וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לָקֹ֤ב אֹיְבַי֙ לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּ֖ה בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ׃
Then Balaq said to Bilʿam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether!”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “Then he said”; Notes: Refers to Balak speaking to Balaam.
- בָּלָק֙ (Balak) – Root: בלק (Balak); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Balak”; Notes: The king of Moab.
- אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם (el-Bilʿam) – Root: בלעם (Bilʿam); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “to Balaam”; Notes: Addressed to the prophet Balaam.
- מֶ֥ה (meh) – Root: מה (mah); Form: Interrogative pronoun; Translation: “What”; Notes: Introduces a question.
- עָשִׂ֖יתָ (ʿasita) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “have you done”; Notes: Indicates a completed action.
- לִ֑י (li) – Root: לי (li); Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Refers to Balak’s grievance.
- לָקֹ֤ב (lakov) – Root: קבב (qavav); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to curse”; Notes: Indicates the intended action.
- אֹיְבַי֙ (ʾoyvai) – Root: אויב (ʾoyev); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “my enemies”; Notes: Refers to Balak’s foes.
- לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ (leqachtikha) – Root: לקח (laqach); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “I took you”; Notes: Describes Balak’s action in summoning Balaam.
- וְהִנֵּ֖ה (ve-hinne) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Interjection; Translation: “and behold”; Notes: Emphasizes the unexpected result.
- בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ (berakhta) – Root: ברך (barakh); Form: Piel perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you have blessed”; Notes: Contrasts with the intended curse.
- בָרֵֽךְ׃ (barekh) – Root: ברך (barakh); Form: Infinitive absolute; Translation: “altogether”; Notes: Intensifies the action of blessing.