וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י גיים בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר׃
And YHWH said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (Vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Refers to the LORD addressing Rivqa.
- יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “The LORD”; Notes: The divine name indicating the speaker.
- לָ֗הּ (Lah) – Root: None; Form: Preposition + 3fs suffix; Translation: “To her”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the LORD’s speech.
- שְׁנֵ֤י (Shenei) – Root: שְׁנַיִם (sh-n-y-m); Form: Cardinal number, dual, construct; Translation: “Two”; Notes: Refers to the two entities in Rivqa’s womb.
- גיים (Goyim) – Root: גוֹי (goy); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Nations”; Notes: Indicates the scope of the prophecy about Rivqa’s offspring.
- בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ (Bevitnekh) – Root: בטן (b-t-n); Form: Noun, fs construct with 2fs suffix; Translation: “In your womb”; Notes: Refers to Rivqa’s physical state.
- וּשְׁנֵ֣י (Ushenei) – Root: שְׁנַיִם (sh-n-y-m); Form: Cardinal number, dual, construct; Translation: “And two”; Notes: Introduces the second pair of entities.
- לְאֻמִּ֔ים (Leummim) – Root: לְאֻם (l-ʾ-m); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Peoples”; Notes: Parallel to “nations,” emphasizing division.
- מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ (Mimeʿayikh) – Root: מֵעֶה (m-ʿ-h); Form: Noun, mp construct with 2fs suffix; Translation: “From within you”; Notes: Refers to the origin of the nations.
- יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ (Yipparedu) – Root: פרד (p-r-d); Form: Niphal, imperfect, 3mp; Translation: “Will be separated”; Notes: Indicates a future division.
- וּלְאֹם֙ (Uleʾom) – Root: לְאֻם (l-ʾ-m); Form: Noun, ms; Translation: “And one people”; Notes: Describes a comparison.
- מִלְאֹ֣ם (Milʾom) – Root: לְאֻם (l-ʾ-m); Form: Noun, ms; Translation: “Than another people”; Notes: Highlights the contrast.
- יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ (Yeʾemats) – Root: אמץ (ʾ-m-ts); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “Will be stronger”; Notes: Describes the dominance of one nation.
- וְרַ֖ב (Verav) – Root: רב (r-v); Form: Adjective, ms; Translation: “And the older”; Notes: Indicates the elder of the two children.
- יַעֲבֹ֥ד (Yaʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “Will serve”; Notes: Prophesies subservience.
- צָעִֽיר (Tsaʿir) – Root: צעיר (ts-ʿ-y-r); Form: Adjective, ms; Translation: “The younger”; Notes: Identifies the one who will be served.
Morphological Analysis
וַיֹּאמֶר (wayyōmer)
Root: אמר
Form: Verb, Qal, imperfect, third person masculine singular
Translation: “he said”
יְהוָה (YHWH)
Root: יהוה
Form: Proper noun
Translation: “LORD”
לָהּ (lah)
Root: ל + ה
Form: Preposition + pronoun
Translation: “to her”
שְׁנֵי (shənê)
Root: שני
Form: Numeral, dual
Translation: “two”
גֹיִים (gōyim)
Root: גוי
Form: Noun, masculine plural
Translation: “nations”
בְּבִטְנֵךְ (bəviṭnêk)
Root: בטן
Form: Preposition + noun with suffix
Translation: “in your womb”
וּשְׁנֵי (ušənê)
Root: שני
Form: Conjunction + numeral, dual
Translation: “and two”
לְאֻמִּים (lə’ummim)
Root: לאם
Form: Noun, masculine plural
Translation: “peoples”
מִמֵּעַיִךְ (mimmē’ayik)
Root: מעה
Form: Preposition + noun with suffix
Translation: “from your insides”
יִפָּרֵדוּ (yippārēdū)
Root: פרד
Form: Verb, Nifal, imperfect, third person masculine plural
Translation: “they shall be separated”
וּלְאֹם (ulə’ōm)
Root: לאם
Form: Conjunction + noun, masculine singular
Translation: “and people”
מִלְאֹם (milə’ōm)
Root: לאם
Form: Preposition + noun, masculine singular
Translation: “from people”
יֶאֱמָץ (ye’emāṣ)
Root: אמץ
Form: Verb, Qal, imperfect, third person masculine singular
Translation: “shall be stronger”
וְרַב (vərav)
Root: רבב
Form: Conjunction + adjective
Translation: “and the greater”
יַעֲבֹד (ya’avod)
Root: עבד
Form: Verb, Qal, imperfect, third person masculine singular
Translation: “shall serve”
צָעִיר (ṣa’ir)
Root: צעיר
Form: Adjective
Translation: “younger”
Syntax Analysis
The sentence is a direct speech introduced by the verb וַיֹּאמֶר (“wayyōmer”), indicating that the LORD is speaking. The structure divides into parallel clauses describing the future of the twins in Rebekah’s womb. The use of the conjunction “ū” links the descriptive elements, and the sentence emphasizes contrast (“one people shall be stronger… and the older shall serve the younger”).
Grammatical Analysis
The passage employs verbs in the Qal imperfect and Nifal forms to indicate future actions and passive occurrences יִפָּרֵדוּ (“yippārēdū” for passive separation). The dual forms שְׁנֵי (“shənê”) highlight the twins, and the noun-adjective agreement וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר (“vərav ya’avod ṣa’ir”) establishes the final prophetic statement.
Lexical Semantics
The term “גֹיִים” (gōyim) typically refers to “nations” or “peoples” and implies a broader geopolitical scope. The verb “יֶאֱמָץ” (ye’emāṣ) conveys the idea of “to be strong” or “to prevail,” signifying dominance in the relationship between the two peoples.
Word Study
- גֹיִים (gōyim): This word frequently appears in the context of national identities or distinct ethnic groups in the Hebrew Bible, indicating separate entities with their own social and cultural structures.
- רַב (rav): This adjective can denote not only physical size but also importance or preeminence, which contrasts with the younger צָעִיר (“ṣa’ir”).
Textual Criticism
The phrase “וְרַב יַעֲבֹד צָעִיר” (and the older shall serve the younger) is preserved consistently in the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint καὶ ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι, and the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QGen), supporting its authenticity. The Vulgate also aligns with this reading (“et maior serviet minori”). The Peshitta similarly confirms this tradition.