וַיִּקְרְב֣וּ יְמֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ לָמוּת֒ וַיִּקְרָ֣א לִבְנֹ֣ו לְיֹוסֵ֗ף וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ אִם־נָ֨א מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֣חַת יְרֵכִ֑י וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ עִמָּדִי֙ חֶ֣סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֔ת אַל־נָ֥א תִקְבְּרֵ֖נִי בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃
And the days of Yisra’el drew near for him to die, and he called his son Yosef and said to him, “If I have now found favor in your eyes, place your hand under my thigh and deal with me in kindness and truth; do not bury me in Miṣrayim.”
Morphology
- וַיִּקְרְב֣וּ (vayyiqrevu) – Root: קרב (qarav); Form: Verb, Qal, Consecutive Imperfect, 3mp; Translation: “And they drew near”; Notes: Refers to the approach of Yisra’el’s time of death.
- יְמֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ (yemei-Yisra’el) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the days of Yisra’el”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov as Yisra’el.
- לָמוּת֒ (lamut) – Root: מות (mut); Form: Verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct with preposition; Translation: “to die”; Notes: Refers to the time of his death approaching.
- וַיִּקְרָ֣א (vayyiqra) – Root: קרא (qara); Form: Verb, Qal, Consecutive Imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “And he called”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov summoning Yosef.
- לִבְנֹ֣ו (livno) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 3ms suffix; Translation: “his son”; Notes: Refers to Yosef.
- לְיֹוסֵ֗ף (le-Yosef) – Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “to Yosef”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the call.
- וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (vayyo’mer) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Verb, Qal, Consecutive Imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces Yaʿaqov’s request.
- לֹו֙ (lo) – Form: Preposition with 3ms suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Yosef.
- אִם־נָ֨א (im-na) – Form: Particle of supplication; Translation: “If now”; Notes: Indicates a polite request.
- מָצָ֤אתִי (matzati) – Root: מצא (matza); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 1cs; Translation: “I have found”; Notes: Refers to finding favor.
- חֵן֙ (chen) – Root: חן (chen); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “favor”; Notes: A common idiom in Hebrew.
- בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ (be-einekha) – Root: עין (ayin); Form: Noun, feminine dual construct with 2ms suffix and preposition; Translation: “in your eyes”; Notes: Refers to Yosef’s opinion or judgment.
- שִֽׂים־נָ֥א (sim-na) – Root: שׂים (sim); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperative, 2ms with particle of entreaty; Translation: “Place now”; Notes: A request for action.
- יָדְךָ֖ (yadkha) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “your hand”; Notes: Part of an ancient oath gesture.
- תַּ֣חַת (taḥat) – Form: Preposition; Translation: “under”; Notes: Refers to the location for the oath gesture.
- יְרֵכִ֑י (yereḵi) – Root: ירך (yerekh); Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with 1cs suffix; Translation: “my thigh”; Notes: An oath-taking custom.
- וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ (ve-asita) – Root: עשה (asah); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 2ms; Translation: “and deal”; Notes: A request for kindness and truth.
- עִמָּדִי֙ (immadi) – Root: עם (im); Form: Preposition with 1cs suffix; Translation: “with me”; Notes: Specifies the recipient of the requested action.
- חֶ֣סֶד (ḥesed) – Root: חסד (ḥesed); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “kindness”; Notes: Refers to loyal love or covenant faithfulness.
- וֶאֱמֶ֔ת (ve-e-met) – Root: אמת (emet); Form: noun, fs; Translation: “and truth”; Notes: Adds the element of faithfulness or integrity to the act.
- אַל־ (al) – Negative particle; Translation: “do not”; Notes: Introduces a prohibition.
- נָ֥א (na) – Particle of entreaty; Translation: “please”; Notes: Adds politeness or urgency to the request.
- תִקְבְּרֵ֖נִי (tik-be-re-ni) – Root: קבר (qavar); Form: Qal, imperfect, 2ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “bury me”; Notes: Yisrael’s plea not to be buried in Egypt.
- בְּמִצְרָֽיִם (be-mitz-ra-yim) – Root: מצר (metzar); Form: noun, dual with preposition; Translation: “in Egypt”; Notes: Specifies the location Yisrael wishes to avoid for burial.