בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֨ים שָׁנָ֜ה אָנֹכִ֗י בִּ֠שְׁלֹחַ מֹשֶׁ֨ה עֶֽבֶד־יְהוָ֥ה אֹתִ֛י מִקָּדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵ֖עַ לְרַגֵּ֣ל אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וָאָשֵׁ֤ב אֹתֹו֙ דָּבָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר עִם־לְבָבִֽי׃
I was forty years old when Moshe, the servant of YHWH, sent me from Qadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was with my heart.
Morphology
- בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֨ים (ben-arbaʿim) – Root: בן (ben), ארבע (arbaʿ); Form: Noun construct, masculine singular + numeral; Translation: “forty years old”; Notes: Construct form indicating age.
- שָׁנָ֜ה (shana) – Root: שנה (shana); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “year”; Notes: Feminine singular in construct with the numeral.
- אָנֹכִ֗י (anokhi) – Root: אָנֹכִי (anokhi); Form: Pronoun, first-person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: A formal or emphatic form of “I.”
- בִּ֠שְׁלֹחַ (bishloaḥ) – Root: שלח (shalaḥ); Form: Infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “when sent”; Notes: Infinitive construct with בְּ indicating temporal action.
- מֹשֶׁ֨ה (Moshe) – Root: משה (Moshe); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Moshe”; Notes: Refers to the leader of Yisra’el.
- עֶֽבֶד־יְהוָ֥ה (ʿeved-YHWH) – Root: עבד (ʿavad); Form: Noun construct, masculine singular; Translation: “servant of YHWH”; Notes: Indicates divine servanthood.
- אֹתִ֛י (oti) – Root: את (ot); Form: Direct object pronoun, first-person singular; Translation: “me”; Notes: Marks the object of the verb.
- מִקָּדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵ֖עַ (mi-Qadesh Barnea) – Root: קדש (qadesh), ברנע (Barnea); Form: Proper noun with preposition; Translation: “from Qadesh Barnea”; Notes: Indicates place of departure.
- לְרַגֵּ֣ל (le-raggel) – Root: רגל (raggel); Form: Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “to spy out”; Notes: Piel intensifies the meaning to a deliberate reconnaissance.
- אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ (et-ha’aretz) – Root: ארץ (aretz); Form: Definite noun, feminine singular; Translation: “the land”; Notes: Refers to the Promised Land.
- וָאָשֵׁ֤ב (va’ashiv) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Hifil consecutive imperfect, first-person singular; Translation: “and I brought back”; Notes: Hifil conveys causation.
- אֹתֹו֙ (oto) – Root: את (ot); Form: Direct object pronoun, third-person masculine singular; Translation: “him”; Notes: Refers to Moshe.
- דָּבָ֔ר (davar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “word”; Notes: Can also mean “matter” or “report.”
- כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (ka’asher) – Root: אשר (asher); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “as”; Notes: Introduces a comparison.
- עִם־לְבָבִֽי (ʿim-levavi) – Root: לב (lev); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “with my heart”; Notes: Expresses sincerity.
Syntax Analysis
- Temporal Clause: בִּשְׁלֹחַ signals the timing of the action.
- Direct Object: אֹתִי is placed early for emphasis.
- Verb Chain: וָאָשֵׁב follows wayyiqtol structure, continuing the narrative.
Grammatical Analysis
- Construct Forms: עֶֽבֶד־יְהוָ֥ה indicates possession.
- Piel Infinitive: לְרַגֵּ֣ל conveys intensive action.
Lexical Semantics
- עֶֽבֶד־יְהוָ֥ה (Servant of YHWH): Used to denote Moshe’s divine appointment.
- לְרַגֵּ֣ל (To spy out): Stronger in Piel than in Qal.
Word Study
- קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ (Qadesh Barnea): A significant location in Yisra’el’s journey.
- לֵבָבִי (My heart): Often conveys moral integrity.