וַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקֹום֙ לְאִשְׁתֹּ֔ו וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֑וא כִּ֤י יָרֵא֙ לֵאמֹ֣ר אִשְׁתִּ֔י פֶּן־יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקֹום֙ עַל־רִבְקָ֔ה כִּֽי־טֹובַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה הִֽיא׃
And the men of the place asked about his wife, and he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife, lest the men of the place kill me because of Rivqa, for she is of beautiful appearance.”
Morphology
- וַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ (Va-yish’alu) – Root: שׁאל (sh-a-l); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3mp with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And they asked”; Notes: Action initiated by the men of the place.
- אַנְשֵׁ֤י (Anshei) – Root: אנשׁ (a-n-sh); Form: Construct plural; Translation: “Men of”; Notes: Used in construct form to indicate possession.
- הַמָּקֹום֙ (Ha-maqom) – Root: קום (q-w-m); Form: Noun, singular with definite article; Translation: “The place”; Notes: Refers to the location where Yitsḥaq was residing.
- לְאִשְׁתֹּ֔ו (Le-ishto) – Root: אשׁת (a-sh-t); Form: Noun, singular construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “About his wife”; Notes: Indicates inquiry regarding Rivqa.
- וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (Va-yomer) – Root: אמר (a-m-r); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Indicates Yitsḥaq’s response.
- אֲחֹ֣תִי (Aḥoti) – Root: אחות (a-ḥ-o-t); Form: Noun, singular with 1cs suffix; Translation: “My sister”; Notes: Yitsḥaq’s statement to protect himself.
- הִ֑וא (Hi) – Root: הוא (h-w-a); Form: Pronoun, 3fs; Translation: “She is”; Notes: Refers to Rivqa.
- כִּ֤י (Ki) – Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces Yitsḥaq’s reasoning.
- יָרֵא֙ (Yare) – Root: ירא (y-r-a); Form: Qal, perfect, 3ms; Translation: “He was afraid”; Notes: Describes Yitsḥaq’s fear.
- לֵאמֹ֣ר (Le-emor) – Root: אמר (a-m-r); Form: Qal, infinitive construct; Translation: “To say”; Notes: Infinitive indicating intention or action.
- אִשְׁתִּ֔י (Ishti) – Root: אישׁ (i-sh); Form: Noun, singular construct with 1cs suffix; Translation: “My wife”; Notes: Refers to Rivqa.
- פֶּן־יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי (Pen-ya-har-guni) – Root: הרג (h-r-g); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3mp with 1cs suffix; Translation: “Lest they kill me”; Notes: Expresses fear of being killed.
- עַל־רִבְקָ֔ה (Al-Rivqa) – Root: רבק (r-v-q); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “Because of Rivqa”; Notes: Indicates her involvement as the reason for fear.
- כִּֽי־טֹובַ֥ת (Ki-tovat) – Root: טוב (t-w-v); Form: Adjective, feminine singular construct; Translation: “For she is of”; Notes: Describes Rivqa’s appearance.
- מַרְאֶ֖ה (Mar’eh) – Root: ראה (r-a-h); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Beautiful appearance”; Notes: Indicates her physical attractiveness.
- הִֽיא׃ (Hi) – Root: הוא (h-w-a); Form: Pronoun, 3fs; Translation: “She is”; Notes: Reiterates Rivqa’s beauty.
Morphological Analysis
וַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ (wayyišʾălū)
- Root: שאל (šʾl)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3mp with conversive vav
- Translation: “And they asked”
אַנְשֵׁ֤י (ʾanšê)
- Root: איש (ʾyš)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct
- Translation: “men of”
הַמָּקֹום֙ (hammāqōm)
- Root: מקום (mqwm)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article
- Translation: “the place”
לְאִשְׁתֹּ֔ו (ləʾištō)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with preposition and 3ms suffix
- Translation: “about his wife”
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (wayyōʾmer)
- Root: אמר (ʾmr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he said”
אֲחֹ֣תִי (ʾăḥōṯî)
- Root: אחות (ʾḥwt)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 1cs suffix
- Translation: “my sister”
הִ֑וא (hîʾ)
- Form: Pronoun, 3fs
- Translation: “she is”
כִּ֤י (kî)
- Form: Conjunction
- Translation: “for” or “because”
יָרֵא֙ (yārēʾ)
- Root: ירא (yrʾ)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “he was afraid”
לֵאמֹ֣ר (lēʾmōr)
- Root: אמר (ʾmr)
- Form: Infinitive construct with preposition
- Translation: “to say”
אִשְׁתִּ֔י (ʾištî)
- Root: אשה (ʾšh)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular with 1cs suffix
- Translation: \”my wife\”
פֶּן־יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי (pen-ya·har·gūnî)
- Root: הרג (hrg)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3mp with particle and 1cs suffix
- Translation: \”lest they kill me\”
עַל־רִבְקָ֔ה (ʿal-rivqāh)
- Root: רבק (rbq)
- Form: Proper noun with preposition
- Translation: \”because of Rebekah\”
כִּֽי־טֹובַ֥ת (kî-ṭō·vaṯ)
- Root: טוב (ṭwb)
- Form: Adjective, feminine singular construct
- Translation: \”for [she was] beautiful\”
מַרְאֶ֖ה (marʾeh)
- Root: ראה (rʾh)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular
- Translation: \”in appearance\”
הִֽיא (hîʾ)
- Form: Pronoun, 3fs
- Translation: “she”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the narrative verb וַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ (“And they asked”), setting up an inquiry from the local men about Isaac’s wife. Isaac’s response וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֑וא (“and he said, ‘She is my sister'”) is motivated by his fear, as explained by כִּ֤י יָרֵא֙ (“for he was afraid”). The clause פֶּן־יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי (“lest they kill me\”) further reveals his concern for self-preservation, supported by the reason כִּֽי־טֹובַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה הִֽיא (“for she is beautiful in appearance”).
Grammatical Analysis
The verb וַיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ (wayyišʾălū) is a Qal imperfect 3mp with a conversive vav, indicating a past narrative action typical in biblical Hebrew storytelling. The subject אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקֹום֙ (“the men of the place”) is in construct form, describing the possessive relationship. The verb וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (wayyōʾmer) is also a Qal imperfect 3ms with a conversive vav, showing the continuation of the narrative with Isaac’s response. The phrase כִּי יָרֵא (“for he was afraid\”) introduces the reason for Isaac’s statement, using the Qal perfect form יָרֵא (“he was afraid”) to indicate a completed action. The infinitive construct לֵאמֹר (“to say”) acts as a complement, clarifying what Isaac was afraid to say.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- שאל (šʾl): To ask or inquire, showing a request for information.
- אמר (ʾmr): To say or speak, used frequently in direct speech.
- ירא (yrʾ): To fear or be afraid, indicating apprehension or dread.
- טוב (ṭwb): Good or beautiful, in this context referring to physical attractiveness.
- ראה (rʾh): To see or appear, forming the noun מַרְאֶה (marʾeh), meaning “appearance” or “sight.”
Textual Criticism
This verse is consistent across major textual witnesses, including the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Samaritan Pentateuch. The phrase structure and choice of words align with similar passages where patriarchs express fear for their lives due to their wives’ beauty (e.g., Abraham and Sarah). There are no significant variations noted that would alter the interpretation or understanding of the text. This consistency supports the view that the narrative reflects a common motif in the patriarchal stories.