הַעֶ֨בֶד֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־יְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִת ה֑וּא מַדּ֖וּעַ הָיָ֥ה לָבַֽז׃
“Is Yisraʾel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why has he become a prey?
Morphology
- הַעֶ֨בֶד֙ (ha-ʿeved) – Root: עבד; Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the servant”; Notes: Refers rhetorically to Yisraʾel, possibly echoing language of covenant servanthood.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Subject of the rhetorical question.
- אִם־ (im) – Root: אם; Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “Is…?”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question, used with an implied expectation of “no.”
- יְלִ֥יד (yelid) – Root: ילד; Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “homeborn”; Notes: Used as a construct adjective with “house.”
- בַּ֖יִת (bayit) – Root: בית; Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “house”; Notes: Together with “yelid” means “born in the house,” i.e., a slave born into service.
- ה֑וּא (hu) – Root: הוא; Form: Independent pronoun, 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he”; Notes: Refers back to Yisraʾel.
- מַדּ֖וּעַ (madduaʿ) – Root: ידע; Form: Interrogative adverb; Translation: “Why?”; Notes: Seeks explanation for the following clause.
- הָיָ֥ה (hayah) – Root: היה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has he become”; Notes: Past action with present relevance.
- לָבַֽז (lavaz) – Root: בזז; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “a prey”; Notes: Indicates the shocking result of Yisraʾel’s situation.