וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ מַה־זֹּ֖את עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֑נוּ כִּ֠מְעַט שָׁכַ֞ב אַחַ֤ד הָעָם֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ עָלֵ֖ינוּ אָשָֽׁם׃
And Avimelekh said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (Va-yomer) – Root: אמר (a-m-r); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces Avimelekh’s speech.
- אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ (Avimelekh) – Root: אב (a-v) + מלך (m-l-k); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Avimelekh”; Notes: The Philistine king.
- מַה־זֹּ֖את (Mah-zot) – Root: מה (m-h) + זאת (z-o-t); Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “What is this”; Notes: A question about the action.
- עָשִׂ֣יתָ (Asita) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Qal, perfect, 2ms; Translation: “You have done”; Notes: Refers to Yitsḥaq’s action.
- לָּ֑נוּ (Lanu) – Root: ל (l) + אנחנו (a-n-h-n-u); Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix; Translation: “To us”; Notes: Indicates harm caused to the people.
- כִּ֠מְעַט (Kimʿat) – Root: מעט (m-ʿ-t); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Almost”; Notes: Indicates something that nearly happened.
- שָׁכַ֞ב (Shakhav) – Root: שכב (sh-k-v); Form: Qal, perfect, 3ms; Translation: “He lay”; Notes: Refers to a hypothetical event.
- אַחַ֤ד (Aḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾ-ḥ-d); Form: Numeral, masculine singular; Translation: “One”; Notes: Refers to an individual among the people.
- הָעָם֙ (Ha-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿ-m); Form: Noun, singular absolute with definite article; Translation: “The people”; Notes: Refers to the Philistine community.
- אֶת־אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ (Et-ishtekha) – Root: אישׁ (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Noun, singular construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “Your wife”; Notes: Refers to Rivqa.
- וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ (Ve-heveita) – Root: בוא (b-v); Form: Hifil, perfect, 2ms; Translation: “And you would have brought”; Notes: Implies responsibility for an outcome.
- עָלֵ֖ינוּ (Aleinu) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix; Translation: “Upon us”; Notes: Indicates collective guilt.
- אָשָֽׁם׃ (Asham) – Root: אשם (ʾ-sh-m); Form: Noun, singular absolute; Translation: “Guilt”; Notes: Refers to moral or religious blame.
Morphological Analysis
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (wayyōmer)
- Root: אמר (ʾmr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “And he said”
אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ (ʾăvîmeleḵ)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Abimelech”
מַה־זֹּ֖את (mah-zōt)
- Form: Interrogative pronoun
- Translation: “What is this”
עָשִׂ֣יתָ (ʿāśî·ṯā)
- Root: עשה (ʿśh)
- Form: Qal Perfect 2ms
- Translation: “you have done”
לָּ֑נוּ (lā·nū)
- Root: ל (l)
- Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix
- Translation: “to us”
כִּ֠מְעַט (kimʿaṭ)
- Form: Adverb
- Translation: “almost” or “nearly”
שָׁכַ֞ב (šā·ḵaḇ)
- Root: שכב (škb)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “he lay”
אַחַ֤ד (ʾa·ḥaḏ)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “one”
הָעָם֙ (hā·ʿām)
- Root: עם (ʿm)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “of the people”
אֶת־אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ (ʾeṯ-ʾiš·te·ḵā)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with direct object marker and 2ms suffix
- Translation: “your wife”
וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ (wə·hê·ḇê·ṯā)
- Root: בוא (bwʾ)
- Form: Hiphil Perfect 2ms
- Translation: “and you would have brought”
עָלֵ֖ינוּ (ʿā·lê·nū)
- Root: על (ʿl)
- Form: Preposition with 1cp suffix
- Translation: “upon us”
אָשָֽׁם (ʾā·šām)
- Root: אשם (ʾšm)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “guilt” or “offense”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the narrative verb וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (“And he said”), indicating direct speech from Abimelech. The interrogative phrase מַה־זֹּ֖את (“What is this”) functions as an accusatory question, emphasizing Abimelech’s disbelief at Isaac’s actions. The clause כִּ֠מְעַט שָׁכַ֞ב אַחַ֤ד הָעָם֙ (“one of the people might easily have lain”) sets a conditional or hypothetical situation, highlighting the potential consequence of Isaac’s deception. The phrase וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ עָלֵ֖ינוּ אָשָֽׁם (“and you would have brought guilt upon us”) concludes with a causative form that shows the potential outcome of communal guilt.
Grammatical Analysis
The verb וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (“And he said”) is a Qal imperfect with conversive vav, showing sequential narrative action. The adverb כִּ֠מְעַט (“almost”) adds emphasis to the closeness of the undesired event, while the perfect verb שָׁכַ֞ב (“he lay”) suggests an action that was narrowly avoided. The Hiphil form וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ (“and you would have brought”) indicates causative action, demonstrating the serious implications of Isaac’s actions.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- עשה (ʿśh): To do or make. Indicates an action performed by the subject.
- שכב (škb): To lie down, often implying physical intimacy. Here, it underscores the potential sin or offense that could have occurred.
- אשם (ʾšm): Guilt or offense. Refers to moral or legal culpability, emphasizing the communal impact of individual actions. The narrative underscores the ethical concern in ancient Israelite society about the potential for communal guilt due to individual actions. The consistent use of אָשָֽׁם (guilt) highlights the seriousness of moral offenses and their repercussions on the community as a whole.
Textual Criticism
This verse is consistent across the Masoretic Text and key ancient translations such as the Septuagint and Vulgate.