וְיַעֲקֹ֞ב נָתַ֣ן לְעֵשָׂ֗ו לֶ֚חֶם וּנְזִ֣יד עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אכַל וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וַיִּ֥בֶז עֵשָׂ֖ו אֶת־הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ ס
And Yaʿaqov gave Esav bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and he arose and left, and Esav despised the birthright.
Morphology
- וְיַעֲקֹ֞ב (VeYaʿaqov) – Root: עקב (ʿ-q-v); Form: Proper noun with conjunction; Translation: “And Yaʿaqov”; Notes: The subject of the action.
- נָתַ֣ן (Natan) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Qal, perfect, 3ms; Translation: “Gave”; Notes: Describes Yaʿaqov’s action toward Esav.
- לְעֵשָׂ֗ו (LeʿEsav) – Root: עשׂו (ʿ-s-v); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “To Esav”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of Yaʿaqov’s gift.
- לֶ֚חֶם (Leḥem) – Root: לחם (l-ḥ-m); Form: Noun, ms; Translation: “Bread”; Notes: Specifies part of what Yaʿaqov gave.
- וּנְזִ֣יד (Unzid) – Root: נזד (n-z-d); Form: Noun, ms with conjunction; Translation: “And stew”; Notes: Part of the meal given to Esav.
- עֲדָשִׁ֔ים (Adashim) – Root: עדש (ʿ-d-sh); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Lentils”; Notes: Specifies the type of stew.
- וַיֹּ֣אכַל (Vayyoʾkhal) – Root: אכל (ʾ-k-l); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he ate”; Notes: Describes Esav’s action.
- וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ (Vayyesht) – Root: שתה (sh-t-h); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he drank”; Notes: Continuation of Esav’s actions.
- וַיָּ֖קָם (Vayyaqom) – Root: קום (q-w-m); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he arose”; Notes: Esav leaves after eating and drinking.
- וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ (Vayyeilekh) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he left”; Notes: Describes Esav departing.
- וַיִּ֥בֶז (Vayyivez) – Root: בוז (b-v-z); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he despised”; Notes: Reflects Esav’s attitude toward the birthright.
- עֵשָׂ֖ו (ʿEsav) – Root: עשׂו (ʿ-s-v); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Esav”; Notes: The subject of the verb “despised.”
- אֶת־הַבְּכֹרָֽה (ʾEt-habekhorah) – Root: בכר (b-k-r); Form: Noun, fs with definite article; Translation: “The birthright”; Notes: Indicates what Esav despised.
Morphological Analysis
וְיַעֲקֹ֞ב (wəyaʿăqōḇ)
- Root: עקב (ʿqb)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “And Jacob”
נָתַ֣ן (nāṯan)
- Root: נתן (ntn)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “gave”
לְעֵשָׂ֗ו (ləʿēśāw)
- Root: עשו (ʿśw)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular with preposition
- Translation: “to Esau”
לֶ֚חֶם (leḥem)
- Root: לחם (lḥm)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “bread”
וּנְזִ֣יד (unəzîḏ)
- Root: נזד (nzd)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “and stew”
עֲדָשִׁ֔ים (ʿăḏāšîm)
- Root: עדש (ʿdš)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural
- Translation: “lentils”
וַיֹּ֣אכַל (wayyōḵal)
- Root: אכל (ʾkl)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he ate”
וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ (wayyēšeṯ)
- Root: שתה (šth)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he drank”
וַיָּ֖קָם (wayyāqām)
- Root: קום (qwm)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he arose”
וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ (wayyēlaḵ)
- Root: הלך (hlk)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he went”
וַיִּ֥בֶז (wayyibeḇ)
- Root: בזה (bzh)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he despised”
עֵשָׂ֖ו (ʿēśāw)
- Root: עשו (ʿśw)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Esau”
אֶת־הַבְּכֹרָֽה (ʾeṯ-habəḵōrāh)
- Root: בכר (bkr)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the birthright”
Syntax Analysis
This verse narrates the completion of the transaction between Jacob and Esau. The sequence of verbs וַיֹּ֣אכַל וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ (“and he ate, and he drank, and he arose, and he went”) reflects a series of actions performed by Esau, highlighting the casual manner in which he treated the exchange. The concluding clause וַיִּ֥בֶז עֵשָׂ֖ו אֶת־הַבְּכֹרָֽה (“and Esau despised the birthright”) reveals the deeper significance of the event, showing Esau’s disregard for the value of his birthright.
Grammatical Analysis
The use of the Qal imperfect verbs with conversive vav, such as וַיֹּ֣אכַל and וַיִּ֥בֶז, conveys completed past actions in the narrative sequence. The noun הַבְּכֹרָֽה (“the birthright”) with the definite article emphasizes the specific and significant nature of what was sold and subsequently despised.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- בזה (bzh): Means “to despise” or “to treat with contempt,” indicating Esau’s attitude towards the birthright.
- נזיד (nāzîd): Refers to a type of cooked stew, here specifically lentil stew, which becomes symbolic of Esau’s impulsive decision.
Textual Criticism
The verse is consistent across major textual witnesses, including the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint. The depiction of Esau’s actions and the concluding phrase, emphasizing his disregard for the birthright, are preserved across versions, highlighting the theological and narrative importance of this exchange.