וַיְהִ֤י יִצְחָק֙ בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה בְּקַחְתֹּ֣ו אֶת־רִבְקָ֗ה בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ הָֽאֲרַמִּ֔י מִפַּדַּ֖ן אֲרָ֑ם אֲחֹ֛ות לָבָ֥ן הָאֲרַמִּ֖י לֹ֥ו לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
And Yitsḥaq was forty years old when he took Rivqa, daughter of Betuʾel the Aramean of Paddan-Aram, sister of Lavan the Aramean, to himself as a wife.
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֤י (Vayehi) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Introduces a temporal clause, typical in narrative.
- יִצְחָק֙ (Yitsḥaq) – Root: צחק (ts-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: Subject of the sentence.
- בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (Ben-arbaʿim) – Root: בן (b-n) + ארבע (ʾ-r-b-ʿ); Form: Noun construct chain, ms + number; Translation: “Forty years old”; Notes: Indicates Yitsḥaq’s age.
- שָׁנָ֔ה (Shanah) – Root: שנה (sh-n-h); Form: Noun, fs absolute; Translation: “Years”; Notes: Completes the age description.
- בְּקַחְתֹּ֣ו (Beqaḥto) – Root: לקח (l-q-ḥ); Form: Qal, infinitive construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “When he took”; Notes: Temporal infinitive construct.
- אֶת־רִבְקָ֗ה (et-Rivqa) – Root: רבקה (r-v-q-h); Form: Definite direct object marker + proper noun, fs; Translation: “Rivqa”; Notes: Marks Rivqa as the direct object of the verb.
- בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ (Bat-Betuʾel) – Root: בת (b-t) + בתואל (b-t-u-ʾ-l); Form: Noun construct chain, fs construct + proper noun; Translation: “Daughter of Betuʾel”; Notes: Identifies Rivqa’s lineage.
- הָֽאֲרַמִּ֔י (Ha-Arammi) – Root: ארם (ʾ-r-m); Form: Adjective, ms with definite article; Translation: “The Aramean”; Notes: Ethnic designation for Betuʾel.
- מִפַּדַּ֖ן אֲרָ֑ם (Mi-Paddan-Aram) – Root: פדן (p-d-n) + ארם (ʾ-r-m); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “From Paddan-Aram”; Notes: Geographic origin.
- אֲחֹ֛ות (Aḥot) – Root: אחות (ʾ-ḥ-w-t); Form: Noun, fs construct; Translation: “Sister”; Notes: Indicates familial relationship.
- לָבָ֥ן (Lavan) – Root: לבן (l-b-n); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Lavan”; Notes: Name of Rivqa’s brother.
- הָאֲרַמִּ֖י (Ha-Arammi) – Root: ארם (ʾ-r-m); Form: Adjective, ms with definite article; Translation: “The Aramean”; Notes: Ethnic designation for Lavan.
- לֹ֥ו (Lo) – Root: ל־ו (l-w); Form: Preposition with 3ms suffix; Translation: “To him”; Notes: Indicates Yitsḥaq’s action was directed toward himself.
- לְאִשָּֽׁה (Leʾishah) – Root: אשה (ʾ-sh-h); Form: Preposition + noun, fs absolute; Translation: “As a wife”; Notes: Indicates the purpose of the marriage.
Morphological Analysis
וַיְהִ֤י (wayəhî)
- Root: היה (hyy)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “And he was”
יִצְחָק֙ (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (ben-ʾarbaʿîm)
- Root: בן (bn) + ארבע (ʾrbʿ)
- Form: Noun construct (\”son of\”) + numeral
- Translation: “forty years old”
שָׁנָ֔ה (šānāh)
- Root: שנה (šnh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “years”
בְּקַחְתֹּ֣ו (bəqaḥtō)
- Root: לקח (lqḥ)
- Form: Qal Infinitive construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “when he took”
אֶת־רִבְקָ֗ה (ʾeṯ-ribqāh)
- Form: Direct object marker + proper noun
- Translation: “Rebekah”
בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ (bat-bəṯûʾēl)
- Root: בת (bt) + בתואל (bṯwl)
- Form: Noun construct (“daughter of”) + proper noun
- Translation: “the daughter of Bethuel”
הָֽאֲרַמִּ֔י (hāʾărammî)
- Root: ארם (ʾrm)
- Form: Adjective, masculine singular
- Translation: “the Aramean”
מִפַּדַּ֖ן אֲרָ֑ם (mippaddan ʾărām)
- Root: פדן (pdd) + ארם (ʾrm)
- Form: Preposition + proper noun
- Translation: “of Paddan-aram”
אֲחֹ֛ות (ʾăḥōṯ)
- Root: אחות (ʾḥwt)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular construct
- Translation: “the sister of”
לָבָ֥ן (lāḇān)
- Root: לבן (lbn)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Laban”
הָאֲרַמִּ֖י (hāʾărammî)
- Root: ארם (ʾrm)
- Form: Adjective, masculine singular
- Translation: “the Aramean”
לֹ֥ו (lô)
- Root: לו (l)
- Form: Preposition + 3ms suffix
- Translation: “to him”
לְאִשָּֽׁה (ləʾiššāh)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “as a wife”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the narrative marker וַיְהִ֤י (“And he was”), setting the stage for the statement. The subject יִצְחָק (“Isaac”) is described as בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה (“forty years old”), indicating his age at the time of marriage. The infinitive construct בְּקַחְתֹּ֣ו (“when he took”) introduces the action, followed by אֶת־רִבְקָ֗ה (“Rebekah”) as the direct object. The verse continues with details about Rebekah’s lineage and relation to Laban, concluding with לֹ֥ו לְאִשָּֽׁה (“to him as a wife”).
Grammatical Analysis
The verb בְּקַחְתֹּ֣ו in its Qal infinitive construct form with a 3ms suffix indicates the action of taking or marrying. The prepositional phrase לֹ֥ו לְאִשָּֽׁה clarifies the purpose of the action, emphasizing the marital relationship.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- ארם (ʾrm): Refers to the region of Aram, associated with the Aramean people.
- לקח (lqḥ): Means “to take” or “to receive,” often used in the context of marriage or acquisition.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are 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.