וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּגְוַ֣ע וַיָּ֔מָת וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃
And these are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred years and thirty years and seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
Morphology
וְאֵ֗לֶּה (wəʾēlleh)
- Root: אלה (ʾlh)
- Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural
- Translation: “And these are”
שְׁנֵי֙ (šənê)
- Root: שנה (šnh)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct
- Translation: “years of”
חַיֵּ֣י (ḥayyê)
- Root: חיה (ḥyh)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct
- Translation: “life of”
יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל (yišmāʿēl)
- Root: ישמעאל (yšmʿʾl)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Ishmael”
מְאַ֥ת (məʾaṯ)
- Root: מאה (mʾh)
- Form: Numeral, feminine singular
- Translation: “one hundred”
שָׁנָ֛ה (šānāh)
- Root: שנה (šnh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “years”
וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים (ûšəlōšîm)
- Root: שלושים (šlšym)
- Form: Numeral, masculine plural
- Translation: “and thirty”
שָׁנָ֖ה (šānāh)
- Root: שנה (šnh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “years”
וְשֶׁ֣בַע (wəšeḇaʿ)
- Root: שבע (šbʿ)
- Form: Numeral, feminine singular
- Translation: “and seven”
שָׁנִ֑ים (šānîm)
- Root: שנה (šnh)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural
- Translation: “years”
וַיִּגְוַ֣ע (wayyiḡwaʿ)
- Root: גוע (gʿʾ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he breathed his last”
וַיָּ֔מָת (wayyāmāṯ)
- Root: מות (mwt)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he died”
וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף (wayyēʾāsep̄)
- Root: אסף (ʾsp)
- Form: Nifal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he was gathered”
אֶל־עַמָּֽיו (ʾel-ʿammāyw)
- Root: עם (ʿm)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “to his people”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the demonstrative pronoun וְאֵ֗לֶּה (“And these are”), emphasizing the enumeration of the years of Ishmael’s life. The numbers מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים (“one hundred and thirty and seven years”) detail his age at death. The verbs וַיִּגְוַ֣ע (“and he breathed his last”) and וַיָּ֔מָת (“and he died”) describe the end of his life, followed by וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו (“and he was gathered to his people”), indicating a return to his ancestors.
Grammatical Analysis
The use of the Qal verbs וַיִּגְוַ֣ע and וַיָּ֔מָת signifies the natural end of life. The Nifal verb וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף denotes a passive action, implying that Ishmael was gathered by divine or natural means.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- גוע (gʿʾ): Means “to expire” or “breathe one’s last,” emphasizing the cessation of life.
- אסף (ʾsp): Often used in the context of being gathered to one’s ancestors, implying a peaceful death or joining the lineage of forebears.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are noted among the major sources, including the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, and the Old Latin versions. This uniformity indicates a stable transmission of this verse throughout textual history.