וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אָנָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ אַל־נָ֣א נֹאבְדָ֗ה בְּנֶ֨פֶשׁ֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלֵ֖ינוּ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑יא כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר חָפַ֖צְתָּ עָשִֽׂיתָ׃
And they called to YHWH and said, “Please, YHWH, let us not perish for the life of this man, and do not give upon us innocent blood, for You, YHWH, as You have desired, You have done.”
Morphology
- וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ (va-yikreʾu) – Root: קרא (q-r-ʾ); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp; Translation: “And they called”; Notes: The sailors turn to YHWH in urgent prayer.
- אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה (el-YHWH) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition אֶל + divine name; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: Indicates the direct object of their plea.
- וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (va-yomru) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Conjunction וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Introduces their spoken prayer.
- אָנָּ֤ה (anna) – Root: אנא (ʾ-n-ʾ); Form: Particle of entreaty; Translation: “please”; Notes: Adds urgency and humility.
- יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis and reverence.
- אַל־נָ֣א (al-na) – Root: לא (l-ʾ); Form: Negative particle + particle of entreaty; Translation: “please do not”; Notes: Softens the negation into a plea.
- נֹאבְדָ֗ה (noʾvedah) – Root: אבד (ʾ-b-d); Form: Qal cohortative 1cp; Translation: “let us not perish”; Notes: A self-including plea for survival.
- בְּנֶ֨פֶשׁ֙ (be-nefesh) – Root: נפשׁ (n-p-sh); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “for the life of”; Notes: Indicates cause or reason.
- הָאִ֣ישׁ (ha-ish) – Root: אישׁ (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the man”; Notes: Refers to Yonah.
- הַזֶּ֔ה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (z-h); Form: Demonstrative masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Distinguishes Yonah specifically.
- וְאַל־תִּתֵּ֥ן (ve-al-titten) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Conjunction וְ + negative particle אַל + Qal imperfect jussive 2ms; Translation: “and do not give”; Notes: A plea for judicial restraint.
- עָלֵ֖ינוּ (aleinu) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 1cp; Translation: “upon us”; Notes: The sailors fear divine guilt.
- דָּ֣ם (dam) – Root: דם (d-m); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “blood”; Notes: Legal term indicating culpability.
- נָקִ֑יא (naqî) – Root: נקה (n-q-h); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “innocent”; Notes: They acknowledge Yonah’s lack of direct wrongdoing toward them.
- כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה (ki-atta) – Root: כי (k-y) / אתה (ʾ-t-h); Form: Conjunction + independent pronoun 2ms; Translation: “for You”; Notes: Marks a theological rationale.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Reaffirming divine sovereignty.
- כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ka-asher) – Root: אשר (ʾ-sh-r); Form: Particle of comparison; Translation: “as”; Notes: Introduces the manner of divine action.
- חָפַ֖צְתָּ (chafatzta) – Root: חפץ (ḥ-p-ts); Form: Qal perfect 2ms; Translation: “You desired”; Notes: Indicates divine will.
- עָשִֽׂיתָ (asita) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Qal perfect 2ms; Translation: “You have done”; Notes: Affirms YHWH’s sovereignty in the events.