וַיֵּצֵ֥א יִצְחָ֛ק לָשׂ֥וּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִפְנֹ֣ות עָ֑רֶב וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּ֥ה גְמַלִּ֖ים בָּאִֽים׃
And Yitsḥaq went out to meditate in the field toward the turning of the evening, and he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, camels were coming.
Morphology
- וַיֵּצֵ֥א (vayeitze) – Root: יצא (y-ṣ-ʾ); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms (and he went out); Translation: “And he went out”; Notes: Marks the beginning of the action.
- יִצְחָ֛ק (Yitsḥaq) – Root: צחק (ṣ-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: Subject of the sentence.
- לָשׂ֥וּחַ (lasu’aḥ) – Root: שׂיח (ś-w-ḥ); Form: Verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct with לְ; Translation: “To meditate” or “to stroll”; Notes: Indicates Yitsḥaq’s purpose.
- בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה (basadeh) – Root: שדה (ś-d-h); Form: Noun, fs with definite article; Translation: “In the field”; Notes: Specifies location.
- לִפְנֹ֣ות (lifnot) – Root: פנה (p-n-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct with לְ; Translation: “Toward the turning”; Notes: Temporal marker for evening.
- עָ֑רֶב (ʿarev) – Root: ערב (ʿ-r-b); Form: Noun, ms; Translation: “Of the evening”; Notes: Indicates time.
- וַיִּשָּׂ֤א (vayyisa) – Root: נשא (n-ś-ʾ); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms; Translation: “And he lifted”; Notes: Sequential action.
- עֵינָיו֙ (ʿeinav) – Root: עין (ʿ-ʿ-n); Form: Noun, dual with 3ms suffix; Translation: “His eyes”; Notes: Object of lifting.
- וַיַּ֔רְא (vayyarʾ) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms; Translation: “And he saw”; Notes: Indicates perception.
- וְהִנֵּ֥ה (vehineh) – Root: נה (h-n-h); Form: Interjection; Translation: “And behold”; Notes: Introduces a significant visual detail.
- גְמַלִּ֖ים (gemallim) – Root: גמל (g-m-l); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Camels”; Notes: The object of “saw.”
- בָּאִֽים (baʾim) – Root: בוא (b-ʾ-w); Form: Participle, Qal, mp; Translation: “Were coming”; Notes: Describes the camels’ action.
Morphological Analysis
וַיֵּצֵ֥א (wayyēṣēʾ)
- Root: יצא (yṣʾ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “And he went out”
יִצְחָ֛ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
לָשׂ֥וּחַ (lāśūaḥ)
- Root: שׂוח (śwḥ)
- Form: Qal Infinitive Construct
- Translation: “to meditate”
בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה (baśśāḏeh)
- Root: שדה (śḏh)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “in the field”
לִפְנֹ֣ות (lip̄nōṯ)
- Root: פנה (pnh)
- Form: Infinitive construct
- Translation: “toward”
עָ֑רֶב (ʿāreḇ)
- Root: ערב (ʿrb)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “evening”
וַיִּשָּׂ֤א (wayyiśśā)
- Root: נשׂא (nśʾ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “And he lifted”
עֵינָיו֙ (ʿênāyw)
- Root: עין (ʿyn)
- Form: Noun, dual with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his eyes”
וַיַּ֔רְא (wayyarʾ)
- Root: ראה (rʾh)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “and saw”
וְהִנֵּ֥ה (wəhinnēh)
- Form: Interjection
- Translation: “and behold”
גְמַלִּ֖ים (gəmallîm)
- Root: גמל (gml)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural
- Translation: “camels”
בָּאִֽים (bāʾîm)
- Root: בוא (bōʾ)
- Form: Qal Participle mp
- Translation: “were coming”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with וַיֵּצֵ֥א יִצְחָ֛ק (And Isaac went out), establishing the main subject and action. The infinitive construct לָשׂ֥וּחַ (to meditate) explains the purpose of Isaac’s action. The clause בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִפְנֹ֣ות עָ֑רֶב (in the field toward evening) sets the scene and time. The consecutive actions וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא (and he lifted his eyes and saw) lead to the climactic observation וְהִנֵּ֥ה גְמַלִּ֖ים בָּאִֽים (and behold, camels were coming).
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal imperfect verbs וַיֵּצֵ֥א, וַיִּשָּׂ֤א, and וַיַּ֔רְא indicate sequential actions. The infinitive construct לָשׂ֥וּחַ expresses purpose, and the participle בָּאִֽים indicates a continuous action (“were coming”).
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- לָשׂ֥וּחַ (to meditate): Implies contemplation or prayer, suggesting Isaac’s spiritual practice.
- גְמַלִּ֖ים (camels): Signifies the arrival of travelers or goods, often associated with wealth or a caravan.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variants are noted among major manuscripts for this verse.