וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר הָעֶ֖בֶד לְיִצְחָ֑ק אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃
And the servant recounted to Yitsḥaq all the things that he had done.
Morphology
- וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר (vayəsapper) – Root: ספר (s-p-r); Form: Verb, Piel, Wayyiqtol, 3ms; Translation: “And he recounted”; Notes: Piel intensifies the action, emphasizing the detailed recounting by the servant. The verb “וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר” in the Piel form intensifies the action, indicating a detailed recounting of events.
- הָעֶ֖בֶד (haʿeved) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Noun ms with definite article; Translation: “The servant”; Notes: Subject of the verb, referring to Avraham’s servant.
- לְיִצְחָ֑ק (ləyitsḥaq) – Root: צחק (ṣ-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “To Yitsḥaq”; Notes: The recipient of the servant’s report.
- אֵ֥ת (ʾet) – Root: Particle; Form: Direct object marker; Translation: Untranslatable in English; Notes: Marks the object of the verb. The direct object marker “אֵ֥ת” introduces “כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים” (all the things), which the servant described in detail.
- כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (kol-haddəvarim) – Root: דבר (d-v-r); Form: Noun mp with definite article; Translation: “All the things”; Notes: Refers to the entirety of the servant’s actions and experiences.
- אֲשֶׁ֥ר (ʾasher) – Root: Relative pronoun; Translation: “That”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause describing what the servant did. The relative pronoun “אֲשֶׁ֥ר” introduces the clause specifying what the servant had done, concluding the sentence.
- עָשָֽׂה (ʿasah) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3ms; Translation: “He had done”; Notes: Refers to the servant’s completed actions.
Morphological Analysis
וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר (wayəsappēr)
- Root: ספר (spr)
- Form: Piel Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “And he recounted”
הָעֶ֖בֶד (hāʿeḇeḏ)
- Root: עבד (ʿbd)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the servant”
לְיִצְחָ֑ק (ləyiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular with preposition
- Translation: “to Isaac”
אֵ֥ת (ʾēṯ)
- Form: Direct object marker
כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (kol-haddəḇārîm)
- Root: דבר (dbr)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article
- Translation: “all the things”
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (ʾăšer)
- Form: Relative pronoun
- Translation: “that”
עָשָֽׂה (ʿāśāh)
- Root: עשה (ʿśh)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “he had done”
Syntax Analysis
The sentence begins with the verb וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר (And he recounted), setting the action and subject (הָעֶ֖בֶד, the servant). The indirect object לְיִצְחָ֑ק (to Isaac) follows, clarifying the recipient of the action. The direct object אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (all the things) is marked by אֵ֥ת. The relative clause אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה (that he had done) describes the content of what was recounted.
Grammatical Analysis
The Piel verb וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר indicates an intensive or causative action (“recounted”). The Qal perfect verb עָשָֽׂה implies a completed action (“he had done”). The relative pronoun אֲשֶׁ֥ר connects the clause to specify what was recounted.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- ספר (spr): Often implies recounting or telling in detail, suggesting thorough communication.
- דְּבָרִ֖ים (things/words): Can refer to matters or events, indicating all significant actions performed by the servant.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variants are noted among major manuscripts for this verse. The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and other ancient witnesses agree closely, indicating a stable textual tradition for this passage.