וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ יִצְחָ֗ק הָאֹ֨הֱלָה֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִמֹּ֔ו וַיִּקַּ֧ח אֶת־רִבְקָ֛ה וַתְּהִי־לֹ֥ו לְאִשָּׁ֖ה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם יִצְחָ֖ק אַחֲרֵ֥י אִמֹּֽו׃ פ
And Yitsḥaq brought her into the tent of Sara, his mother, and he took Rivqa, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Yitsḥaq was comforted after his mother.
Morphology
- וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ (vayəviʾeha) – Root: בוא (b-ʾ-w); Form: Verb, Hifil, Wayyiqtol, 3ms with 3fs suffix; Translation: “And he brought her”; Notes: Hifil denotes causative action, indicating Yitsḥaq caused her to enter.
- יִצְחָ֗ק (yitsḥaq) – Root: צחק (ṣ-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- הָאֹ֨הֱלָה֙ (haʾohela) – Root: אהל (ʾ-h-l); Form: Noun, fs with definite article; Translation: “The tent”; Notes: Refers to a specific tent associated with Sarah.
- שָׂרָ֣ה (sarah) – Root: שרה (s-r-h); Form: Proper noun, fs; Translation: “Sarah”; Notes: Refers to Yitsḥaq’s mother.
- אִמֹּ֔ו (immo) – Root: אם (ʾ-m); Form: Noun, fs in construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “His mother”; Notes: Indicates familial relationship.
- וַיִּקַּ֧ח (vayyiqqaḥ) – Root: לקח (l-q-ḥ); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms; Translation: “And he took”; Notes: Standard Qal usage indicating action.
- אֶת־רִבְקָ֛ה (ʾet-rivqa) – Root: רבקה (r-v-q); Form: Proper noun, fs; Translation: “Rivqa”; Notes: Direct object marked by **אֶת**.
- וַתְּהִי־לֹ֥ו (vattəhi-lo) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3fs with 3ms prepositional suffix; Translation: “And she became to him”; Notes: Indicates Rivqa’s transition to becoming Yitsḥaq’s wife.
- לְאִשָּׁ֖ה (ləʾisha) – Root: אשה (ʾ-š-h); Form: Noun, fs; Translation: “A wife”; Notes: Indicates marital status. The phrase “וַתְּהִי־לֹ֥ו לְאִשָּׁ֖ה” underscores the marital relationship, indicating Rivqa’s new role.
- וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ (vayyeʾehaveha) – Root: אהב (ʾ-h-v); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms with 3fs suffix; Translation: “And he loved her”; Notes: Expresses Yitsḥaq’s affection for Rivqa. The verb “וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ” highlights Yitsḥaq’s affection for Rivqa, emphasizing the personal connection beyond obligation.
- וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם (vayyinnaḥem) – Root: נחם (n-ḥ-m); Form: Verb, Nifal, Wayyiqtol, 3ms; Translation: “And he was comforted”; Notes: Reflexive or passive voice, indicating emotional solace. וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם conveys a passive or reflexive comfort, showing the emotional healing Yitsḥaq experienced after his mother’s death.
- אַחֲרֵ֥י (aḥarei) – Root: אחר (ʾ-ḥ-r); Form: Preposition; Translation: “After”; Notes: Temporal marker.
- אִמֹּֽו (immo) – Root: אם (ʾ-m); Form: Noun, fs in construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “His mother”; Notes: Completes the clause referring to Sarah.
Morphological Analysis
וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ (wayəḇiʾehā)
- Root: בוא (bōʾ)
- Form: Hifil Imperfect 3ms with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “And he brought her”
יִצְחָ֗ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
הָאֹ֨הֱלָה֙ (hāʾōhelāh)
- Root: אהל (ʾhl)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the tent”
שָׂרָ֣ה (śārāh)
- Root: שׂרה (śrh)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Sarah”
אִמֹּ֔ו (ʾimmō)
- Root: אם (ʾm)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his mother”
וַיִּקַּ֧ח (wayyiqqaḥ)
- Root: לקח (lqḥ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “And he took”
אֶת־רִבְקָ֛ה (ʾeṯ-rivqāh)
- Root: רבק (rvq)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Rebekah”
וַתְּהִי־לֹ֥ו (wattəhî-lô)
- Root: היה (hwh)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fs with prepositional phrase
- Translation: “and she became to him”
לְאִשָּׁ֖ה (ləʾiššāh)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “as a wife”
וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ (wayyeʾahāḇehā)
- Root: אהב (ʾhb)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “and he loved her”
וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם (wayyinnaḥēm)
- Root: נחם (nḥm)
- Form: Nifal Imperfect 3ms
- Translation: “and he was comforted”
יִצְחָ֖ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
אַחֲרֵ֥י (ʾaḥărê)
- Root: אחרי (ʾḥry)
- Form: Preposition
- Translation: “after”
אִמֹּֽו (ʾimmō)
- Root: אם (ʾm)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his mother”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the sequence וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ יִצְחָ֗ק הָאֹ֨הֱלָה֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִמֹּ֔ו (And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother), indicating Isaac’s action of bringing Rebekah into his mother’s tent. The clause וַיִּקַּ֧ח אֶת־רִבְקָ֛ה וַתְּהִי־לֹ֥ו לְאִשָּׁ֖ה (and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife) follows, describing their union. The phrase וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ (and he loved her) emphasizes the emotional bond, while וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם יִצְחָ֖ק אַחֲרֵ֥י אִמֹּֽו (so Isaac was comforted after his mother) concludes with the emotional resolution.
Grammatical Analysis
The Hifil verb וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ denotes causative action (“he brought her”). The Qal imperfect וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ highlights Isaac’s love for Rebekah, while the Nifal imperfect וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם indicates a passive action (“was comforted”).
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- אֹ֨הֱלָה֙ (tent): Represents a place of dwelling, often symbolizing family and continuity.
- נחם (comfort): Implies emotional consolation, often in the context of grief.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variants are noted among major manuscripts for this verse. The Masoretic Text (MT), the Septuagint (LXX), and other ancient witnesses, such as the Vulgate and the Samaritan Pentateuch, show alignment with this passage, supporting the stability and consistency of the text across traditions.