וַיְבָרֲכ֤וּ אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לָ֔הּ אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ אַ֥תְּ הֲיִ֖י לְאַלְפֵ֣י רְבָבָ֑ה וְיִירַ֣שׁ זַרְעֵ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת שַׁ֥עַר שֹׂנְאָֽיו׃
And they blessed Rivqa and said to her, “Our sister, may you become thousands of myriads, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them.”
Morphology
- וַיְבָרֲכ֤וּ (vayəvarəḵu) – Root: ברך (b-r-k); Form: Verb, Piel, Wayyiqtol, 3mp; Translation: “And they blessed”; Notes: The Piel form intensifies the act of blessing.
- אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ (et-Rivqah) – Root: רבקה (Rivqah); Form: Proper noun with direct object marker; Translation: “Rebecca”; Notes: Direct object of the verb.
- וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (vayoməru) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3mp; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Indicates speech directed to Rebecca.
- לָ֔הּ (lah) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition with 3fs suffix; Translation: “to her”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca.
- אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ (aḥotenu) – Root: אחות (ʾ-ḥ-w-t); Form: Noun, fs with 1cp suffix; Translation: “Our sister”; Notes: A term of endearment and familial connection.
- אַ֥תְּ (ʾatt) – Root: אתה (ʾ-t-h); Form: Pronoun, 2fs; Translation: “You”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca directly.
- הֲיִ֖י (hayi) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperative, 2fs; Translation: “Be”; Notes: An imperative wish for her future.
- לְאַלְפֵ֣י (ləʾalfei) – Root: אלף (ʾ-l-p); Form: Noun, mp in construct; Translation: “to thousands of”; Notes: Indicates vast numerical blessings.
- רְבָבָ֑ה (rəvavah) – Root: רבב (r-v-v); Form: Noun, fs; Translation: “myriads”; Notes: Conveys immense prosperity.
- וְיִירַ֣שׁ (vəyirash) – Root: ירש (y-r-sh); Form: Verb, Qal, Jussive, 3ms; Translation: “And may (he) possess”; Notes: Refers to her offspring’s triumph.
- זַרְעֵ֔ךְ (zarʿekh) – Root: זרע (z-r-ʿ); Form: Noun, ms with 2fs suffix; Translation: “your offspring”; Notes: Offspring or descendants of Rebecca.
- אֵ֖ת (et) – Root: Particle indicating the direct object; Translation: “the”; Notes: Marks the object of possession.
- שַׁ֥עַר (shaʿar) – Root: שער (sh-ʿ-r); Form: Noun, ms; Translation: “gate”; Notes: Symbolizes control or victory.
- שֹׂנְאָֽיו (sonʾav) – Root: שנא (s-n-ʾ); Form: Noun, mp with 3ms suffix; Translation: “of his enemies”; Notes: Refers to opposition to her descendants.
Morphological Analysis
וַיְבָרֲכ֤וּ (wayḇārăḵū)
- Root: ברך (brk)
- Form: Piel Imperfect 3mp
- Translation: “And they blessed”
אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ (ʾeṯ-rivqāh)
- Root: רבק (rvq)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Rebekah”
וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (wayyōʾmrū)
- Root: אמר (ʾāmar)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3mp
- Translation: “and they said”
לָ֔הּ (lāh)
- Root: ל (l)
- Form: Preposition with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “to her”
אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ (ʾăḥōṯēnū)
- Root: אחות (ʾāḥōṯ)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 1cp suffix
- Translation: “Our sister”
אַ֥תְּ (ʾat)
- Form: Pronoun, feminine singular
- Translation: “you”
הֲיִ֖י (hayî)
- Root: היה (hyh)
- Form: Qal Imperative 2fs
- Translation: “may you become”
לְאַלְפֵ֣י (ləʾalpê)
- Root: אלף (ʾlp)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct
- Translation: “thousands of”
רְבָבָ֑ה (rəḇāḇāh)
- Root: רבב (rbb)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “myriads”
וְיִירַ֣שׁ (wəyîraš)
- Root: ירש (yrš)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “and may he possess”
זַרְעֵ֔ךְ (zarʿēḵ)
- Root: זרע (zrʿ)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2fs suffix
- Translation: “your offspring”
אֵ֖ת (ʾēṯ)
- Form: Direct object marker
- Translation: (no direct translation)
שַׁ֥עַר (šaʿar)
- Root: שער (šʿr)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “gate”
שֹׂנְאָֽיו (śōnəʾāyw)
- Root: שׂנא (śnʾ)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “those who hate him”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with וַיְבָרֲכ֤וּ אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ (And they blessed Rebekah), establishing the action. The speech, וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לָ֔הּ (and said to her), introduces the blessing directed at Rebekah. The imperative הֲיִ֖י לְאַלְפֵ֣י רְבָבָ֑ה (may you become thousands of myriads) expresses a wish for her prolific descendants. The phrase וְיִירַ֣שׁ זַרְעֵ֔ךְ (and may your offspring possess) indicates the desired success of her descendants over their enemies, represented by שַׁ֥עַר שֹׂנְאָֽיו (the gate of those who hate them).
Grammatical Analysis
The Piel imperfect וַיְבָרֲכ֤וּ conveys an intentional blessing. The imperative הֲיִ֖י is directed at Rebekah, expressing a wish. The Qal imperfect וְיִירַ֣שׁ indicates a future action or hope for her offspring’s triumph.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- רְבָבָ֑ה (myriads): Refers to an exceedingly large number, emphasizing abundance.
- שַׁ֥עַר (gate): Symbolizes strength and control, often representing the strategic point of a city.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variants are noted among major manuscripts for this verse.