וַיִּבְרַ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב שְׂדֵ֣ה אֲרָ֑ם וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ד יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבְאִשָּׁ֖ה שָׁמָֽר׃
And Yaʿaqov fled to the field of Aram, and Yisraʾel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept watch.
Morphology
- וַיִּבְרַח (vayyivraḥ) – Root: ברח (baraḥ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he fled”; Notes: Describes Yaʿaqov’s flight from Esaw’s anger (cf. Genesis 28:5); marks both physical escape and divine preservation.
- יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿaqov) – Root: עקב (ʿaqav); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yaʿaqov (Jacob)”; Notes: The patriarch’s name here recalls his cunning and perseverance, connecting his past with the nation’s present identity.
- שְׂדֵה (sedeh) – Root: שדה (sadeh); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “the field of”; Notes: Construct form links to “Aram,” designating a region or open land associated with pastoral life and exile.
- אֲרָם (Aram) – Root: ארם (Aram); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Aram (Syria)”; Notes: Refers to the region where Yaʿaqov took refuge and served Lavan—symbolizing hardship and divine shaping of the patriarch’s character.
- וַיַּעֲבֹד (vayyaʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he served”; Notes: Denotes labor or service; reflects Yaʿaqov’s long servitude to Lavan in pursuit of marriage to Raḥel.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun masculine singular; Translation: “Yisraʾel (Israel)”; Notes: The use of “Yisraʾel” instead of “Yaʿaqov” underscores his covenant identity—linking the ancestor’s experiences with the nation’s story.
- בְּאִשָּׁה (be-ʾishah) – Root: אשה (ʾishah); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for a wife”; Notes: The preposition expresses purpose—his labor was motivated by love and commitment to Raḥel.
- וּבְאִשָּׁה (u-veʾishah) – Root: אשה (ʾishah); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and for a wife”; Notes: Parallel repetition intensifies the idea—his entire service and vigilance centered on marital devotion.
- שָׁמָר (shamar) – Root: שמר (shamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he kept watch” or “he tended”; Notes: Indicates faithful oversight of Lavan’s flocks; conveys diligence and endurance under labor, reflecting Yisraʾel’s covenantal perseverance.