וַיִּגַּ֤ע הַדָּבָר֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ נִֽינְוֵ֔ה וַיָּ֨קָם֙ מִכִּסְאֹ֔ו וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר אַדַּרְתֹּ֖ו מֵעָלָ֑יו וַיְכַ֣ס שַׂ֔ק וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הָאֵֽפֶר׃
And the word reached the king of Nineve, and he rose from his throne, and he removed his robe from upon him, and he covered himself with sackcloth and sat upon the ashes.
Morphology
- וַיִּגַּע (va-yiggaʿ) – Root: נגע (nagaʿ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3ms; Translation: “And reached”; Notes: Indicates the message arriving to the king.
- הַדָּבָר (ha-davar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the word”; Notes: Refers to the proclamation of judgment.
- אֶל (ʾel) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל; Translation: “to”; Notes: Marks direction toward the king.
- מֶלֶךְ (melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “king”; Notes: Title of the ruler of Nineweh.
- נִינְוֵה (Nineweh) – Root: נינוה (Ninweh); Form: Proper noun feminine singular; Translation: “Nineweh”; Notes: The Assyrian capital.
- וַיָּקָם (va-yaqam) – Root: קום (qum); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3ms; Translation: “and he rose”; Notes: A gesture of alarm and response.
- מִכִּסְאוֹ (mi-kisʾo) – Root: כסא (kiseʾ); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “from his throne”; Notes: Signifies humility and abandonment of royal status.
- וַיַּעֲבֵר (va-yaʿaver) – Root: עבר (avar); Form: Hifil wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3ms; Translation: “and he removed”; Notes: Indicates purposeful removal of royal attire.
- אַדַּרְתּוֹ (addarto) – Root: אדרת (ʾadderet); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “his robe”; Notes: A prestigious garment symbolizing authority.
- מֵעָלָיו (me-ʿalav) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition מִן + preposition עַל + suffix 3ms; Translation: “from upon him”; Notes: Emphasizes complete removal.
- וַיְכַס (va-yechas) – Root: כסס (kasas); Form: Piel wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3ms; Translation: “and he covered”; Notes: Describes assuming mourning attire.
- שַׂק (saq) – Root: שׂק (saq); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “sackcloth”; Notes: Symbol of repentance and humiliation.
- וַיֵּשֶׁב (va-yeshev) – Root: ישׁב (yashav); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3ms; Translation: “and he sat”; Notes: Sitting in ashes reinforces mourning posture.
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל; Translation: “upon”; Notes: Locative preposition.
- הָאֵפֶר (ha-efer) – Root: אפר (ʾefer); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the ashes”; Notes: Ashes symbolize mourning and repentance.