וַיְגַ֣ל יְהוָה֮ אֶת־עֵינֵ֣י בִלְעָם֒ וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ נִצָּ֣ב בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְחַרְבֹּ֥ו שְׁלֻפָ֖ה בְּיָדֹ֑ו וַיִּקֹּ֥ד וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לְאַפָּֽיו׃
And YHWH opened the eyes of Bilʿam, and he saw the angel of YHWH standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
Morphology
- וַיְגַ֣ל (vayegal) – Root: גלל (galal); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And he opened”; Notes: Refers to YHWH revealing Bilʿam’s vision.
- יְהוָה֮ (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The subject performing the action.
- אֶת־עֵינֵ֣י (et-ʿeiney) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Noun, dual construct with object marker; Translation: “the eyes of”; Notes: Refers to Bilʿam’s physical sight.
- בִלְעָם֒ (Bilʿam) – Root: בלע (balaʿ); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Bilʿam”; Notes: The recipient of the vision.
- וַיַּ֞רְא (vayyar) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he saw”; Notes: Refers to Bilʿam perceiving the angel.
- אֶת־מַלְאַ֤ךְ (et-malʾakh) – Root: מלאך (malʾakh); Form: Noun, masculine singular with object marker; Translation: “the angel of”; Notes: The object of Bilʿam’s vision.
- יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the divine messenger.
- נִצָּ֣ב (nitsav) – Root: נצב (natsav); Form: Nifal participle masculine singular; Translation: “standing”; Notes: Describes the angel’s posture.
- בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (baderekh) – Root: דרך (derekh); Form: Noun, masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “in the way”; Notes: Indicates location.
- וְחַרְבֹּ֥ו (veḥarbbo) – Root: חרב (cherev); Form: Noun, feminine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and his sword”; Notes: Refers to the angel’s weapon.
- שְׁלֻפָ֖ה (shelufah) – Root: שלף (shalaf); Form: Qal passive participle feminine singular; Translation: “drawn”; Notes: Indicates the state of the sword.
- בְּיָדֹ֑ו (beyado) – Root: יד (yad); Form: Noun, feminine singular with preposition and 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “in his hand”; Notes: Indicates the sword’s position.
- וַיִּקֹּ֥ד (vayyiqod) – Root: קדד (qadad); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he bowed down”; Notes: Describes Bilʿam’s reverence.
- וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ (vayishtachu) – Root: שׁחה (shachah); Form: Hishtaphel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he prostrated”; Notes: Indicates further submission.
- לְאַפָּֽיו׃ (le-appav) – Root: אף (af); Form: Noun, dual with preposition; Translation: “to his face”; Notes: Shows the extent of his submission.