וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֹתֹ֜ו יִצְחָ֤ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ בָּנָ֔יו אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה עֶפְרֹ֤ן בֶּן־צֹ֨חַר֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵֽא׃
And Yitsḥaq and Yishmaʿel, his sons, buried him in the cave of Makhpela, in the field of ʿEphron, son of Tsoḥar the Ḥittite, which is before Mamre.
Morphology
- וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ (vayyiqberu) – Root: קבר (q-b-r); Form: Verb, qal, 3mp waw-consecutive imperfect; Translation: “and they buried”; Notes: Refers to the act of interring Avraham.
- אֹתֹ֜ו (oto) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Direct object marker with 3ms suffix; Translation: “him”; Notes: Refers to Avraham as the object of burial.
- יִצְחָ֤ק (Yitsḥaq) – Root: יצחק (y-ts-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: One of the sons burying Avraham.
- וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (veYishmaʿel) – Root: ישמעאל (y-sh-m-ʿ-ʾ-l); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Yishmaʿel”; Notes: The second son involved in the burial. Yitsḥaq and Yishmaʿel burying Avraham together demonstrates a unifying moment between the sons of Sarah and Hagar.
- בָּנָ֔יו (banav) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, mp construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his sons”; Notes: Indicates the relationship of Yitsḥaq and Yishmaʿel to Avraham.
- אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת (el-meʿarat) – Root: מערה (m-ʿ-r-h); Form: Noun, fs construct with preposition אֶל; Translation: “to the cave of”; Notes: Indicates the burial location.
- הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה (haMakhpelah) – Root: כפל (k-p-l); Form: Proper noun, fs; Translation: “Makhpelah”; Notes: Name of the burial site. The Cave of Makhpelah and its surrounding field, purchased earlier by Avraham, emphasize the fulfillment of the promised inheritance in the land.
- אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה (el-sedeh) – Root: שדה (s-d-h); Form: Noun, ms construct with preposition אֶל; Translation: “to the field of”; Notes: Specifies the associated field.
- עֶפְרֹ֤ן (ʿEphron) – Root: עפרן (ʿ-p-r-n); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “ʿEphron”; Notes: The original owner of the land.
- בֶּן־צֹ֨חַר֙ (ben-Tsoḥar) – Root: צחר (ts-ḥ-r); Form: Noun, ms construct; Translation: “son of Tsoḥar”; Notes: Identifies ʿEphron’s lineage.
- הַֽחִתִּ֔י (haḤitti) – Root: חת (ḥ-t); Form: Noun, ms definite; Translation: “the Ḥittite”; Notes: Ethnic designation of ʿEphron.
- אֲשֶׁ֖ר (asher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-sh-r); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces the clause describing the location.
- עַל־פְּנֵ֥י (ʿal-pene) – Root: פני (p-n-y); Form: Noun, mp construct with preposition עַל; Translation: “before the face of”; Notes: Spatial preposition indicating proximity.
- מַמְרֵֽא (Mamre) – Root: ממרא (m-m-r-ʾ); Form: Proper noun, ms; Translation: “Mamre”; Notes: Refers to the region near the burial site.
Morphological Analysis
וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ (wayyiqbəru)
- Root: קבר (qbr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3mp
- Translation: “And they buried”
אֹתֹ֜ו (ʾōṯō)
- Form: Direct object marker with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “him”
יִצְחָ֤ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (wəyišmāʿēl)
- Root: ישמעאל (yšmʿʾl)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “and Ishmael”
בָּנָ֔יו (bānāyw)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his sons”
אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת (ʾel-məʿāraṯ)
- Root: מערה (mʿrh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with preposition
- Translation: “to the cave of”
הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה (hammaḵpēlāh)
- Root: כפל (kpl)
- Form: Proper noun, feminine singular
- Translation: “Machpelah”
אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה (ʾel-śəḏê)
- Root: שדה (śdh)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with preposition
- Translation: “to the field of”
עֶפְרֹ֤ן (ʿephrōn)
- Root: עפרן (ʿprn)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Ephron”
בֶּן־צֹ֨חַר֙ (ben-ṣōḥar)
- Root: צחר (ṣḥr)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct
- Translation: “the son of Zohar”
הַֽחִתִּ֔י (haḥittî)
- Root: חת (ḥt)
- Form: Adjective, masculine singular
- Translation: “the Hittite”
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (ʾăšer)
- Form: Relative pronoun
- Translation: “which”
עַל־פְּנֵ֥י (ʿal-pənê)
- Root: פני (pny)
- Form: Prepositional phrase
- Translation: “before” / “in front of”
מַמְרֵֽא (mamrē)
- Root: ממרא (mmrʾ)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Mamre”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the main verb וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ (“And they buried”), indicating the action performed by the subjects יִצְחָ֤ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (“Isaac and Ishmael”). The prepositional phrases אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה (“in the cave of Machpelah”) and אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה עֶפְרֹ֤ן בֶּן־צֹ֨חַר֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י (“in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite”) provide locational context, followed by אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵֽא (“which is before Mamre”) for additional specificity.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal verb וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ (“And they buried”) is in the imperfect form, indicating completed action in a narrative context. The use of proper nouns throughout emphasizes the historicity and specific location of the burial.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- קבר (qbr): The root refers to the act of burial, often associated with formal interment in familial or significant locations.
- מערה (mʿrh): A cave, frequently used for burial sites in ancient times, emphasizing a place of rest or honor.
Textual Criticism
No significant textual variations are noted in 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 across these texts indicates a reliable transmission of the verse.