אֵ֣לֶּה הֵ֞ם בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמֹתָ֔ם בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר נְשִׂיאִ֖ם לְאֻמֹּתָֽם׃
These are the sons of Yishma’el, and these are their names by their villages and by their encampments: twelve chiefs according to their nations.
Morphology
- אֵ֣לֶּה (Eilleh) – Root: אלל (ʾ-l-l); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, mp; Translation: “These”; Notes: Refers to the previously mentioned sons of Yishma’el.
- הֵ֞ם (Hem) – Root: הם (h-m); Form: Independent pronoun, mp; Translation: “They”; Notes: Emphasizes the identity of the individuals.
- בְּנֵ֤י (Bnei) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Construct noun, mp; Translation: “Sons of”; Notes: Indicates the descendants of Yishma’el.
- יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (Yishmaʿel) – Root: שמע (sh-m-ʿ); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yishma’el”; Notes: Name means “God will hear.”
- וְאֵ֣לֶּה (v’Eilleh) – Root: אלל (ʾ-l-l); Form: Conjunction + demonstrative pronoun, mp; Translation: “And these”; Notes: Introduces the following list of names.
- שְׁמֹתָ֔ם (Shemotam) – Root: שם (sh-m); Form: Noun, mp + 3mp suffix; Translation: “Their names”; Notes: Refers to the specific names of the descendants.
- בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם (b’Ḥatzreihhem) – Root: חצר (ḥ-tz-r); Form: Noun, mp + 3mp suffix; Translation: “In their villages”; Notes: Indicates their settled areas.
- וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם (uv’Tirotam) – Root: טיר (ṭ-y-r); Form: Noun, fp + 3mp suffix; Translation: “And in their encampments”; Notes: Refers to temporary dwelling places.
- שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר (Shneim-Asar) – Root: שנים (sh-n-y-m) + עשר (ʿ-s-r); Form: Number, mp; Translation: “Twelve”; Notes: Refers to the twelve sons of Yishma’el.
- נְשִׂיאִ֖ם (N’si’im) – Root: נשא (n-s-ʾ); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Chiefs”; Notes: Designates their leadership roles.
- לְאֻמֹּתָֽם (l’Ummotam) – Root: אמה (ʾ-m-m); Form: Noun, fp + 3mp suffix; Translation: “According to their nations”; Notes: Refers to their tribal divisions.
Morphological Analysis
אֵ֣לֶּה (ʾēlleh)
- Root: אלה (ʾlh)
- Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural
- Translation: “These”
הֵ֞ם (hēm)
- Root: הם (hm)
- Form: Pronoun, 3mp
- Translation: “they are”
בְּנֵ֤י (bə-nê)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct
- Translation: “sons of”
יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (yišmāʿēl)
- Root: ישמעאל (yšmʿʾl)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Ishmael”
וְאֵ֣לֶּה (wəʾēlleh)
- Root: אלה (ʾlh)
- Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural with conjunction
- Translation: “and these”
שְׁמֹתָ֔ם (šəmōṯām)
- Root: שם (šm)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural with 3mp suffix
- Translation: “their names”
בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם (bəḥaṣrêhem)
- Root: חצר (ḥṣr)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3mp suffix
- Translation: “by their settlements”
וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם (ûḇəṭîrōṯām)
- Root: טירה (ṭyrh)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural construct with 3mp suffix
- Translation: “and by their encampments”
שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר (šnê-ʿāśār)
- Form: Numeral (masculine)
- Translation: “twelve”
נְשִׂיאִ֖ם (nəsîʾîm)
- Root: נשיא (nśʾ)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural
- Translation: “princes”
לְאֻמֹּתָֽם (ləʾummōṯām)
- Root: אומה (ʾmm)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural with 3mp suffix
- Translation: “according to their nations”
Syntax Analysis
The verse starts with the demonstrative pronoun אֵ֣לֶּה (“These”), identifying the sons of Ishmael as the subject. The verse continues by specifying שְׁמֹתָ֔ם (“their names”) and their locations בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם (“by their settlements”) and וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם (“and by their encampments”), followed by the description of their status as שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר נְשִׂיאִ֖ם (“twelve princes”) aligned לְאֻמֹּתָֽם (“according to their nations”).
Grammatical Analysis
The use of the demonstrative pronoun אֵ֣לֶּה introduces the subject, with נְשִׂיאִ֖ם in its plural form indicating their noble status. The plural nouns with suffixes בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם and וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם denote the locations associated with the individuals.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- חצר (ḥṣr): Refers to an enclosed settlement or courtyard, implying a place of residence.
- טירה (ṭyrh): Denotes an encampment or fortification, often used to describe temporary or semi-permanent dwelling places.
- נשיא (nśʾ): Means “prince” or “chief,” indicating a leader or person of high status.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are observed among the major textual witnesses, including the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, and the Old Latin versions. The consistent transmission supports the stability of this verse across these sources.