וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמֹות֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל בִּשְׁמֹתָ֖ם לְתֹולְדֹתָ֑ם בְּכֹ֤ר יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ נְבָיֹ֔ת וְקֵדָ֥ר וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃
And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam.
Morphology
וְאֵ֗לֶּה (wəʾēlleh)
- Root: אלה (ʾlh)
- Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural
- Translation: “And these are”
שְׁמֹות֙ (šəmôṯ)
- Root: שם (šm)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural
- Translation: “names”
בְּנֵ֣י (bə-nê)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct
- Translation: “sons of”
יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל (yišmāʿēl)
- Root: ישמעאל (yšmʿʾl)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Ishmael”
בִּשְׁמֹתָ֖ם (bišmōṯām)
- Root: שם (šm)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural with 3mp suffix and preposition
- Translation: “by their names”
לְתֹולְדֹתָ֑ם (ləṯôləḏōṯām)
- Root: ילד (yld)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural construct with 3mp suffix
- Translation: “according to their generations”
בְּכֹ֤ר (bəḵōr)
- Root: בכר (bkr)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct
- Translation: “the firstborn of”
יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (yišmāʿēl)
- Root: ישמעאל (yšmʿʾl)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Ishmael”
נְבָיֹ֔ת (nəḇāyōṯ)
- Root: נבית (nbṭ)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Nebaioth”
וְקֵדָ֥ר (wəqēḏār)
- Root: קדר (qdr)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “and Kedar”
וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל (wəʾaḏbəʾēl)
- Root: אדבאל (ʾdbʾl)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “and Adbeel”
וּמִבְשָֽׂם (ûmiḇsām)
- Root: מבשם (mbsm)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “and Mibsam”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the demonstrative pronoun וְאֵ֗לֶּה (“And these are”) introducing the list of Ishmael’s sons. The phrase שְׁמֹות֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל (“the names of the sons of Ishmael”) serves as the subject, followed by בִּשְׁמֹתָ֖ם לְתֹולְדֹתָ֑ם (“by their names, according to their generations”) to provide context. The list of sons begins with בְּכֹ֤ר יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ נְבָיֹ֔ת (“the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth”) and continues with additional names.
Grammatical Analysis
The construct phrase בְּכֹ֤ר יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (“the firstborn of Ishmael”) introduces Nebaioth as the eldest son. The following names are presented in a coordinated series using the conjunction וְ (“and”), indicating a list structure.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- תולדות (tôləḏôṯ): Refers to genealogical records or family histories, often used to detail the descendants of significant figures.
- בכור (bəḵōr): Denotes the firstborn son, often holding a special status within the family lineage.
Textual Criticism
There are no significant textual variations noted among major sources such as the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, or the Old Latin versions. This consistency affirms the reliable transmission of this verse in the scriptural tradition.