וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר יִצְחָ֤ק לַֽיהוָה֙ לְנֹ֣כַח אִשְׁתֹּ֔ו כִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה הִ֑וא וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר לֹו֙ יְהוָ֔ה וַתַּ֖הַר רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתֹּֽו׃
And Yitsḥaq entreated YHWH on behalf of his wife, for she was barren; and YHWH granted his entreaty, and Rivqa his wife conceived.
Morphology
- וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר (Vayeʿtar) – Root: עתר (ʿ-t-r); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he entreated”; Notes: Indicates Yitsḥaq’s prayerful intercession.
- יִצְחָ֤ק (Yitsḥaq) – Root: צחק (ts-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- לַֽיהוָה֙ (La-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “To the LORD”; Notes: Indicates the object of Yitsḥaq’s entreaty.
- לְנֹ֣כַח (Le-nokhaḥ) – Root: נכח (n-kh-ḥ); Form: Preposition + noun, ms absolute; Translation: “On behalf of”; Notes: Used here to express Yitsḥaq’s intercession for his wife.
- אִשְׁתֹּ֔ו (Ishto) – Root: אשה (ʾ-sh-h); Form: Noun, fs construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “His wife”; Notes: Refers to Rivqa.
- כִּ֥י (Ki) – Root: None; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Provides the reason for Yitsḥaq’s entreaty.
- עֲקָרָ֖ה (ʿAqarah) – Root: עקר (ʿ-k-r); Form: Adjective, fs absolute; Translation: “Barren”; Notes: Describes Rivqa’s condition.
- הִ֑וא (Hi) – Root: None; Form: Independent pronoun, 3fs; Translation: “She”; Notes: Refers back to Rivqa.
- וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר (Vayeʿater) – Root: עתר (ʿ-t-r); Form: Niphal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And He granted the entreaty”; Notes: Shows divine responsiveness to prayer.
- לֹו֙ (Lo) – Root: ל־ו (l-w); Form: Preposition with 3ms suffix; Translation: “To him”; Notes: Refers to Yitsḥaq.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “The LORD”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- וַתַּ֖הַר (Vatthar) – Root: הר (h-r); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3fs; Translation: “And she conceived”; Notes: Marks the fulfillment of Yitsḥaq’s prayer.
- רִבְקָ֥ה (Rivqa) – Root: רבקה (r-v-q-h); Form: Proper noun, fs; Translation: “Rivqa”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- אִשְׁתֹּֽו (Ishto) – Root: אשה (ʾ-sh-h); Form: Noun, fs construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “His wife”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis.
Morphological Analysis
וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר (wayyeʿtar)
- Root: עתר (ʿtr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “And he prayed”
יִצְחָ֤ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
לַֽיהוָה֙ (la-YHWH)
- Root: יהוה (YHWH)
- Form: Preposition + divine name
- Translation: “to the LORD”
לְנֹ֣כַח (lənoḵaḥ)
- Root: נוכח (nkh)
- Form: Preposition
- Translation: “for” or “on behalf of”
אִשְׁתֹּ֔ו (ʾištô)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his wife”
כִּ֥י (kî)
- Form: Conjunction
- Translation: “because”
עֲקָרָ֖ה (ʿăqārāh)
- Root: עקר (ʿqr)
- Form: Adjective, feminine singular
- Translation: “barren”
הִ֑וא (hîʾ)
- Form: Pronoun, 3fs
- Translation: “she”
וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר (wayyēʿāter)
- Root: עתר (ʿtr)
- Form: Nifal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he was answered”
לֹו֙ (lô)
- Root: לו (l)
- Form: Preposition + 3ms suffix
- Translation: “him”
יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)
- Root: יהוה (YHWH)
- Form: Proper noun
- Translation: “the LORD”
וַתַּ֖הַר (wattahar)
- Root: הרה (hrh)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fs with conversive vav
- Translation: “and she conceived”
רִבְקָ֥ה (ribqāh)
- Root: רבקה (rbq)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Rebekah”
אִשְׁתֹּֽו (ʾištô)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his wife”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the action וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר יִצְחָק לַֽיהוָה֙ (“And Isaac prayed to the LORD”), indicating an intercessory prayer on behalf of his wife. The reason for his prayer is provided with כִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה הִ֑וא (“because she was barren”). The response from the LORD is described by the Nifal form וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר לֹו֙ יְהוָ֔ה (“and the LORD answered him”), followed by the result וַתַּ֖הַר רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתֹּֽו (“and Rebekah his wife conceived”).
Grammatical Analysis
The use of the Qal and Nifal forms of עתר (ʿtr) emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the prayer and response. The prepositional phrase לְנֹ֣כַח אִשְׁתֹּ֔ו (“for his wife”) specifies the object of Isaac’s prayer.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- עתר (ʿtr): Means “to pray” or “plead,” often used in contexts of earnest supplication.
- עקָרה (ʿăqārāh): Refers to a woman who is barren or unable to conceive.
Textual Criticism
There are no significant textual variations noted in the major sources such as the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, the Peshitta, the Vulgate, or the Old Latin versions. The consistency of this verse across these texts suggests a stable transmission.