וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־הָעֶ֗בֶד מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַלָּזֶה֙ הַהֹלֵ֤ךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ לִקְרָאתֵ֔נוּ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הָעֶ֖בֶד ה֣וּא אֲדֹנִ֑י וַתִּקַּ֥ח הַצָּעִ֖יף וַתִּתְכָּֽס׃
And she said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “He is my master.” And she took the veil and covered herself.
Morphology
- וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (vattomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3fs; Translation: “And she said”; Notes: Sequential action of Rivqa addressing the servant.
- אֶל־הָעֶ֗בֶד (el-haʿeved) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Preposition “to” + noun ms with definite article; Translation: “To the servant”; Notes: The recipient of Rivqa’s question.
- מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ (mi-haʾish) – Root: איש (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Interrogative pronoun + noun ms with definite article; Translation: “Who is the man”; Notes: Rivqa’s question identifies the approaching figure.
- הַלָּזֶה֙ (hallazeh) – Root: זה (z-h); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, ms; Translation: “This”; Notes: Demonstrative specifying the man in question.
- הַהֹלֵ֤ךְ (haholekh) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Participle, Qal, ms, with definite article; Translation: “Walking”; Notes: Describes the man’s current action.
- בַּשָּׂדֶ֙ה (basadeh) – Root: שדה (ś-d-h); Form: Noun ms with definite article; Translation: “In the field”; Notes: Indicates the location of the man.
- לִקְרָאתֵ֔נוּ (liqrateinu) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Preposition “to” + infinitive construct with 1cp suffix; Translation: “To meet us”; Notes: Describes the purpose of the man’s approach.
- וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Sequential action of the servant responding to Rivqa.
- הָעֶ֖בֶד (haʿeved) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Noun ms with definite article; Translation: “The servant”; Notes: Subject of the response.
- ה֣וּא (huʾ) – Root: הוא (h-w-ʾ); Form: Pronoun, 3ms; Translation: “He”; Notes: Identifies the man as Yitsḥaq.
- אֲדֹנִ֑י (adoni) – Root: אדן (ʾ-d-n); Form: Noun ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “My master”; Notes: The servant affirms Yitsḥaq’s identity.
- וַתִּקַּ֥ח (vattiqaḥ) – Root: לקח (l-q-ḥ); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3fs; Translation: “And she took”; Notes: Rivqa’s action in response to identifying Yitsḥaq.
- הַצָּעִ֖יף (haṣaʿif) – Root: צעיף (ṣ-ʿ-y-p); Form: Noun ms with definite article; Translation: “The veil”; Notes: An article of clothing used for modesty or ceremonial purposes.
- וַתִּתְכָּֽס (vattitkas) – Root: כסא (k-s-y); Form: Verb, Hitpael, Wayyiqtol, 3fs; Translation: “And she covered herself”; Notes: Reflexive form indicating Rivqa’s act of self-covering.
Morphological Analysis
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (wattōʾmer)
- Root: אמר (ʾmr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fs
- Translation: “And she said”
אֶל־הָעֶ֗בֶד (ʾel-hāʿeḇeḏ)
- Root: עבד (ʿbd)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with preposition and definite article
- Translation: “to the servant”
מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ (mî-hāʾîš)
- Root: מי (mî) / איש (ʾîš)
- Form: Interrogative pronoun + noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “Who is the man”
הַלָּזֶה֙ (hallāzeh)
- Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine singular
- Translation: “this”
הַהֹלֵ֤ךְ (hahōlēḵ)
- Root: הלך (hlk)
- Form: Qal Participle ms
- Translation: “walking”
בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ (baśśāḏeh)
- Root: שדה (śḏh)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “in the field”
לִקְרָאתֵ֔נוּ (liqərāṯênū)
- Root: קרא (qrʾ)
- Form: Preposition with infinitive construct + 1cp suffix
- Translation: “to meet us”
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (wayyōʾmer)
- Root: אמר (ʾmr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “And he said”
הָעֶ֖בֶד (hāʿeḇeḏ)
- Root: עבד (ʿbd)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the servant”
ה֣וּא (hūʾ)
- Form: Pronoun, masculine singular
- Translation: “it is”
אֲדֹנִ֑י (ʾăḏōnî)
- Root: אדן (ʾdn)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with 1cs suffix
- Translation: “my master”
וַתִּקַּ֥ח (wattiqqaḥ)
- Root: לקח (lqḥ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fs
- Translation: “And she took”
הַצָּעִ֖יף (haṣṣāʿîp̄)
- Root: צעף (ṣʿp)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the veil”
וַתִּתְכָּֽס (wattiṯkās)
- Root: כסה (ksy)
- Form: Hithpael Imperfect 3fs
- Translation: “and she covered herself”
Syntax Analysis
The verse starts with וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־הָעֶ֗בֶד (And she said to the servant), presenting Rebekah’s question about the approaching man. The interrogative clause מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַלָּזֶה֙ (Who is this man) is followed by the participial phrase הַהֹלֵ֤ךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ (walking in the field) and the purpose clause לִקְרָאתֵ֔נוּ (to meet us). The servant’s response ה֣וּא אֲדֹנִ֑י (It is my master) clarifies Isaac’s identity. Rebekah’s action וַתִּקַּ֥ח הַצָּעִ֖יף וַתִּתְכָּֽס (So she took the veil and covered herself) indicates her preparation for meeting him.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal imperfect verbs וַתֹּ֣אמֶר, וַיֹּ֥אמֶר, וַתִּקַּ֥ח, and the Hithpael imperfect וַתִּתְכָּֽס indicate actions performed by Rebekah and the servant. The participle הַהֹלֵ֤ךְ modifies הָאִ֤ישׁ, describing his current action.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- צָּעִ֖יף (veil): A garment used to cover the face, symbolizing modesty or preparation for a significant encounter.
- אֲדֹנִ֑י (my master): A term showing respect and indicating Isaac’s status.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variants are noted among major manuscripts for this verse. The Masoretic Text (MT), the Septuagint (LXX), and other ancient versions such as the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Vulgate align closely with the received text. This consistency supports the reliability of the transmitted Hebrew text for this passage.