וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ מֹ֣ות אַבְרָהָ֔ם וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנֹ֑ו וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יִצְחָ֔ק עִם־בְּאֵ֥ר לַחַ֖י רֹאִֽי׃ ס
And it came to pass after the death of Avraham that Elohim blessed Yitsḥaq his son, and Yitsḥaq lived by Be’er Laḥai Ro’i.
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֗י (vayehi) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Verb, qal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Introduces the narrative following Avraham’s death.
- אַחֲרֵי֙ (aḥarei) – Root: אחר (ʾ-ḥ-r); Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Marks the temporal sequence.
- מֹ֣ות (mot) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Form: Noun, ms construct; Translation: “death of”; Notes: Indicates the event being referenced.
- אַבְרָהָ֔ם (Avraham) – Root: אברהם (ʾ-v-r-h-m); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Avraham”; Notes: Subject of the temporal clause.
- וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ (vayvarekh) – Root: ברך (b-r-k); Form: Verb, piel waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms; Translation: “and [He] blessed”; Notes: Refers to Elohim’s action of blessing. The verse connects the continuation of the patriarchal blessing from Avraham to Yitsḥaq.
- אֱלֹהִ֖ים (Elohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Elohim”; Notes: Subject of the verb וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ.
- אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק (et-Yitsḥaq) – Root: יצחק (y-ts-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun, ms with direct object marker אֶת; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: Object of the verb וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ.
- בְּנֹ֑ו (b’no) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, ms construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his son”; Notes: Identifies Yitsḥaq as Avraham’s son.
- וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב (vayeshev) – Root: ישׁב (y-sh-v); Form: Verb, qal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms; Translation: “and [he] lived”; Notes: Refers to Yitsḥaq’s settlement.
- יִצְחָ֔ק (Yitsḥaq) – Root: יצחק (y-ts-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: Subject of the verb וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב.
- עִם־ (ʿim) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Form: Preposition; Translation: “by/near”; Notes: Indicates proximity.
- בְּאֵ֥ר לַחַ֖י רֹאִֽי (Be’er Laḥai Ro’i) – Root: באר (b-ʾ-r), לחי (l-ḥ-y), רוא (r-ʾ-y); Form: Noun, fs proper; Translation: “Be’er Laḥai Ro’i”; Notes: Specific location where Yitsḥaq settled.
Morphological Analysis
וַיְהִ֗י (wayhî)
- Root: היה (hyy)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “And it came to pass”
אַחֲרֵי֙ (ʾaḥărê)
- Root: אחרי (ʾḥry)
- Form: Preposition
- Translation: “after”
מֹ֣ות (môṯ)
- Root: מות (mwt)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct
- Translation: “death”
אַבְרָהָ֔ם (ʾaḇrāhām)
- Root: אברהם (ʾbrhm)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Abraham”
וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ (wayḇāreḵ)
- Root: ברך (brk)
- Form: Piel Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and blessed”
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (ʾĕlōhîm)
- Root: אלה (ʾlh)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural
- Translation: “God”
אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק (ʾeṯ-yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular with direct object marker
- Translation: “Isaac”
בְּנֹ֑ו (bənô)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his son”
וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב (wayyēšeḇ)
- Root: ישב (yšb)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he dwelt”
יִצְחָ֔ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
עִם־בְּאֵ֥ר (ʿim-bəʾēr)
- Root: באר (bʾr)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with preposition
- Translation: “by the well of”
לַחַ֖י רֹאִֽי (laḥay roʾî)
- Root: חיה (ḥyh), ראה (rʾh)
- Form: Noun phrase, proper noun
- Translation: “Lahai-roi” (“the Living One who sees me”)
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the temporal clause וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ מֹ֣ות אַבְרָהָ֔ם (“And it came to pass after the death of Abraham”), establishing the context. The main clause וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנֹ֑ו (“that God blessed Isaac his son”) follows, indicating the divine blessing. The final clause וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יִצְחָ֔ק עִם־בְּאֵ֥ר לַחַ֖י רֹאִֽי (“and Isaac dwelt by Beer-lahai-roi”) concludes the verse, specifying Isaac’s dwelling place.
Grammatical Analysis
The Piel verb וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ (“and blessed”) indicates an intensive action performed by God. The use of the Qal imperfect וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב (“and he dwelt”) suggests a narrative continuation, highlighting Isaac’s settlement.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- ברך (brk): A common verb meaning “to bless,” often indicating divine favor or endowment.
- באר (bʾr): Refers to a well or spring, often signifying a place of life-sustaining water and divine encounters.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are noted among the major sources such as the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, or the Old Latin versions. The consistency supports the reliability of the text as transmitted.