וַתֵּ֣לֶד לֹ֗ו אֶת־זִמְרָן֙ וְאֶת־יָקְשָׁ֔ן וְאֶת־מְדָ֖ן וְאֶת־מִדְיָ֑ן וְאֶת־יִשְׁבָּ֖ק וְאֶת־שֽׁוּחַ׃
And she bore to him Zimran, and Yoqshan, and Medan, and Midyan, and Yishbaq, and Shuaḥ.
Morphology
- וַתֵּ֣לֶד (vatteled) – Root: ילד (y-l-d); Form: Verb, Qal, Wayyiqtol, 3fs; Translation: “And she bore”; Notes: Indicates the action of Qeturah giving birth. The verse lists the children Qeturah bore to Avraham, emphasizing their significance as part of his legacy.
- לֹ֗ו (lo) – Root: לו (l-v); Form: Preposition + 3ms suffix; Translation: “To him”; Notes: Refers to Avraham as the recipient of these offspring.
- אֶת־זִמְרָן֙ (et-zimran) – Root: זמר (z-m-r); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Zimran”; Notes: First son mentioned.
- וְאֶת־יָקְשָׁ֔ן (ve’et-yoqshan) – Root: יקש (y-q-š); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yoqshan”; Notes: Second son mentioned.
- וְאֶת־מְדָ֖ן (ve’et-medan) – Root: מדן (m-d-n); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Medan”; Notes: Third son mentioned.
- וְאֶת־מִדְיָ֑ן (ve’et-midyan) – Root: מדן (m-d-y-n); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Midyan”; Notes: Fourth son mentioned, significant for later biblical events. Midyan is particularly noteworthy due to his descendants’ later interactions with Israel in the biblical narrative.
- וְאֶת־יִשְׁבָּ֖ק (ve’et-yishbaq) – Root: שׁבק (š-b-q); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yishbaq”; Notes: Fifth son mentioned.
- וְאֶת־שֽׁוּחַ (ve’et-shuaḥ) – Root: שׁוח (š-w-ḥ); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Shuaḥ”; Notes: Sixth son mentioned.
Morphological Analysis
וַתֵּ֣לֶד (wattēleḏ)
- Root: ילד (yld)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fs
- Translation: “And she bore”
לֹ֗ו (lô)
- Form: Preposition with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “to him”
אֶת־זִמְרָן֙ (ʾeṯ-zimrān)
- Root: זמר (zmr)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Zimran”
וְאֶת־יָקְשָׁ֔ן (wəʾeṯ-yāqšān)
- Root: יקש (yqš)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Jokshan”
וְאֶת־מְדָ֖ן (wəʾeṯ-məḏān)
- Root: מדן (mdn)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Medan”
וְאֶת־מִדְיָ֑ן (wəʾeṯ-miḏyān)
- Root: מדן (mdn)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Midian”
וְאֶת־יִשְׁבָּ֖ק (wəʾeṯ-yišbāq)
- Root: ישבק (yšbq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Ishbak”
וְאֶת־שֽׁוּחַ (wəʾeṯ-šûaḥ)
- Root: שוח (šwḥ)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Shuah”
Syntax Analysis
The verse starts with the verb וַתֵּ֣לֶד (And she bore), indicating the subject (Keturah) and the action of giving birth. The prepositional phrase לֹ֗ו (to him) specifies Abraham as the recipient of the children. The list of names connected by the direct object marker אֶת emphasizes the offspring born to Abraham.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal imperfect verb וַתֵּ֣לֶד (“and she bore”) denotes a completed action in narrative form. The direct object markers אֶת followed by the proper nouns show the direct objects of the verb, listing the sons of Abraham.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- ילד (yld): Common verb for childbirth, indicating the action of giving birth.
- שוח (šwḥ): The name Shuah may imply “depression” or “bending down,” possibly alluding to characteristics or traits in cultural context.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are noted in major sources such as the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Samaritan Pentateuch. The consistency across these texts supports the reliability of this passage in its transmitted form.