וְאִם־כָּ֣כָה אַתְּ־עֹ֣שֶׂה לִּ֗י הָרְגֵ֤נִי נָא֙ הָרֹ֔ג אִם־מָצָ֥אתִי חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ וְאַל־אֶרְאֶ֖ה בְּרָעָתִֽי׃ פ
And if You deal thus with me, kill me now, I pray, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my misery.”
Morphology
- וְאִם־כָּ֣כָה (ve-im-kakhah) – Root: כה (k-h); Form: Conjunction + demonstrative adverb; Translation: “And if thus”; Notes: Introduces a conditional statement emphasizing the severity of the situation.
- אַתְּ־עֹ֣שֶׂה (at-oseh) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “You do”; Notes: Refers to divine action.
- לִּ֗י (li) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “To me”; Notes: Indicates Moshe’s personal appeal.
- הָרְגֵ֤נִי (horgeini) – Root: הרג (h-r-g); Form: Hiphil imperative 2nd person masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “Kill me”; Notes: Expresses Moshe’s desperate plea.
- נָא֙ (na) – Root: Particle of entreaty; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Now, please”; Notes: Adds urgency and earnestness to the request.
- הָרֹ֔ג (harog) – Root: הרג (h-r-g); Form: Qal infinitive absolute; Translation: “Kill”; Notes: Enhances the intensity of the verb.
- אִם־מָצָ֥אתִי (im-matsati) – Root: מצא (m-ts-ʾ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “If I have found”; Notes: Conditional phrase indicating Moshe’s hope for favor.
- חֵ֖ן (ḥen) – Root: חן (ḥ-n); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Favor”; Notes: Refers to divine approval or grace.
- בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ (be-einekha) – Root: עין (ʿ-y-n); Form: Preposition with dual noun + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “In Your sight”; Notes: Denotes divine perspective.
- וְאַל־אֶרְאֶ֖ה (ve-al-erʾeh) – Root: ראה (r-ʾ-h); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular with negative particle; Translation: “And do not let me see”; Notes: Expresses Moshe’s desire to avoid witnessing his suffering.
- בְּרָעָתִֽי (be-raʿati) – Root: רעע (r-ʿ-ʿ); Form: Preposition + noun with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My misery”; Notes: Indicates personal distress or hardship.
This verse captures Moshe’s deep despair and feeling of being overwhelmed by the responsibility of leading the people. It emphasizes his vulnerability and appeal to divine mercy to alleviate his suffering.