Sep 24 2008

Genesis 31:19-21

Published by Hardy at 9:33 am under Genesis

וְלָבָ֣ן הָלַ֔ךְ לִגְזֹ֖ז אֶת־צֹאנֹ֑ו וַתִּגְנֹ֣ב רָחֵ֔ל אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָבִֽיהָ׃ 20 וַיִּגְנֹ֣ב יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֶת־לֵ֥ב לָבָ֖ן הָאֲרַמִּ֑י עַל־בְּלִי֙ הִגִּ֣יד לוֹ֔ כִּ֥י בֹרֵ֖חַ הֽוּא׃ 21 וַיִּבְרַ֥ח הוּא֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֔ וַיָּ֖קָם וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר אֶת־הַנָּהָ֑ר וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו הַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד׃

Vocabulary

Verse 19

            לבן name: “Laban”

            גזז verb: “shear” (BDB, 159)

            גנב verb: “steal” (BDB, 170)

            רחל name: “Rachel”

            תרפים “idol” (BDB, 1076)

Verse 20

            גנב verb: “steal” (BDB, 170)

            ארמי “Aramean” (BDB, 74)

            בלי adverb: “no” (BDB, 115)

            ברח verb: “flee” (BDB, 137)

Verse 21

            ברח verb: “flee” (BDB, 137)

            נהר “river” (BDB, 625)

            גלעד name: “Gilead”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 19

  • Clause Typology 1 (וְלָבָ֣ן הָלַ֔ךְ לִגְזֹ֖ז אֶת־צֹאנֹ֑ו): S-V-M
    • The infinitive, גזז, is transitive and requires an object (צאנו).
    • One also finds the biradical infinitive form לָגֹז in Gn 38:13 (cf. GKC 67cc; J-M 82k).
  • Clause Typology 2 (וַתִּגְנֹ֣ב רָחֵ֔ל אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְאָבִֽיהָ): V-S-O
    • The expression אשׁר לאביה may be used to show possession—literally “which was to her father,” thus “which belonged to her father” (for other examples see J-M 130e).

Verse 20

  • Clause Typology 1 (וַיִּגְנֹ֣ב יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֶת־לֵ֥ב לָבָ֖ן הָאֲרַמִּ֑י עַל־בְּלִי֙ הִגִּ֣יד לוֹ֔ כִּ֥י בֹרֵ֖חַ הֽוּא): V-S-O-M
    • The idiom, יגנב את לב, means “to betray.”
    • The preposition על can function as “because” (cf. GKC 158b).
  • Embedded Typology A (בְּלִי֙ הִגִּ֣יד לוֹ֔ כִּ֥י בֹרֵ֖חַ הֽוּא): V-M-O
    • בלי functions here simply as a negative particle.
    • The particle כי is used as a relative.
  • Embedded Typology i (בֹרֵ֖חַ הֽוּא): V-S

Verse 21

  • Clause Typology 1 (וַיִּבְרַ֥ח הוּא֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֔): V-S
    • The subject is plural, but the verb is singular.
  • Clause Typology 2 (וַיָּ֖קָם): V
  • Clause Typology 3 (וַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר אֶת־הַנָּהָ֑ר): V-O
    • The river referred to is probably the Euphrates.
  • Clause Typology 4 (וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו הַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד): V-O-M
    • The final phrase, הר הגלעד, demonstrates the direction to which Jacob fled.

 

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