וַיֹּ֣אמֶר עֵשָׂ֔ו הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י הֹולֵ֖ךְ לָמ֑וּת וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לִ֖י בְּכֹרָֽה׃
And Esav said, “Behold, I am going to die, and why then do I need the birthright?”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (Vayyomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Marks Esav’s response.
- עֵשָׂ֔ו (Esav) – Root: עשׂו (ʿ-s-v); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Esav”; Notes: Refers to the older son of Yitsḥaq.
- הִנֵּ֛ה (Hinne) – Root: Particle; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Expresses immediacy or emphasis.
- אָנֹכִ֥י (ʾAnokhi) – Root: Pronoun; Form: 1cs; Translation: “I”; Notes: First-person singular emphasizing Esav’s personal state.
- הֹולֵ֖ךְ (Holekh) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Qal, participle, ms; Translation: “Going”; Notes: Indicates continuous action, “I am going.”
- לָמ֑וּת (Lamuth) – Root: מות (m-w-t); Form: Qal, infinitive construct; Translation: “To die”; Notes: Esav speaks of his presumed impending death.
- וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה (Velammah-zeh) – Root: למה (l-m-h) and זה (z-h); Form: Interrogative with demonstrative pronoun; Translation: “And why then”; Notes: Expresses a rhetorical question.
- לִ֖י (Li) – Root: Pronoun; Form: Prepositional phrase with 1cs suffix; Translation: “To me”; Notes: Refers to Esav personally.
- בְּכֹרָֽה (Bekhorah) – Root: בכר (b-k-r); Form: Noun, fs; Translation: “Birthright”; Notes: Refers to the privileges of the firstborn.
Morphological Analysis
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (wayyōmer)
- Root: אמר (ʾmr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “And he said”
עֵשָׂ֔ו (ʿēśāw)
- Root: עשו (ʿśw)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Esau”
הִנֵּ֛ה (hinnēh)
- Form: Particle
- Translation: “Behold”
אָנֹכִ֥י (ʾānōḵî)
- Form: Pronoun, 1cs
- Translation: “I am”
הֹולֵ֖ךְ (hōlēḵ)
- Root: הלך (hlk)
- Form: Qal Participle masculine singular
- Translation: “going” or “about to go”
לָמ֑וּת (lāmûṯ)
- Root: מות (mwt)
- Form: Qal Infinitive construct
- Translation: “to die”
וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה (wəlāmāh-zzeh)
- Form: Interrogative phrase
- Translation: “and why then”
לִ֖י (lî)
- Form: Preposition with 1cs suffix
- Translation: “to me”
בְּכֹרָֽה (bəḵōrāh)
- Root: בכר (bkr)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “birthright”
Syntax Analysis
The verse highlights Esau’s internal reasoning and justification for selling his birthright. The clause הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י הֹולֵ֖ךְ לָמ֑וּת (“Behold, I am about to die”) conveys urgency and exaggeration, suggesting that Esau is driven by immediate physical needs over long-term spiritual or familial benefits. The rhetorical question וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לִ֖י בְּכֹרָֽה (“and what use is the birthright to me?”) underscores Esau’s dismissal of the birthright’s value, revealing a moment of impulsive decision-making.
Grammatical Analysis
The participle הֹולֵ֖ךְ (“going”) conveys a continuous or imminent action, emphasizing Esau’s sense of impending doom. The infinitive construct לָמ֑וּת (“to die”) complements the participle, enhancing the dramatic tone of his statement. The interrogative וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה introduces Esau’s reasoning, with לִ֖י specifying that he is questioning the personal value of the birthright.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- הלך (hlk): Often used to denote movement or progression; here, it suggests an immediate journey or state.
- מות (mwt): A basic term for death, emphasizing the seriousness of Esau’s perspective.
- בכורה (bəḵōrāh): Refers to the rights and privileges of the firstborn, significant in the cultural and religious context of inheritance.
Textual Criticism
This verse shows consistent readings across the Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and other ancient sources. The phrase הֹולֵ֖ךְ לָמ֑וּת emphasizes Esau’s hyperbolic perception of his situation, reflected similarly in the Septuagint’s translation. The rhetorical structure of וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לִ֖י underscores the dismissive tone, consistent with traditional interpretations of Esau’s impulsiveness.