וְאֶל־הָעָ֨ם תֹּאמַ֜ר הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ לְמָחָר֮ וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֣ם בָּשָׂר֒ כִּ֡י בְּכִיתֶם֩ בְּאָזְנֵ֨י יְהוָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֤י יַאֲכִלֵ֨נוּ֙ בָּשָׂ֔ר כִּי־טֹ֥וב לָ֖נוּ בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְנָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם בָּשָׂ֖ר וַאֲכַלְתֶּֽם׃
And to the people you shall say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of YHWH, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Mitsrayim.” Therefore, YHWH will give you meat, and you will eat.’
Morphology
- וְאֶל־הָעָ֨ם (ve-el ha-ʿam) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Conjunction + preposition with definite article + noun masculine singular; Translation: “And to the people”; Notes: Introduces the command to the assembly of Yisra’el.
- תֹּאמַ֜ר (toʾmar) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You shall say”; Notes: A direct address from Moshe.
- הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ (hitqaddeshu) – Root: קדש (q-d-sh); Form: Hitpael imperative masculine plural; Translation: “Sanctify yourselves”; Notes: Refers to ritual preparation.
- לְמָחָ֮ר (le-maḥar) – Root: מחר (m-ḥ-r); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “For tomorrow”; Notes: Indicates the time of fulfillment.
- וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֣ם (vaʾakhaltem) – Root: אכל (ʾ-k-l); Form: Qal consecutive perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “And you will eat”; Notes: A promise of provision.
- בָּשָׂר֒ (basar) – Root: בשר (b-s-r); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Meat”; Notes: The object of their desire.
- כִּ֡י (ki) – Root: Causal particle; Form: Particle; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the statement.
- בְּכִיתֶם֩ (bekhitem) – Root: בכה (b-k-h); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You have wept”; Notes: Refers to their complaints.
- בְּאָזְנֵ֨י (be-oznei) – Root: אוזן (ʾ-z-n); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “In the ears of”; Notes: Indicates that their complaints reached God.
- יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) – Root: Divine Name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “The LORD”; Notes: Refers to God.
- לֵאמֹ֗ר (leʾmor) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Infinitive construct; Translation: “Saying”; Notes: Introduces the people’s words.
- מִ֤י (mi) – Root: Interrogative; Form: Particle; Translation: “Who”; Notes: Expresses their longing.
- יַאֲכִלֵ֨נוּ (yaʾakhilenu) – Root: אכל (ʾ-k-l); Form: Hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “Will give us to eat”; Notes: Their demand for provision.
- כִּי־טֹ֥וב (ki-tov) – Root: טוב (ṭ-w-b); Form: Particle + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “For it was good”; Notes: Refers to their perceived well-being in Mitsrayim.
- לָ֖נוּ (lanu) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “For us”; Notes: Emphasizes their self-centered perspective.
- בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (be-Mitsrayim) – Root: מצרים (m-ts-r-y-m); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “In Mitsrayim”; Notes: Highlights their nostalgic longing.
- וְנָתַ֨ן (ve-natan) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Qal consecutive perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And He will give”; Notes: Refers to God’s response.
- יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) – Root: Divine Name; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “The LORD”; Notes: God’s provision of meat.
- לָכֶ֛ם (lakhem) – Root: ל (l); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “To you”; Notes: Directs the promise to Yisra’el.
- וַאֲכַלְתֶּֽם (vaʾakhaltem) – Root: אכל (ʾ-k-l); Form: Qal consecutive perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “And you will eat”; Notes: Affirms God’s provision.
This verse underscores God’s response to the complaints of Yisra’el, illustrating His provision despite their ingratitude. It reflects the tension between divine patience and justice.