כֻּלָּ֕נוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד נָ֑חְנוּ כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ לֹא־הָי֥וּ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃
“We are all sons of one man; we are honest; your servants have not been spies.”
Morphology
- כֻּלָּ֕נוּ (kulanu) – Root: כֻּל (kul); Form: Noun, ms with 1cp suffix; Translation: “We all”; Notes: Refers collectively to the speakers, Yosef’s brothers.
- בְּנֵ֥י (benei) – Root: בֵּן (ben); Form: Noun, mp construct; Translation: “sons of”; Notes: Indicates the relationship as sons of one father.
- אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד (ish-eḥad) – Root: אִישׁ (ish) / אֶחָד (eḥad); Form: Noun, ms with number; Translation: “one man”; Notes: Refers to their single, shared father.
- נָ֑חְנוּ (naḥnu) – Root: אֲנַחְנוּ (anakhnu); Form: Pronoun, 1cp; Translation: “we”; Notes: Used for self-identification.
- כֵּנִ֣ים (kenim) – Root: כֵּן (ken); Form: Adjective, mp; Translation: “honest”; Notes: Describes their claimed character.
- אֲנַ֔חְנוּ (anakhnu) – Root: אֲנַחְנוּ (anakhnu); Form: Pronoun, 1cp; Translation: “we”; Notes: Emphasizes that all are honest.
- לֹא־הָי֥וּ (lo hayu) – Root: הָיָה (hayah); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3cp; Translation: “have not been”; Notes: Denies the accusation.
- עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ (avadekha) – Root: עֶבֶד (eved); Form: Noun, mp with 2ms suffix; Translation: “your servants”; Notes: Refers respectfully to their role before Yosef.
- מְרַגְּלִֽים (meraglim) – Root: רָגַל (ragal); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “spies”; Notes: The rejected accusation against them.