וַתָּ֨קָם רִבְקָ֜ה וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ וַתִּרְכַּ֨בְנָה֙ עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וַתֵּלַ֖כְנָה אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיִּקַּ֥ח הָעֶ֛בֶד אֶת־רִבְקָ֖ה וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃
And Rebecca arose with her maidens, and they rode upon the camels and followed the man; and the servant took Rivqa and went.
Morphology
- וַתָּ֨קָם (vataqam) – Root: קום (q-w-m); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3fs; Translation: “And she arose”; Notes: Indicates an action initiated by Rebecca.
- רִבְקָ֜ה (Rivqah) – Root: רבקה (Rivqah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Rebecca”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ (vənaʿaroteha) – Root: נער (n-ʿ-r); Form: Noun, fp with 3fs suffix; Translation: “Her maidens”; Notes: Refers to Rebecca’s attendants.
- וַתִּרְכַּ֨בְנָה (vatirkavna) – Root: רכב (r-k-b); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3fp; Translation: “And they rode”; Notes: Describes the action of Rebecca and her maidens.
- עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֔ים (ʿal-haggəmallim) – Root: גמל (g-m-l); Form: Noun, mp with definite article; Translation: “Upon the camels”; Notes: Indicates their mode of transportation.
- וַתֵּלַ֖כְנָה (vatelekhna) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3fp; Translation: “And they went”; Notes: Continuation of their journey.
- אַחֲרֵ֣י (aḥarei) – Root: אחר (ʾ-ḥ-r); Form: Preposition; Translation: “After”; Notes: Indicates following the servant.
- הָאִ֑ישׁ (haʾish) – Root: איש (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Noun, ms with definite article; Translation: “The man”; Notes: Refers to the servant of Abraham.
- וַיִּקַּ֥ח (vayyiqkaḥ) – Root: לקח (l-q-ḥ); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms; Translation: “And he took”; Notes: The action of the servant.
- הָעֶ֛בֶד (haʿeved) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Noun, ms with definite article; Translation: “The servant”; Notes: Subject performing the action.
- אֶת־רִבְקָ֖ה (et-Rivqah) – Root: רבקה (Rivqah); Form: Proper noun with direct object marker; Translation: “Rebecca”; Notes: Direct object of the verb.
- וַיֵּלַֽךְ (vayyelek) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms; Translation: “And he went”; Notes: Indicates the continuation of the servant’s journey.
Morphological Analysis
וַתָּ֨קָם (wattaqām)
- Root: קום (qwm)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fs
- Translation: “Then she arose”
רִבְקָ֜ה (rivqāh)
- Root: רבק (rvq)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Rebekah”
וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ (wənāʿărōṯêhā)
- Root: נער (nʿr)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “and her young women”
וַתִּרְכַּ֨בְנָה (wattirkabnā)
- Root: רכב (rkb)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fp
- Translation: “and they rode”
עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֔ים (ʿal-haggəmallîm)
- Root: גמל (gml)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article
- Translation: “on the camels”
וַתֵּלַ֖כְנָה (wattēlaḵnā)
- Root: הלך (hlk)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fp
- Translation: “and they went”
אַחֲרֵ֣י (ʾaḥărê)
- Root: אחר (ʾḥr)
- Form: Preposition
- Translation: “after”
הָאִ֑ישׁ (hāʾîš)
- Root: איש (ʾîš)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the man”
וַיִּקַּ֥ח (wayyiqqaḥ)
- Root: לקח (lqḥ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “and he took”
הָעֶ֛בֶד (hāʿeḇeḏ)
- Root: עבד (ʿbd)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the servant”
אֶת־רִבְקָ֖ה (ʾeṯ-rivqāh)
- Root: רבק (rvq)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Rebekah”
וַיֵּלַֽךְ (wayyēlaḵ)
- Root: הלך (hlk)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “and he went”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with וַתָּ֨קָם רִבְקָ֜ה (Then Rebekah arose), setting the main subject and action. The clause וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ (and her young women) joins as a compound subject. The verbs וַתִּרְכַּ֨בְנָה (and they rode) and וַתֵּלַ֖כְנָה (and they went) indicate the sequence of actions. The prepositional phrase אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאִ֑ישׁ (after the man) specifies the direction of their movement. The verse concludes with וַיִּקַּ֥ח הָעֶ֛בֶד אֶת־רִבְקָ֖ה וַיֵּלַֽךְ (and the servant took Rebekah and went), completing the narrative.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal imperfect verbs וַתָּ֨קָם, וַתִּרְכַּ֨בְנָה, וַתֵּלַ֖כְנָה, and וַיִּקַּ֥ח are used to narrate completed actions. The noun נַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ with the 3fs suffix indicates possession (“her young women”). The use of אַחֲרֵ֣י as a preposition specifies the relationship between the subject and the object.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- גְּמַלִּ֔ים (camels): Symbolic of wealth and means of transportation in the ancient Near East.
- עֶ֛בֶד (servant): Indicates a person under service, often bound by loyalty to their master, in this context referring to Abraham’s servant.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variants are noted among major manuscripts for this verse.