Jun 19 2007

Genesis 26:12-14

Published by Hardy at 9:29 am under Genesis

וַיִּזְרַ֤ע יִצְחָק֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔וא וַיִּמְצָ֛א בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַהִ֖וא מֵאָ֣ה שְׁעָרִ֑ים וַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֖הוּ יְהוָֽה׃ 13 וַיִּגְדַּ֖ל הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ הָלוֹךְ֙ וְגָדֵ֔ל עַ֥ד כִּֽי־גָדַ֖ל מְאֹֽד׃ 14 וַֽיְהִי־ל֤וֹ מִקְנֵה־צֹאן֙ וּמִקְנֵ֣ה בָקָ֔ר וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה רַבָּ֑ה וַיְקַנְא֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

Vocabulary

Verse 12

            זרע  verb: “to sow”

            שׁער  “measure” (BDB, 1045)

Verse 13

            גדל verb: “to become great”

Verse 14

            מקנה  verb: “cattle, livestock”

            קנא verb: “be jealous, zealous”

            עבדה  “service” (BDB, 850)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 12

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּזְרַ֤ע יִצְחָק֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔וא): V-S-M
    • The verb, זרע, may be used as a transitive verb with one or two complements or intransitively without an object as in this context.
  • Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּמְצָ֛א בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַהִ֖וא מֵאָ֣ה שְׁעָרִ֑ים): V-M-O
    • The lexeme מצא can indicate the finding of a thing or acquisition thereof; the latter meaning is in view here.  One must determine from context whether the result is unexpected or not (cf. BDB 593; meaning 3a).
    • Other examples of plural substantives following the singular absolute form of מאה are 1 S 18:25, 2 S 16:1 and 1 K 18:4 (GKC 134g).
    • BDB suggest that the hapax legomenon, שׁער “measure,” derives from a different root than שׁערה “barley;” however, it may be preferable to propose a bi-form meaning the standard measurement of barley.
  • Sentence Typology 3 (וַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֖הוּ יְהוָֽה): V-O-S
    • The verbal pronominal suffix references יחצק from the first clause.

Verse 13

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּגְדַּ֖ל הָאִ֑ישׁ): V-S
    • In this context, ויגדל, connotes the bringing into existence a state of greatness on account of wealth.
  • Sentence Typology 2 (וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ הָלוֹךְ וְגָדֵ֔ל): V-M
    • The verbal hendiadys with a finite verb complemented by subsequent infinitives absolute is found commonly with verbs of motion, especially הלך and קום.  The construction is used to indicate ongoing contemporaneous action (cf. Lambdin 129.2).
  • Sentence Typology 3 (עַ֥ד כִּֽי־גָדַ֖ל מְאֹֽד): V-M
    • See GKC 164f for the temporal conjunction, עד־כי: “Clauses introduced by עַד, עַד־כִּי or עַד־אֲשֶׁר, sometimes express a limit which is not absolute (terminating the preceding action), but only relative, beyond which the action or state described in the principal clause still continues.”

Verse 14

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וַֽיְהִי־ל֤וֹ מִקְנֵה־צֹאן וּמִקְנֵ֣ה בָקָ֔ר וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה רַבָּ֑ה): V-SC
    • The construction with היה and lamed indicates possession.
  • Sentence Typology 2 (וַיְקַנְא֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים): V-O-S

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