פַּ֤חַז כַּמַּ֨יִם֙ אַל־תֹּותַ֔ר כִּ֥י עָלִ֖יתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אָ֥ז חִלַּ֖לְתָּ יְצוּעִ֥י עָלָֽה׃ פ
Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.
Morphology
- פַּ֤חַז (paḥaz) – Root: פחז (paḥaz); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “unstable”; Notes: Refers to reckless or impulsive behavior.
- כַּמַּ֨יִם֙ (ka-mayim) – Root: מים (mayim); Form: Noun, masculine plural with prefix כ־; Translation: “as water”; Notes: Compares instability to the nature of water.
- אַל־תֹּותַ֔ר (ʾal-totar) – Root: יתר (yatar); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 2ms, jussive; Translation: “you shall not excel”; Notes: A prohibition against achieving preeminence.
- כִּ֥י (ki) – Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the prohibition.
- עָלִ֖יתָ (ʿalita) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 2ms; Translation: “you went up”; Notes: Refers to Reʾuven’s inappropriate action.
- מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י (mishkevei) – Root: שכב (shakav); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “the beds of”; Notes: Refers to the father’s bed.
- אָבִ֑יךָ (avikha) – Root: אב (ʾav); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “your father”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov.
- אָ֥ז (ʾaz) – Form: Adverb; Translation: “then”; Notes: Indicates the timing of the defilement.
- חִלַּ֖לְתָּ (ḥillalta) – Root: חלל (ḥalal); Form: Verb, Piel, Perfect, 2ms; Translation: “you defiled”; Notes: Describes Reʾuven’s act of dishonor.
- יְצוּעִ֥י (yetsuʿi) – Root: יצע (yatsaʿ); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 1cs suffix; Translation: “my couch”; Notes: Refers to the father’s bed.
- עָלָֽה׃ (ʿalah) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3ms; Translation: “he went up”; Notes: Concludes the reference to Reʾuven’s action.