וַיָּ֥רֶב הָעָ֖ם עִם־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר וְל֥וּ גָוַ֛עְנוּ בִּגְוַ֥ע אַחֵ֖ינוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
And the people quarreled with Moshe and said, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before YHWH.
Morphology
- וַיָּ֥רֶב (vayyariv) – Root: ריב (riv); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And quarreled”; Notes: Indicates a dispute or contention.
- הָעָ֖ם (ha’am) – Root: עם (am); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “the people”; Notes: Refers to the Israelites.
- עִם־מֹשֶׁ֑ה (ʿim-Moshe) – Root: עם (im); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “with Moshe”; Notes: Indicates a confrontation with Moshe.
- וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (vayyo’mru) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and they said”; Notes: Introduces their complaint.
- לֵאמֹ֔ר (le’mor) – Root: אמר (amar); Form: Infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “saying”; Notes: Often used to introduce direct speech.
- וְל֥וּ (velu) – Root: לו (lu); Form: Particle; Translation: “If only”; Notes: Expresses a wish or regret.
- גָוַ֛עְנוּ (gavaʿnu) – Root: גוע (gavaʿ); Form: Qal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we had perished”; Notes: Refers to a desire for death.
- בִּגְוַ֥ע (bigvaʿ) – Root: גוע (gavaʿ); Form: Infinitive construct with preposition; Translation: “when perished”; Notes: Refers to the timing of their brothers’ death.
- אַחֵ֖ינוּ (acheinu) – Root: אח (ach); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our brothers”; Notes: Refers to fellow Israelites who had died.
- לִפְנֵ֥י (lifnei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition with noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates standing in the presence of.
- יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of God.