וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָבָ֔ן הַגַּ֨ל הַזֶּ֥ה עֵ֛ד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינְךָ֖ הַיֹּ֑ום עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמֹ֖ו גַּלְעֵֽד׃
And Lavan said, “This heap is a witness between me and you today.” Therefore, its name was called Galʿed.
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (vayyoʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (sequential imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces direct speech by Lavan.
- לָבָ֔ן (Lavan) – Root: לבן (l-b-n); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Lavan”; Notes: Name of Yaʿaqov’s father-in-law.
- הַגַּ֨ל (ha-gal) – Root: גל (g-l); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “the heap”; Notes: Refers to the pile of stones as a memorial.
- הַזֶּ֥ה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (z-h); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Specifies the heap of stones.
- עֵ֛ד (ʿed) – Root: עד (ʿ-d); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a witness”; Notes: Indicates that the heap serves as a legal testimony.
- בֵּינִ֥י (beini) – Root: בין (b-y-n); Form: Preposition + 1st person singular pronominal suffix; Translation: “between me”; Notes: Indicates the relationship between Lavan and Yaʿaqov.
- וּבֵינְךָ֖ (u-veinekha) – Root: בין (b-y-n); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular pronominal suffix; Translation: “and between you”; Notes: Defines the parties in the agreement.
- הַיֹּ֑ום (ha-yom) – Root: יום (y-v-m); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “today”; Notes: Specifies the time of the declaration.
- עַל־כֵּ֥ן (ʿal-ken) – Root: כן (k-n); Form: Prepositional phrase; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Indicates a reason or conclusion.
- קָרָֽא־שְׁמֹ֖ו (qara-shemo) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + noun (construct); Translation: “its name was called”; Notes: Refers to the naming of the heap.
- גַּלְעֵֽד (Galʿed) – Root: גל עד (g-l-ʿ-d); Form: Noun phrase; Translation: “Heap of Witness”; Notes: The Hebrew equivalent of Lavan’s Aramaic phrase.