וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֤י אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ כְּכֹוכְבֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְנָתַתִּ֣י לְזַרְעֲךָ֔ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הָאֲרָצֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑ל וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל גֹּויֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ׃
I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the heavens and will give to your offspring all these lands, and in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
Morphology
- וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֤י (Ve-hirbeti) – Root: רבה (r-b-h); Form: Hiphil, perfect, 1cs; Translation: “I will multiply”; Notes: Refers to divine action increasing the offspring.
- אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ (Et-zar’akha) – Root: זרע (z-r-ʿ); Form: Noun, ms with 2ms suffix and object marker; Translation: “Your offspring”; Notes: Refers to descendants as numerous as stars.
- כְּכֹוכְבֵ֣י (Ke-kokhvei) – Root: כוכב (k-k-v); Form: Noun, mp with prefix כ־ (“as”); Translation: “As the stars of”; Notes: Metaphor for innumerable descendants.
- הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (Ha-shamayim) – Root: שמים (sh-m-y-m); Form: Noun, mp with definite article; Translation: “The heavens”; Notes: Indicates celestial imagery of the promise.
- וְנָתַתִּ֣י (Ve-natati) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Qal, perfect, 1cs; Translation: “I will give”; Notes: Action of granting land to descendants.
- לְזַרְעֲךָ֔ (Le-zar’akha) – Root: זרע (z-r-ʿ); Form: Noun, ms with 2ms suffix and preposition ל־ (“to”); Translation: “To your offspring”; Notes: Covenant inheritance.
- אֵ֥ת כָּל־הָאֲרָצֹ֖ת (Et kol-ha’aratzot) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ṣ); Form: Noun, fp with definite article and object marker; Translation: “All the lands”; Notes: Specifies the extent of the promised inheritance.
- הָאֵ֑ל (Ha-el) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Demonstrative adjective, mp; Translation: “These”; Notes: Refers to the specific lands in the covenant.
- וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ (Ve-hitbarakhu) – Root: ברך (b-r-k); Form: Hitpael, perfect, 3mp; Translation: “And will be blessed”; Notes: Reflexive or reciprocal sense of receiving blessing.
- בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ (Be-zar’akha) – Root: זרע (z-r-ʿ); Form: Noun, ms with 2ms suffix and preposition ב־ (“in”); Translation: “In your offspring”; Notes: Indicates the means through which blessings will come.
- כֹּ֖ל גֹּויֵ֥י (Kol goyei) – Root: גוי (g-w-y); Form: Noun, mp construct with quantifier; Translation: “All the nations of”; Notes: Universal scope of the blessing.
- הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (Ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ṣ); Form: Noun, fs with definite article; Translation: “The earth”; Notes: Refers to the inhabited world receiving the blessing.
Morphological Analysis
וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֤י (wəhirbētî)
- Root: רבה (rbh)
- Form: Hiphil Perfect 1cs with conjunctive vav
- Translation: “And I will multiply”
אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ (ʾeṯ-zarʿăḵā)
- Root: זרע (zrʿ)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with direct object marker and 2ms suffix
- Translation: “your offspring”
כְּכֹוכְבֵ֣י (kəkōḵəḇê)
- Root: כוכב (kōḵāḇ)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with preposition
- Translation: “as the stars of”
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (haššāmayim)
- Root: שמים (šmym)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural with definite article
- Translation: “the heavens”
וְנָתַתִּ֣י (wənāṯattî)
- Root: נתן (ntn)
- Form: Qal Perfect 1cs with conjunctive vav
- Translation: “and I will give”
לְזַרְעֲךָ֔ (ləzarʿăḵā)
- Root: זרע (zrʿ)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with preposition and 2ms suffix
- Translation: “to your offspring”
אֵ֥ת (ʾēṯ)
- Form: Direct object marker
- Translation: Untranslatable particle indicating the direct object
כָּל־הָאֲרָצֹ֖ת (kol-hāʾărāṣōṯ)
- Root: ארץ (ʾrṣ)
- Form: Noun, feminine plural with definite article
- Translation: “all the lands”
הָאֵ֑ל (hāʾēl)
- Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural
- Translation: “these”
וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ (wəhiṯbāraḵū)
- Root: ברך (brk)
- Form: Hitpael Imperfect 3mp with conjunctive vav
- Translation: “and they shall be blessed”
בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ (ḇəzarʿăḵā)
- Root: זרע (zrʿ)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with preposition and 2ms suffix
- Translation: “in your offspring”
כֹּ֖ל (kol)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “all”
גֹּויֵ֥י (gōwye)
- Root: גוי (gwy)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct
- Translation: “the nations of”
הָאָֽרֶץ (hāʾāreṣ)
- Root: ארץ (ʾrṣ)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the earth”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the conjunctive vav and Hiphil perfect form וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֤י (“And I will multiply”), indicating a continuation of God’s promise. The clause כְּכֹוכְבֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (“as the stars of the heavens”) functions as a comparative simile, emphasizing the abundance of the promised offspring. The next phrase וְנָתַתִּ֣י לְזַרְעֲךָ֔ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הָאֲרָצֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑ל (“and I will give to your offspring all these lands”) expresses the granting of territorial inheritance. The Hitpael imperfect form וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ (“and they shall be blessed”) implies a reciprocal or reflexive action involving all the nations of the earth, highlighting the global impact of the blessing through Isaac’s descendants.
Grammatical Analysis
The Hiphil perfect וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֤י signifies causative action by God, showing that He will ensure the multiplication of Isaac’s descendants. The Qal perfect וְנָתַתִּ֣י indicates a definitive promise of giving. The Hitpael imperfect וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ is reflexive, suggesting that the nations will actively partake in the blessing through Isaac’s lineage.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- רבה (rbh): To multiply or make numerous, emphasizing an increase in quantity or magnitude.
- כוכב (kōḵāḇ): Stars, often used metaphorically for a great multitude.
- ברך (brk): In the Hitpael stem, it suggests a mutual or reflexive blessing, indicating that the nations will find blessing in connection with Isaac’s descendants.
Textual Criticism
The verse is consistent across the Masoretic Text and ancient versions such as the Septuagint, indicating a well-preserved tradition. The phrase וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ (“and in your offspring shall all nations be blessed”) aligns with the overarching Abrahamic covenant seen in Genesis. The textual witnesses, including the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls, do not show significant variation that would alter the meaning of the verse.