וְנִתַּ֣ן הַסֵּ֗פֶר עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֥ע סֵ֛פֶר לֵאמֹ֖ר קְרָ֣א נָא־זֶ֑ה וְאָמַ֕ר לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי סֵֽפֶר׃ ס
And the scroll is given to one who does not know writing, saying, “Please read this,” and he says, “I do not know writing.”
Morphology
- וְנִתַּ֣ן (ve-nittan) – Root: נתן; Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with prefixed vav; Translation: “And it is given”; Notes: Passive construction showing the scroll is being handed over.
- הַסֵּ֗פֶר (ha-sefer) – Root: ספר; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the scroll”; Notes: Refers to a written document, likely a prophetic or sacred text.
- עַל֩ (ʿal) – Root: על; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Common idiom “נתן על” means “to give to” someone.
- אֲשֶׁ֨ר (ʾasher) – Root: אשר; Form: Relative particle; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces the description of the recipient.
- לֹֽא־יָדַ֥ע (lo-yadaʿ) – Root: ידע; Form: Negative particle + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “does not know”; Notes: Refers to inability or lack of skill.
- סֵ֛פֶר (sefer) – Root: ספר; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “writing”; Notes: Used here in the abstract sense of literacy.
- לֵאמֹ֖ר (leʾemor) – Root: אמר; Form: Infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- קְרָ֣א (qera) – Root: קרא; Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “read”; Notes: Command directed at the recipient.
- נָא־ (na) – Root: Particle of entreaty; Form: Interjection; Translation: “please”; Notes: Softens the command into a polite request.
- זֶ֑ה (zeh) – Root: זה; Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Refers to the scroll being presented.
- וְאָמַ֕ר (ve-amar) – Root: אמר; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he says”; Notes: Begins the individual’s response.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Denies the forthcoming statement.
- יָדַ֖עְתִּי (yadaʿti) – Root: ידע; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I know”; Notes: Used in past form to indicate inability in the present.
- סֵֽפֶר (sefer) – Root: ספר; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “writing”; Notes: Reiterates the claim of illiteracy.