וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָחִ֨יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ תֵּשֵׁ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֥ אִתָּ֛נוּ יָמִ֖ים אֹ֣ו עָשֹׂ֑ור אַחַ֖ר תֵּלֵֽךְ׃
And her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, or ten; afterward she may go.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect), 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Refers to the speaking of her brother.
- אָחִ֨יהָ֙ (aḥiyha) – Root: אח (ʾ-ḥ); Form: Noun, ms with 3fs suffix; Translation: “her brother”; Notes: Refers to Laban.
- וְאִמָּ֔הּ (ve-immah) – Root: אם (ʾ-m); Form: Noun, fs with 3fs suffix and conjunction; Translation: “and her mother”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca’s mother.
- תֵּשֵׁ֨ב (teshev) – Root: ישב (y-sh-v); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3fs; Translation: “Let her stay”; Notes: Indicates a request or suggestion for remaining.
- הַנַּעֲרָ֥ (ha-naʿarah) – Root: נער (n-ʿ-r); Form: Noun, fs with definite article; Translation: “the young woman”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca.
- אִתָּ֛נוּ (ittanu) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix; Translation: “with us”; Notes: Indicates companionship.
- יָמִ֖ים (yamim) – Root: יום (y-w-m); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “a few days”; Notes: Suggests an unspecified short period.
- אֹ֣ו (o) – Root: או (ʾ-w); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or”; Notes: Introduces an alternative.
- עָשֹׂ֑ור (asor) – Root: עשר (ʿ-s-r); Form: Noun, ms; Translation: “ten”; Notes: Refers to ten days.
- אַחַ֖ר (aḥar) – Root: אחר (ʾ-ḥ-r); Form: Adverb; Translation: “afterward”; Notes: Indicates sequence.
- תֵּלֵֽךְ (telekh) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3fs; Translation: “she may go”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca’s departure.
Morphological Analysis
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (wayyōmer)
- Root: אמר (ʾāmar)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “And he said”
אָחִ֨יהָ֙ (ʾāḥîhā)
- Root: אח (ʾāḥ)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “her brother”
וְאִמָּ֔הּ (wəʾimmāh)
- Root: אם (ʾēm)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “and her mother”
תֵּשֵׁ֨ב (tēšēḇ)
- Root: ישׁב (yāšab)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fs
- Translation: “let her stay”
הַנַּעֲרָ֥ (hannāʿărāh)
- Root: נער (naʿar)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the young woman”
אִתָּ֛נוּ (ʾittānū)
- Root: את (ʾēt)
- Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix
- Translation: “with us”
יָמִ֖ים (yāmîm)
- Root: יום (yôm)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural
- Translation: “days”
אֹ֣ו (ʾô)
- Form: Conjunction
- Translation: “or”
עָשֹׂ֑ור (ʿāsōr)
- Root: עשר (ʿāśar)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “ten”
אַחַ֖ר (ʾaḥar)
- Form: Adverb
- Translation: “after”
תֵּלֵֽךְ (tēlēḵ)
- Root: הלך (hālaḵ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fs
- Translation: “she may go”
Syntax Analysis
The verse starts with וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and he said), introducing direct speech from אָחִ֨יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ (her brother and her mother). The main clause תֵּשֵׁ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֥ אִתָּ֛נוּ (let the young woman stay with us) expresses their request, followed by יָמִ֖ים אֹ֣ו עָשֹׂ֑ור (a few days or ten) presenting an option. The concluding phrase אַחַ֖ר תֵּלֵֽךְ (after that, she may go) indicates the condition for her departure.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal imperfect forms תֵּשֵׁ֨ב and תֵּלֵֽךְ express requests or suggestions in context. אָחִ֨יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ (her brother and her mother) serve as the compound subject of the speech.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- יָמִ֖ים (days): Often used to imply an indefinite or short period of time.
- עָשֹׂ֑ור (ten): A term used to suggest a more extended time frame, contrasting with the general term “days.”
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variants are noted among major manuscripts for this verse.