וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם גַּם־קֹ֖ב לֹ֣א תִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ גַּם־בָּרֵ֖ךְ לֹ֥א תְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ׃
And Balaq said to Bilʿam, “Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all!”
Morphology
- וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (vayyoʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces Balaq’s speech.
- בָּלָק֙ (Balaq) – Root: בלק (Balaq); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Balaq”; Notes: King of Mo’av.
- אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם (ʾel-Bilʿam) – Root: בלעם (Bilʿam); Form: Preposition with proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “to Bilʿam”; Notes: Prophet summoned by Balaq.
- גַּם (gam) – Root: גם (gam); Form: Adverb; Translation: “also”; Notes: Used for emphasis.
- קֹ֖ב (qov) – Root: קוב (qov); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “curse”; Notes: Refers to calling down harm or misfortune.
- לֹ֣א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- תִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ (tiqqovennu) – Root: קוב (qov); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “curse him”; Notes: Refers to Yisra’el.
- גַּם (gam) – Root: גם (gam); Form: Adverb; Translation: “also”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis.
- בָּרֵ֖ךְ (barekh) – Root: ברך (barakh); Form: Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “bless”; Notes: Refers to bestowing favor or prosperity.
- לֹ֥א (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- תְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ (tevarakhennu) – Root: ברך (barakh); Form: Piel imperfect 2nd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “bless him”; Notes: Refers to Yisra’el.