וְאֵ֛לֶּה תֹּלְדֹ֥ת יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָלְדָ֜ה הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרָ֖ה לְאַבְרָהָֽם׃
And these are the generations of Yishma’el, the son of Avraham, whom Hagar the Mitsri woman, the maidservant of Sara, bore to Avraham.
Morphology
- וְאֵ֛לֶּה (v’eleh) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Conjunction + demonstrative pronoun, mp; Translation: “And these”; Notes: Introduces the genealogical account. This verse serves as the introduction to the lineage of Yishma’el, Avraham’s son by Hagar.
- תֹּלְדֹ֥ת (toldot) – Root: ילד (y-l-d); Form: Noun, fp construct; Translation: “generations of”; Notes: Refers to the descendants or history of Yishma’el.
- יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל (Yishma’el) – Root: שמע (sh-m-ʿ) + אל (ʾ-l); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yishma’el”; Notes: Means “God hears.”
- בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֑ם (ben-Avraham) – Root: בן (b-n) + אברהם (ʾ-v-r-h-m); Form: Noun, ms construct + proper noun; Translation: “the son of Avraham”; Notes: Identifies Yishma’el as Avraham’s offspring.
- אֲשֶׁ֨ר (asher) – Root: Particle; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “whom”; Notes: Introduces the relative clause.
- יָלְדָ֜ה (yaldah) – Root: ילד (y-l-d); Form: Verb, qal perfect 3fs; Translation: “bore”; Notes: Refers to Hagar giving birth to Yishma’el.
- הָגָ֧ר (Hagar) – Root: הגר (h-g-r); Form: Proper noun, fs; Translation: “Hagar”; Notes: The mother of Yishma’el.
- הַמִּצְרִ֛ית (ha-Mitsrit) – Root: מצר (m-ts-r); Form: Adjective, fs definite; Translation: “the Mitsri woman”; Notes: Identifies Hagar as an Egyptian. Hagar’s identity as a Mitsri (Egyptian) and Sarah’s maidservant highlights her social position and the origins of Yishma’el’s line.
- שִׁפְחַ֥ת (shifḥat) – Root: שפח (sh-p-ḥ); Form: Noun, fs construct; Translation: “maidservant of”; Notes: Describes Hagar’s role in Sarah’s household.
- שָׂרָ֖ה (Sarah) – Root: שרה (s-r-h); Form: Proper noun, fs; Translation: “Sarah”; Notes: Avraham’s wife.
- לְאַבְרָהָֽם (l’Avraham) – Root: אברהם (ʾ-v-r-h-m); Form: Proper noun, ms with preposition לְ; Translation: “to Avraham”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the child.
Morphological Analysis
וְאֵ֛לֶּה (wəʾēlleh)
- Root: אלה (ʾlh)
- Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural
- Translation: “Now these are”
תֹּלְדֹ֥ת (tôləḏôṯ)
- Root: ילד (yld)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural construct
- Translation: “generations”
יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל (yišmāʿēl)
- Root: ישמעאל (yšmʿʾl)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Ishmael”
בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֑ם (ben-ʾaḇrāhām)
- Root: בן (bn), אברהם (ʾbrhm)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with proper noun
- Translation: “the son of Abraham”
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (ʾăšer)
- Form: Relative pronoun
- Translation: “whom”
יָלְדָ֜ה (yāləḏāh)
- Root: ילד (yld)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3fs
- Translation: “bore”
הָגָ֧ר (hāḡār)
- Root: הגר (hgr)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Hagar”
הַמִּצְרִ֛ית (hammiṣrîṯ)
- Root: מצר (mṣr)
- Form: Adjective, feminine singular
- Translation: “the Egyptian”
שִׁפְחַ֥ת (šip̄ḥaṯ)
- Root: שפחה (špḥh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular construct
- Translation: “maidservant of”
שָׂרָ֖ה (śārāh)
- Root: שרה (śrh)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Sarah”
לְאַבְרָהָֽם (ləʾaḇrāhām)
- Root: אברהם (ʾbrhm)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular with preposition
- Translation: “to Abraham”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the demonstrative pronoun וְאֵ֛לֶּה (“Now these are”) introducing the genealogical record. The noun תֹּלְדֹ֥ת (“generations”) is in construct with יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל (“Ishmael”), establishing the subject. The relative clause אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָלְדָ֜ה הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרָ֖ה לְאַבְרָהָֽם (“whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham”) provides additional background information.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal perfect verb יָלְדָ֜ה (“bore”) is used to indicate a completed action in the past. The proper noun הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית (“Hagar the Egyptian”) describes the mother, while שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרָ֖ה (“Sarah’s maidservant”) further identifies her status.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- תולדות (tôləḏôṯ): Refers to generations or genealogies, often used to introduce family lineages.
- שפחה (šip̄ḥaṯ): A term indicating a maidservant or female slave, denoting a subordinate role in a household.
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 affirms the reliable transmission of this verse throughout the textual tradition.