וַיִּפְּל֤וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֵ֕ל אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָרוּחֹ֖ת לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר הָאִ֤ישׁ אֶחָד֙ יֶחֱטָ֔א וְעַ֥ל כָּל־הָעֵדָ֖ה תִּקְצֹֽף׃ פ
And they fell upon their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will You be angry with the entire congregation?”
Morphology
- וַיִּפְּל֤וּ (vayyip’lu) – Root: נפל (n-f-l); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And they fell”; Notes: Describes a gesture of humility or intercession.
- עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם֙ (ʿal-penehem) – Root: פנים (p-n-y); Form: Preposition + plural noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Upon their faces”; Notes: Indicates prostration or deep reverence.
- וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (vayyom’ru) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And they said”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
- אֵ֕ל (ʾel) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “O God”; Notes: A direct address to God.
- אֱלֹהֵ֥י (ʾelohei) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “The God of”; Notes: Indicates possession or relationship.
- הָרוּחֹ֖ת (ha-ruḥot) – Root: רוח (r-w-ḥ); Form: Definite plural noun; Translation: “The spirits”; Notes: Refers to the breath or life force of all creatures.
- לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר (le-kol-basar) – Root: בשר (b-s-r); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “Of all flesh”; Notes: Refers to all living beings.
- הָאִ֤ישׁ (ha-ish) – Root: איש (ʾ-y-sh); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “The man”; Notes: Specifies a single individual.
- אֶחָד֙ (eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾ-ḥ-d); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “One”; Notes: Highlights singularity.
- יֶחֱטָ֔א (yeḥeṭa) – Root: חטא (ḥ-ṭ-ʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Shall sin”; Notes: Refers to committing an offense.
- וְעַ֥ל (ve-ʿal) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “And against”; Notes: Introduces the object of anger.
- כָּל־הָעֵדָ֖ה (kol-ha-ʿedah) – Root: עדה (ʿ-d-h); Form: Noun feminine singular in construct with definite article; Translation: “The entire congregation”; Notes: Refers to the collective group.
- תִּקְצֹֽף (tiqtsof) – Root: קצף (q-ṣ-p); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Will You be angry”; Notes: Expresses a plea for justice and mercy.