וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִצְחָ֖ק בִּגְרָֽר׃
And Yitsḥaq lived in Gerar.
Morphology
- וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (Va-yeshev) – Root: ישׁב (y-sh-v); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And he lived”; Notes: Indicates settling or dwelling in a place.
- יִצְחָ֖ק (Yitsḥaq) – Root: יצחק (y-tz-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: Name of the patriarch, Isaac.
- בִּגְרָֽר׃ (Bi-gerar) – Root: גרר (g-r-r); Form: Noun, proper place name with preposition ב־ (“in”); Translation: “In Gerar”; Notes: Gerar is a Philistine city in the Negev region.
Morphological Analysis
וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (wayyēšeḇ)
- Root: ישב (yšb)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “And he dwelt”
יִצְחָ֖ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Root: יצחק (yṣḥq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
בִּגְרָֽר (bigərār)
- Root: גרר (grr)
- Form: Noun, proper place name with preposition
- Translation: “in Gerar”
Syntax Analysis
The verse opens with the conjunction and narrative verb וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (“And he dwelt”), indicating a sequential action. The subject יִצְחָ֖ק (“Isaac”) follows the verb, forming a standard verb-subject-object construction. The prepositional phrase בִּגְרָֽר (“in Gerar”) completes the sentence, specifying the location of Isaac’s action.
Grammatical Analysis
The verb וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב is a Qal imperfect with a conversive vav, converting the imperfect form to a past narrative tense, typical of biblical storytelling. The proper noun יִצְחָ֖ק functions as the subject of the verb. The prepositional phrase בִּגְרָֽר provides the locative detail, indicating where the action took place.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- ישב (yšb): To dwell, sit, or reside, implying a settled presence in a place.
- גרר (grr): A region or city mentioned in the context of the Philistines, historically significant as a place of interaction between the patriarchs and local rulers.
Textual Criticism
This verse is consistent across major textual traditions, including the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint. There are no significant variants noted that impact the understanding of Isaac’s dwelling in Gerar. The geographical reference to Gerar aligns with other mentions of this location in Genesis, providing context for Isaac’s interactions with local rulers and his experiences during a time of famine.