וַיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־זָקֵ֣ן יִצְחָ֔ק וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ עֵינָ֖יו מֵרְאֹ֑ת וַיִּקְרָ֞א אֶת־עֵשָׂ֣ו בְּנֹ֣ו הַגָּדֹ֗ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ בְּנִ֔י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו הִנֵּֽנִי׃
And it came to pass when Yitsḥaq was old, and his eyes were dim from seeing, he called Esav, his elder son, and said to him, “My son,” and he said to him, “Here I am.”
Morphology
- וַיְהִי֙ (vayehi) – Root: היה (h-y-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And it came to pass”; Notes: Indicates the introduction of an event.
- כִּֽי־זָקֵ֣ן (ki-zaqen) – Root: זקן (z-q-n); Form: Conjunction + Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3ms; Translation: “when he was old”; Notes: Describes Yitsḥaq’s advanced age.
- יִצְחָ֔ק (Yitsḥaq) – Root: צחק (ṣ-ḥ-q); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yitsḥaq”; Notes: The patriarch’s name.
- וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ (vattikhena) – Root: כהה (k-h-h); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3fp with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and became dim”; Notes: Refers to the weakening of eyesight.
- עֵינָ֖יו (einaiv) – Root: עין (ʿ-y-n); Form: Noun, dual with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his eyes”; Notes: Dual form emphasizing both eyes.
- מֵרְאֹ֑ת (merʾot) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Form: Noun, infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “from seeing”; Notes: Indicates the cause of dimness.
- וַיִּקְרָ֞א (vayyiqra) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he called”; Notes: Describes Yitsḥaq summoning his son.
- אֶת־עֵשָׂ֣ו (ʾet-Esav) – Root: N/A; Form: Direct object marker + proper noun; Translation: “Esav”; Notes: Refers to Yitsḥaq’s elder son.
- בְּנֹ֣ו (bno) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, ms with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his son”; Notes: Denotes familial relationship.
- הַגָּדֹ֗ל (haggadol) – Root: גדל (g-d-l); Form: Adjective, ms with article; Translation: “the elder”; Notes: Specifies Esav’s status as the firstborn.
- וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (vayyoʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Introduces Yitsḥaq’s speech.
- אֵלָיו֙ (elav) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition with 3ms suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Indicates the direction of speech.
- בְּנִ֔י (beni) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Noun, ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “my son”; Notes: Expresses familial affection.
- וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (vayyoʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he said”; Notes: Indicates Esav’s response.
- אֵלָ֖יו (elav) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition with 3ms suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Marks the direction of Esav’s speech.
- הִנֵּֽנִי (hineni) – Root: הנה (h-n-h); Form: Particle with 1cs suffix; Translation: “Here I am”; Notes: Expresses readiness or presence.
Morphological Analysis
וַיְהִי֙ (wayəhî)
- Root: היה (hyh)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “And it came to pass”
כִּֽי־זָקֵ֣ן (kî-zāqēn)
- Root: זקן (zqn)
- Form: Qal Perfect 3ms
- Translation: “when he was old”
יִצְחָ֔ק (yiṣḥāq)
- Form: Proper noun, masculine singular
- Translation: “Isaac”
וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ (watikhēnā)
- Root: כהה (khh)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3fp
- Translation: “were dim”
עֵינָ֖יו (ʿênāw)
- Root: עין (ʿyn)
- Form: Noun, dual with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his eyes”
מֵרְאֹ֑ת (mē·reʾōṯ)
- Root: ראה (rʾh)
- Form: Infinitive construct with preposition
- Translation: “from seeing”
וַיִּקְרָ֞א (wayyiqrāʾ)
- Root: קרא (qrʾ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he called”
אֶת־עֵשָׂ֣ו (ʾeṯ-ʿēśāw)
- Form: Proper noun with direct object marker
- Translation: “Esau”
בְּנֹ֣ו (bə·nōw)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “his son”
הַגָּדֹ֗ל (hag·gā·ḏōl)
- Root: גדל (gdl)
- Form: Adjective, masculine singular
- Translation: “the older”
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (wayyōʾmer)
- Root: אמר (ʾmr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he said”
אֵלָיו֙ (ʾêlāw)
- Root: אל (ʾl)
- Form: Preposition with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “to him”
בְּנִ֔י (bə·nî)
- Root: בן (bn)
- Form: Noun, masculine singular with 1cs suffix
- Translation: “my son”
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (wayyōʾmer)
- Root: אמר (ʾmr)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3ms with conversive vav
- Translation: “and he said”
אֵלָ֖יו (ʾêlāw)
- Root: אל (ʾl)
- Form: Preposition with 3ms suffix
- Translation: “to him”
הִנֵּֽנִי (hin·nē·nî)
- Form: Interjection with 1cs suffix
- Translation: “Here I am”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the temporal clause וַיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־זָקֵ֣ן יִצְחָ֔ק (“And it came to pass when Isaac was old”), which sets the context for the main narrative. The main action is indicated by the verb וַיִּקְרָ֞א (“and he called”), followed by the direct object אֶת־עֵשָׂ֣ו (“Esau”). The phrase וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ עֵינָ֖יו מֵרְאֹ֑ת (“his eyes were dim from seeing”) describes the physical condition of Isaac, providing background for his actions. The interaction between Isaac and Esau is highlighted by the direct speech וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ בְּנִ֔י (“and he said to him, ‘My son'”), and Esau’s response הִנֵּֽנִי (“Here I am”) shows his readiness to respond.
Grammatical Analysis
The narrative verb וַיְהִי֙ (“and it came to pass”) introduces the scene, setting up the context for what follows. The imperfect verb וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ (“were dim”) is in the 3fp form, describing the condition of Isaac’s eyes. The use of מֵרְאֹ֑ת (“from seeing”) as an infinitive construct with a preposition indicates the cause of his visual impairment. The perfect form כִּֽי־זָקֵ֣ן (“when he was old”) highlights Isaac’s advanced age, contributing to the narrative’s background. The verbs וַיִּקְרָ֞א (“and he called”) and וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (“and he said”) are Qal imperfects with conversive vav, demonstrating the sequential nature of the events. The pronoun הִנֵּֽנִי (“Here I am”) reflects Esau’s immediate response, emphasizing his readiness.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- זָקֵן (zāqēn): To be old. This root emphasizes advanced age and often implies the wisdom or status that comes with it.
- כהה (khh): To be dim. Refers to the weakening of sight or perception, particularly in the context of aging.
- ראה (rʾh): To see. The infinitive construct מֵרְאֹת (“from seeing”) indicates the cause or reason for the dimming of Isaac’s eyes.
- קרא (qrʾ): To call. Used to denote the act of summoning or addressing someone directly.
- הִנֵּֽנִי (hin·nē·nî): Here I am. A phrase used to express readiness or presence, often appearing in contexts of response to a call.
Textual Criticism
The text in this verse is consistent across the Masoretic Text and key versions like the Septuagint and Vulgate, with no significant variants affecting the meaning. The depiction of Isaac’s failing eyesight as he ages is a thematic element that appears in biblical narratives, emphasizing the vulnerability and transition of leadership. The interaction between Isaac and Esau reflects familial relationships and the transmission of blessings, which is central to the patriarchal stories in Genesis.