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וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כִּרְאֹ֣ת אֶת־הַנֶּ֗זֶם וְֽאֶת־הַצְּמִדִים֮ עַל־יְדֵ֣י אֲחֹתוֹ֒ וּכְשָׁמְע֗וֹ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֞י רִבְקָ֤ה אֲחֹתוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּֽה־דִבֶּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הָאִ֔ישׁ וְהִנֵּ֛ה עֹמֵ֥ד עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים עַל־הָעָֽיִן׃ 31 וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בּ֖וֹא בְּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תַעֲמֹד֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְאָנֹכִי֙ פִּנִּ֣יתִי הַבַּ֔יִת וּמָק֖וֹם לַגְּמַלִּֽים׃ 32 וַיָּבֹ֤א הָאִישׁ֙ הַבַּ֔יְתָה וַיְפַתַּ֖ח הַגְּמַלִּ֑ים וַיִּתֵּ֨ן תֶּ֤בֶן וּמִסְפּוֹא֙ לַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וּמַ֙יִם֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ רַגְלָ֔יו וְרַגְלֵ֥י הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 30

            נזם  noun: “ring” (BDB, 633)

            צמיד  “bracelet” (BDB, 855)

            אחות  “sister”

            רבקה  name: “Rebekah”

            גמל  “camel”

Verse 31

            חוץ  “outside”

            פנה  verb (Piel perfect 1cs): “empty, prepared”

Verse 32

            פתח  verb (Piel waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “loosen”

            תבן  “straw” (BDB, 1061)

            מספוא  “fodder” (BDB, 704)

            רחץ  verb: “wash”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 30

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כִּרְאֹ֣ת אֶת־הַנֶּ֗זֶם וְֽאֶת־הַצְּמִדִים֮ עַל־יְדֵ֣י אֲחֹתוֹ֒): V-O-M
• Continuing from the previous verse, the subject is Laban.
• The infinitive construct, ראת, is sequence with ויהי and the kaf preposition to indicate a temporal clause (GKC 114e).  The verbal forms function together and are diagrammed as such.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וּכְשָׁמְע֗וֹ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֞י רִבְקָ֤ה אֲחֹתוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּֽה־דִבֶּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י הָאִ֑ישׁ): V-O-M
• The ויהי verb from the first clause extends to this verse as well.
• The description, אחתו, is in apposition to the name, רבקה.
• The final clause is adverbial linked by לאמר.
• Embedded Typology A (כֹּֽה־דִבֶּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י הָאִ֑ישׁ): V-IO-S
• The quotation is marked by deixis (cf. first person suffix).
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הָאִ֔ישׁ): V-M
• The subject shifts back to Laban.
• Sentence Typology 4 (וְהִנֵּ֛ה עֹמֵ֥ד עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים עַל־הָעָֽיִן): M-P
• The participle עמד functions as a finite verb with the assumed subject האישׁ (GKC 116s).

Verse 31

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בּ֖וֹא בְּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תַעֲמֹד֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְאָנֹכִי֙ פִּנִּ֣יתִי הַבַּ֔יִת וּמָק֖וֹם לַגְּמַלִּֽים): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (בּ֖וֹא בְּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה): V-S
• The “subject” of the imperative is the substantive participle functioning as a vocative—“O blessed one of YHWH” (GKC 116l).
• Embedded Typology B (לָ֤מָּה תַעֲמֹד֙ בַּח֔וּץ): V-M
• The imperfect, תעמד, indicates imperfective action with the interrogative (GKC 107f).
• Embedded Typology C (וְאָנֹכִי֙ פִּנִּ֣יתִי הַבַּ֔יִת וּמָק֖וֹם לַגְּמַלִּֽים): S-V-O-M
• The waw is used to indicate a result—“since.”

Verse 32

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּבֹ֤א הָאִישׁ֙ הַבַּ֔יְתָה): V-S-M
• The final he of הביתה is a directive he.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיְפַתַּ֖ח הַגְּמַלִּ֑ים): V-O
• The subject shifts in this clause to Laban even though it is not explicitly stated.
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיִּתֵּ֨ן תֶּ֤בֶן וּמִסְפּוֹא֙ לַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וּמַ֙יִם֙): V-O-IO
• The object includes three elements each linked by waw—תבן ומספוא ומים.
• Embedded Typology 4 (וּמַ֙יִם֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ רַגְלָ֔יו וְרַגְלֵ֥י הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ): V-O
• The water only was meant for washing.
• The object is compound רגליו “his feet” and רגלי האנשׁים “the feet of the men with him.”

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּר֤וּךְ יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־עָזַ֥ב חַסְדּ֛וֹ וַאֲמִתּ֖וֹ מֵעִ֣ם אֲדֹנִ֑י אָנֹכִ֗י בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ נָחַ֣נִי יְהוָ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אֲחֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי׃ 28 וַתָּ֙רָץ֙ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ וַתַּגֵּ֖ד לְבֵ֣ית אִמָּ֑הּ כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ 29 וּלְרִבְקָ֥ה אָ֖ח וּשְׁמ֣וֹ לָבָ֑ן וַיָּ֨רָץ לָבָ֧ן אֶל־הָאִ֛ישׁ הַח֖וּצָה אֶל־הָעָֽיִן׃

Vocabulary

Verse 27

            ברך  verb (Qal passive participle ms): “blessed”

            עזב  verb: “forsaken”

            נחה  verb (Qal perfect 3ms with 1cs suffix): “lead” (BDB, 634)

Verse 28

            רוץ  verb: “run”

            נערה  “girl, young woman”

Verse 29

            רבקה  name: “Rebekah”

            אח  “brother”

            לבן  name: “Laban”

            חוץ  “outside”

            עין  “spring”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 27

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּר֤וּךְ יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־עָזַ֥ב חַסְדּ֛וֹ וַאֲמִתּ֖וֹ מֵעִ֣ם אֲדֹנִ֑י אָנֹכִ֗י בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ נָחַ֣נִי יְהוָ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אֲחֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (בָּר֤וּךְ יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־עָזַ֥ב חַסְדּ֛וֹ וַאֲמִתּ֖וֹ מֵעִ֣ם אֲדֹנִ֑י): V-O
• The Qal passive participle, ברוך, functions as the finite verb of the clause.
• The three member construct phrase, אלהי אדני אברהם, is in apposition to the divine name.
• Embedded Typology i (לֹֽא־עָזַ֥ב חַסְדּ֛וֹ וַאֲמִתּ֖וֹ מֵעִ֣ם אֲדֹנִ֑י): V-O
• The compound object is modified by the compound preposition, מעם “toward.”
• Embedded Typology B (אָנֹכִ֗י בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ נָחַ֣נִי יְהוָ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אֲחֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי): O-M-V-S-M
• The asyndetic clause functions as an independent verbal clause, possibly as explanative (cf. GKC 143b).
• The recapitulated object (cf. 1cs verbal suffix) is fronted for emphasis (GKC 135e).
• The final noun clause is subordinated as a adverbial (directive “to,toward”) modifier (cf. 118f).

Verse 28

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַתָּ֙רָץ֙ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔): V-S
• The noun, הנער, is again pointed as a defective feminine form.
• The verb, Qal waw-consecutive imperfect 3fs, necessitates pointing נער as a feminine noun.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַתַּגֵּ֖ד לְבֵ֣ית אִמָּ֑הּ כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה): V-M
• The noun, בית, is used to denote the household.
• The final prepositional phrase is adverbial.
• The demonstrative, אלה, functions as an adjective agreeing in person, number and definiteness.

Verse 29

• Sentence Typology 1 (וּלְרִבְקָ֥ה אָ֖ח): P-S
• The verbless clause construct with lamed preposition designates relationship/ownership—“a brother was to her” or idiomatically “Rebekah had a brother.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וּשְׁמ֣וֹ לָבָ֑ן): S-P
• The waw-disjunctive serves to give further information parenthetically.
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיָּ֨רָץ לָבָ֧ן אֶל־הָאִ֛ישׁ הַח֖וּצָה אֶל־הָעָֽיִן): V-S-M
• The nominal, חוץ, serves to modify the noun, האישׁ.
• The final he of חוצה is a directive he.
• The prepositional clause, אל־העין, is an adverbial modifier.

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה לָ֑הּ מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־לֹֽא׃ 22 וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלּ֤וּ הַגְּמַלִּים֙ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת וַיִּקַּ֤ח הָאִישׁ֙ נֶ֣זֶם זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדֶ֔יהָ עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מִשְׁקָלָֽם׃ 23 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בַּת־מִ֣י אַ֔תְּ הַגִּ֥ידִי נָ֖א לִ֑י הֲיֵ֧שׁ בֵּית־אָבִ֛יךְ מָק֥וֹם לָ֖נוּ לָלִֽין׃ 24 וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו בַּת־בְּתוּאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר׃ 25 וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו גַּם־תֶּ֥בֶן גַּם־מִסְפּ֖וֹא רַ֣ב עִמָּ֑נוּ גַּם־מָק֖וֹם לָלֽוּן׃ 26 וַיִּקֹּ֣ד הָאִ֔ישׁ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַֽיהוָֽה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 21

            השׁתאה  verb (Hithpael participle ms): “gaze” (BDB, 981)

            חרשׁ  verb (Hiphil participle ms): “be silent” (BDB, 361)

            צלח  verb (Hiphil perfect 3ms): “make successful”

Verse 22

            גמל  “camel”

            כלה  verb (Piel perfect 3mpl): “exhaust, become finished”

            שׁתה  verb: “drink”

            נזם  noun: “ring” (BDB, 633)

            בקע  “half shekel” (BDB, 132)

            משׁקל  “weight” (BDB, 1054)

            צמיד  “bracelet” (BDB, 855)

Verse 23

            ישׁ  noun/substantive (existence): “there is”

            לין  verb: “spend the night”

Verse 24

            בתואל  name: “Bethuel”

            מלכה  name: “Milcah”

            נחור  name: “Nahor”

Verse 25

            תבן  “straw” (BDB, 1061)

            מספוא  “fodder” (BDB, 704)

Verse 26

            קדד  verb: “bow down” (BDB, 869)

            שׁחה  verb: “worship”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 21

• Sentence Typology 1 (וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה לָ֑הּ מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־לֹֽא): S-V-M
• The Hithpael participle exhibits metathesis of the first root radical שׁ and the ת of the prefix (מתשׁאה > משׁתאה).
• The participle serves as the predicate.
• The second participle may be understood adverbially (as above) or as a separate predicate.
• Embedded Typology A (לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־לֹֽא): V-O
• The object of the infinitive construct is an embedded clause.
• Embedded Typology i (הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ): V-S-O
• The sequencing of the interrogative he with אם־לא is a common clause duality—“whether…or not” (see also Genesis 27:21, 37:32; Exodus 16:4; GKC 150i).
• This clause may be analyzed as indirect speech.
• Embedded Typology ii (אִם־לֹֽא): M-[P]
• The predicate is gapped from the previous clause.

Verse 22

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלּ֤וּ הַגְּמַלִּים֙ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת): P
• The verbal, ויהי, serves as an introductory frame for a temporal clause, כאשׁר “when.”
• Embedded Typology A (כִּלּ֤וּ הַגְּמַלִּים֙ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת): V-S-M
• Embedded Typology 1 (וַיִּקַּ֤ח הָאִישׁ֙ נֶ֣זֶם זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדֶ֔יהָ עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מִשְׁקָלָֽם): V-S-O
• The phrase, על־ידיה, interrupts the noun phrase to describe the location of where the servant put the צמידים.

Verse 23

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בַּת־מִ֣י אַ֔תְּ הַגִּ֥ידִי נָ֖א לִ֑י הֲיֵ֧שׁ בֵּית־אָבִ֛יךְ מָק֥וֹם לָ֖נוּ לָלִֽין): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (בַּת־מִ֣י אַ֔תְּ): P-S
• The interrogative pronoun acts in conjunction with the noun as in a genitive relationship—בת־מי “whose daughter” (GKC 37a & 137b).
• Embedded Typology B (הַגִּ֥ידִי נָ֖א לִ֑י): V-M-IO
• The asyndetic clause emphasizes the previous clause.
• Embedded Typology C (הֲיֵ֧שׁ בֵּית־אָבִ֛יךְ מָק֥וֹם לָ֖נוּ לָלִֽין): P-M
• The noun clause, בית־אביך, functions as a locative prepositional phrase, “at your father’s house” (cf. GKC 118g).
• See GKC 73b for a discussion of the original second root letter of לין.

Verse 24

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו בַּת־בְּתוּאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר): V-IO-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (בַּת־בְּתוּאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר): P-S
• The genealogical relation, בן־מלכה, modifies the name, בתואל.
• Embedded Typology i (יָלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר): V-M
• Thus, Rebekah is the granddaughter of Nahor and Milcah.

Verse 25

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו גַּם־תֶּ֥בֶן גַּם־מִסְפּ֖וֹא רַ֣ב עִמָּ֑נוּ גַּם־מָק֖וֹם לָלֽוּן): V-IO-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (גַּם־תֶּ֥בֶן גַּם־מִסְפּ֖וֹא רַ֣ב עִמָּ֑נוּ גַּם־מָק֖וֹם לָלֽוּן): S-P
• The particle, גם, is used as a coordinating conjunction like waw.

Verse 26

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּקֹּ֣ד הָאִ֔ישׁ): V-S
• קדד follows the imperfect paradigm of סבב in which the first, not the second, radical takes dagesh forte יִסֹּב (GKC 67g).
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַֽיהוָֽה): V-M
• The final he is apocopated as a waw-consecutive, ישׁתחוה > וישׁתחו.  The masculine plural form would be וישׁתחוו.

…although the analogy of building a house and learning a language is quite true.

וַיָּ֥רָץ הָעֶ֖בֶד לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי נָ֛א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ׃ 18 וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שְׁתֵ֣ה אֲדֹנִ֑י וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתֹּ֧רֶד כַּדָּ֛הּ עַל־יָדָ֖הּ וַתַּשְׁקֵֽהוּ׃ 19 וַתְּכַ֖ל לְהַשְׁקֹת֑וֹ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר גַּ֤ם לִגְמַלֶּ֙יךָ֙ אֶשְׁאָ֔ב עַ֥ד אִם־כִּלּ֖וּ לִשְׁתֹּֽת׃ 20 וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתְּעַ֤ר כַּדָּהּ֙ אֶל־הַשֹּׁ֔קֶת וַתָּ֥רָץ ע֛וֹד אֶֽל־הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִשְׁאֹ֑ב וַתִּשְׁאַ֖ב לְכָל־גְּמַלָּֽיו׃

Vocabulary

Verse 17

            רוץ  verb: “run”

            גמא  verb (Hiphil imperative fs with 1cs suffix): “let drink” (BDB, 167)

            מעט  “little”

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

Verse 18

            שׁתה  verb (Qal imperative ms): “drink”

            מהר  verb: “hurry”

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

שׁקה  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive imperfect 3fs with 3ms suffix): “cause to drink”

Verse 19

כלה  verb: “finish, complete”

שׁקה  verb (Hiphil infinitive construct): “cause to drink”

            שׁאב  verb: “draw” (BDB, 980)

            גמל  “camel”

Verse 20

            ערה  verb: “empty” (BDB, 788)

            כד  “jar” (BDB, 461)

            שׁקת  “watering trough” (BDD, 1052)

            באר  “well” (BDB, 91)

            שׁאב  verb: “draw” (BDB, 167)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 17

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּ֥רָץ הָעֶ֖בֶד לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ): V-S-M
• The infinitive clause modifies the verb.
• Embedded Typology A (לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ): V-O
• The 3fs suffix is the object of the infinitive
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי נָ֛א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי נָ֛א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ): V-O-M
• The object is the 1cs suffix attached to the verb.
• The particle, נָא “please, I pray, softens the command.

Verse 18

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שְׁתֵ֣ה אֲדֹנִ֑י וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתֹּ֧רֶד כַּדָּ֛הּ עַל־יָדָ֖הּ וַתַּשְׁקֵֽהוּ): V-O
• The speaker shifts to Rebekah (ותאמר).
• Embedded Typology A (שְׁתֵ֣ה אֲדֹנִ֑י): V-S
• The appellation, אדני, is vocative.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר): V
• This verb is coordinated with the following verb forming a verbal hendiadys; GKC notes that the second verb carries the principle idea (120d).
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַתֹּ֧רֶד כַּדָּ֛הּ עַל־יָדָ֖הּ): V-O-M
• Sentence Typology 4 (וַתַּשְׁקֵֽהוּ): V-O
• The 3ms attached suffix referring to the servant, נער, is the object.

Verse 19

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַתְּכַ֖ל לְהַשְׁקֹת֑וֹ): V-M
• The waw serves to mark a temporal clause—“when” (GKC 164b).
• Embedded Typology A (לְהַשְׁקֹת֑וֹ): V-O
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַתֹּ֗אמֶר גַּ֤ם לִגְמַלֶּ֙יךָ֙ אֶשְׁאָ֔ב עַ֥ד אִם־כִּלּ֖וּ לִשְׁתֹּֽת): V-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology A (גַּ֤ם לִגְמַלֶּ֙יךָ֙ אֶשְׁאָ֔ב): M-V
• Embedded Typology B (עַ֥ד אִם־כִּלּ֖וּ לִשְׁתֹּֽת): V-M
• The particles, עד אם, are used in conjunction to mean “until when” or “until.”
• This Piel perfect, כִּלּוּ, denotes a future state/factitive (cf. GKC 106o).

Verse 20

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר): V
• See note on the second matrix clause of verse 18.
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַתְּעַ֤ר כַּדָּהּ֙ אֶל־הַשֹּׁ֔קֶת): V-O-M
• The final root he, ערה, is apocopated as a waw-consecutive.
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַתָּ֥רָץ ע֛וֹד אֶֽל־הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִשְׁאֹ֑ב): V-M
• Notice the narrative stress on Rebekah’s intrepid work ethic, מהר & רוץ.
• Sentence Typology 4 (וַתִּשְׁאַ֖ב לְכָל־גְּמַלָּֽיו): V-M
• The lamed preposition shows the aim/goal.