root: דרך (d-r-k); Form: Noun, ms with preposition; Translation: “on the way”; Notes: Refers to the path or journey.
- אֱמֶ֔ת (emet) – Root: אמת (ʾ-m-t); Form: Noun, fs; Translation: “truth”; Notes: Describes the way as true or right.
- לָקַ֛חַת (laqakhat) – Root: לקח (l-q-ḥ); Form: Verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct; Translation: “to take”; Notes: Purpose of the journey.
- אֶת־בַּת (ʾet-bat) – Root: בת (b-t); Form: Direct object marker + noun construct, fs; Translation: “the daughter of”; Notes: Refers to the relative.
- אֲחִ֥י (aḥi) – Root: אח (ʾ-ḥ); Form: Noun, construct, ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “my brother”; Notes: Refers to Naḥor.
- אֲדֹנִ֖י (adoni) – Root: אדן (ʾ-d-n); Form: Noun, ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “my master”; Notes: Refers again to Abraham.
- לִבְנֹֽו (livno) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, ms with preposition and 3ms suffix; Translation: “for his son”; Notes: Refers to Yitsḥaq (Isaac).
Morphological Analysis
- וָאֶקֹּ֥ד (va’ekod)
- Root: קָד (to bow)
- Binyan: Qal
- Form: 1st person, singular, imperfect
- Translation: “And I bowed down”
- וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה (va’ishtachaveh)
- Root: שָׁחָה (to worship)
- Binyan: Hifil
- Form: 1st person, singular, imperfect
- Translation: “and I worshiped”
- לַיהוָ֑ה (la’YHWH)
- Proper Noun: יְהוָה (Yahweh)
- Translation: “to the LORD”
- וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ (va’varech)
- Root: בָּרַךְ (to bless)
- Binyan: Qal
- Form: 1st person, singular, imperfect
- Translation: “and I blessed”
- אֶת־יְהוָה֙ (et-YHWH)
- Proper Noun: יְהוָה (Yahweh)
- Translation: “the LORD”
- אֱלֹהֵי֙ (Elohei)
- Noun: אֱלֹהִים (God)
- Translation: “the God of”
- אֲדֹנִ֣י (Adoni)
- Noun: אֲדֹון (lord, master)
- Translation: “my master”
- אַבְרָהָ֔ם (Avraham)
- Proper Noun: Abraham (a name)
- Translation: “Abraham”
- אֲשֶׁ֤ר (asher)
- Pronoun: “who”
- Translation: “who”
- הִנְחַ֨נִי (hinchani)
- Root: נָחָה (to guide)
- Binyan: Hifil
- Form: 1st person, singular, perfect
- Translation: “who guided me”
- בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ (b’derech)
- Noun: דֶּרֶךְ (way, path)
- Translation: “in the way”
- אֱמֶ֔ת (emet)
- Noun: אֱמֶת (truth)
- Translation: “of truth”
- לָקַ֛חַת (la’kachot)
- Root: לקח (to take)
- Binyan: Qal
- Form: infinitive construct
- Translation: “to take”
- אֶת־בַּת־אֲחִ֥י (et-bat-achi)
- Noun: בת (daughter)
- Construct Form: “the daughter of my brother”
- Translation: “the daughter of my brother”
- אֲדֹנִ֖י (Adoni)
- Noun: אֲדֹון (lord, master)
- Translation: “my master”
- לִבְנֹֽו (livno)
- Noun: בֵּן (son)
- Translation: “for his son”
Grammatical Analysis
This passage is structured as a first-person narrative that conveys reverence and acknowledgment of divine guidance. The verbs are primarily in the imperfect form, indicating actions performed in a narrative context. The use of direct address to the deity highlights the personal relationship between the speaker and God.
Syntax Analysis
The syntax reflects a sequence of actions: bowing, worshiping, and blessing, which are all linked to the speaker’s devotion to God. The direct object construction emphasizes the speaker’s reverence for the LORD and Abraham.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
The term וָאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה (va’ishtachaveh, “and I worshiped”) indicates an act of profound respect and submission, commonly associated with religious devotion in the Hebrew Bible. The phrase אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י (Elohei Adoni, “the God of my master”) establishes a connection between the speaker’s faith and the legacy of Abraham, reinforcing the importance of lineage and divine guidance.
Textual Criticism
This verse corresponds to Genesis 24:26 in the Masoretic Text. The text is consistent across major versions, including the Septuagint (LXX) and the Peshitta, with no significant variants noted. The textual integrity is supported by manuscript evidence.