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וַיָּ֨רָץ עֵשָׂ֤ו לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַֽיְחַבְּקֵ֔הוּ וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־צַוָּארָ֖ו וַׄיִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄהׄוּׄ וַיִּבְכּֽוּ׃ 5 וַיִּשָּׂ֣א אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּ֤רְא אֶת־הַנָּשִׁים֙ וְאֶת־הַיְלָדִ֔ים וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אֵ֣לֶּה לָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הַיְלָדִ֕ים אֲשֶׁר־חָנַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃6  וַתִּגַּ֧שְׁןָ הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת הֵ֥נָּה וְיַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽיןָ׃7  וַתִּגַּ֧שׁ גַּם־לֵאָ֛ה וִילָדֶ֖יהָ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֑וּ וְאַחַ֗ר נִגַּ֥שׁ יוֹסֵ֛ף וְרָחֵ֖ל וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 4

            רוץ verb: "run"

            עשֹו name: "Esau"

חבק verb (Piel waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms with 3ms suffix): "embrace" (BDB, 287)

צואר noun: "neck" (BDB, 848)

נשׁק verb: "kiss" (BDB, 676)

בכה verb: "weep"

Verse 5

            חנן verb: "show favor" (BDB, 335)

Verse 6

            נגשׁ "approach; come near"

            שׁפחה "maid-servant" (BDB, 1046)

            חוה verb (Št waw-consecutive imperfect 3fpl): "bow down (in reverence)"

Verse 7

            נגשׁ "approach; come near"

            לאה name: "Leah"

            חוה verb: "bow down (in reverence)"

            רחל name: "Rachel"

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 4

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיָּ֨רָץ עֵשָׂ֤ו לִקְרָאתוֹ֙): V-S-M
• Clause Structure 2 (וַֽיְחַבְּקֵ֔הוּ): V-O
• Clause Structure 3 (וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־צַוָּארָ֖ו): V-M
• Clause Structure 4 (וַׄיִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄהׄוּׄ): V-O
• The marks above this word represent a tradition predating the MT; the meaning of the markings is uncertain (GKC 5n; J-M 16h).
• The verb נשׁק may take a pronominal complement, but generally the recipient of the verbal action is marked by lamed (J-M 125b).
• Clause Structure 5 (וַיִּבְכּֽוּ): V

Verse 5

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיִּשָּׂ֣א אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו): V-O
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיַּ֤רְא אֶת־הַנָּשִׁים֙ וְאֶת־הַיְלָדִ֔ים): V-O
• Clause Structure 3 (וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אֵ֣לֶּה לָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הַיְלָדִ֕ים אֲשֶׁר־חָנַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ): V-O

• Embedded Structure A (מִי־אֵ֣לֶּה לָּ֑ךְ): S-P
• The interrogative, מי, is not declined for number (GKC 37a) or person (GKC 137a).
• Clause Structure 4 (וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הַיְלָדִ֕ים אֲשֶׁר־חָנַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ): V-O
• Embedded Structure A (הַיְלָדִ֕ים אֲשֶׁר־חָנַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ): P
• In a response to the question, Who?, the subject may be elided.
• Embedded Structure i (חָנַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ): V-S-O

Verse 6

• Clause Structure 1 (וַתִּגַּ֧שְׁןָ הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת הֵ֥נָּה וְיַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן): V-S
• The feminine plural independent personal pronoun הנה, referring to the שׁפחות, forms a phrase with the following constituent, ילדיהן, which expands the subject of the clause—"The maid-servants, (namely) they and their children, approached."
• Clause Structure 2 (וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽיןָ): V

Verse 7

• Clause Structure 1 (וַתִּגַּ֧שׁ גַּם־לֵאָ֛ה וִילָדֶ֖יהָ): V-S
• With compound subjects the verb may only agree grammatically with the first element (GKC 146f).
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֑וּ): V
• The mixed gendered group, however, is referred to as a masculine plurality in this clause (J-M 150q).
• Clause Structure 3 (וְאַחַ֗ר נִגַּ֥שׁ יוֹסֵ֛ף וְרָחֵ֖ל): V-S
• The prominence of Joseph amongst his siblings is highlighted here and in verse 2, wherein he is the only of Jacob's children who is explicitly named.
• Clause Structure 4 (וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ): V

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א יַעֲקֹ֜ב עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה עֵשָׂ֣ו בָּ֔א וְעִמּ֕וֹ אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּ֣חַץ אֶת־הַיְלָדִ֗ים עַל־לֵאָה֙ וְעַל־רָחֵ֔ל וְעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֥י הַשְּׁפָחֽוֹת׃ 2 וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת וְאֶת־יַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן רִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וְאֶת־לֵאָ֤ה וִֽילָדֶ֙יהָ֙ אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים וְאֶת־רָחֵ֥ל וְאֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף אַחֲרֹנִֽים׃ 3 וְה֖וּא עָבַ֣ר לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֤חוּ אַ֙רְצָה֙ שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֔ים עַד־גִּשְׁתּ֖וֹ עַד־אָחִֽיו׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1

            עשֹו name: "Esau" (BDB, 796)

            חצה verb: "divide" (BDB, 345)

            לאה name: "Leah" (BDB, 521)

            רחל name: "Rachel" (BDB, 932)

            שׁפחה "maid-servant" (BDB, 1046)

Verse 2

            שׁפחה "maid-servant" (BDB, 1046)

            ראשׁון adj. "first" (BDB, 911)

            אחרון adj. "coming after" (BDB, 30)

Verse 3

חוה verb (Št waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): "bow down (in reverence)" (HALOT 295 [BDB erroneously posits a root שׁחה on p. 1005])

פעם noun: "times"

נגשׁ verb: "approach, come near"

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 1

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיִּשָּׂ֨א יַעֲקֹ֜ב עֵינָ֗יו): V-S-O
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיַּרְא֙): V
• Clause Structure 3 (וְהִנֵּ֣ה עֵשָׂ֣ו בָּ֔א): S-V
• The use of the particle הנה is common with a verb of seeing as here with ראה in the previous clause (J-M 126b).
• Clause Structure 4 (וְעִמּ֕וֹ אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ): P-S
• Some denote this clause type as a classifying non-verbal clause (W-O 8.4.2e).
• Clause Structure 5 (וַיַּ֣חַץ אֶת־הַיְלָדִ֗ים עַל־לֵאָה֙ וְעַל־רָחֵ֔ל וְעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֥י הַשְּׁפָחֽוֹת): V-O-M
• The preposition here may be best understood as "among."

Verse 2

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת וְאֶת־יַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן רִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וְאֶת־לֵאָ֤ה וִֽילָדֶ֙יהָ֙ אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים וְאֶת־רָחֵ֥ל וְאֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף אַחֲרֹנִֽים): V-O-M

o       There are three compound object phrases each marked by the object marker, את, and accompanied by a following modifier.

Verse 3

• Clause Structure 1 (וְה֖וּא עָבַ֣ר לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם): S-V-O
• The periphrastic pronoun is used to form a disjunctive clause: Jacob arrayed his family, but he crossed over before them.
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיִּשְׁתַּ֤חוּ אַ֙רְצָה֙ שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֔ים עַד־גִּשְׁתּ֖וֹ עַד־אָחִֽיו): V-O-M
• First-nun infinitives construct pattern after first-weak verbs as a biradical form with segholate type vowels (GKC 66b).
• In a common Ugaritic epistolary formula, one finds a similar practice of the progressive genuflection in multiples of seven, demonstrating subservience from an inferior to a superior between non-royal, servant to master relations (see RS 29.093:8-10, l . pʿn . bʿlny’ ṯnỉd . šbʿd mrḥqtm . qlny "At the feet of our lord, we fall fourteen times at a distance"; also RS 19.102 and RS 92.2010), non-royal to royal personages (RS 9.479A:6-11, l . pʿn ʾadty  šbʿd w . šbʿʾid mrḥqtm qlt "At the feet of my lady, I fall at a distance seven times and seven times"), and between royal personages (an abbreviated formula is found in RS 11.872:5-6, l . pʿn . ủmy qlt "Before the feet of my mother, I fall"; also RS 16.379 et passim).

וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א שְׁמֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֹתוֹ֖ שָֽׁם׃ 31 וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּק֖וֹם פְּנִיאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי׃ 32 וַיִּֽזְרַֽח־לוֹ֣ הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבַ֖ר אֶת־פְּנוּאֵ֑ל וְה֥וּא צֹלֵ֖עַ עַל־יְרֵכֹֽו׃ 33 עַל־כֵּ֡ן לֹֽא־יֹאכְל֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־גִּ֣יד הַנָּשֶׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־כַּ֣ף הַיָּרֵ֔ךְ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֤י נָגַע֙ בְּכַף־יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּגִ֖יד הַנָּשֶֽׁה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 30

            שׁאל verb: "ask"

Verse 31

            פניאל name: "Penuel" (BDB, 819)

Verse 32

            זרח verb: "rise" (BDD, 280)

            שׁמשׁ "sun"

            פנואל name: "Penuel" (BDB, 819)

            צלע verb (Qal act ptc msa): "limp" (BDB, 854)

            ירך noun: "thigh; loin; side" (BDB, 437)

Verse 33

            גיד noun: "sinew" (BDB, 161)

            נשׁה noun: "vein" (BDB, 674)

            כף "hand"

            ירך noun: "thigh; loin; side" (BDB, 437)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 30

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל יַעֲקֹ֗ב): V-S
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א שְׁמֶ֔ךָ): V-O
• Embedded Structure A (הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א שְׁמֶ֔ךָ): V-O
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י): V-O
• Embedded Structure A (לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה): P-S
• As with the interrogative מה, the compound interrogative requires doubling of the following consonant.
• Embedded Structure B (תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י): V-O
• The imperfect is serving as a durative, "why are you asking?" (J-M 113d).
• Clause Structure 3 (וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֹתוֹ֖ שָֽׁם): V-O-M

Verse 31

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיִּקְרָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב שֵׁ֥ם הַמָּק֖וֹם פְּנִיאֵ֑ל): V-S-O-O
• Clause Structure 2 (כִּֽי־רָאִ֤יתִי אֱלֹהִים֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים): V-O-M
• Clause Structure 3 (וַתִּנָּצֵ֖ל נַפְשִֽׁי): V-S
• The waw-consecutive serves to contrast the previous clause, "and yet my life is saved" (W-O 33.2.1c).

Verse 32

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיִּֽזְרַֽח־לוֹ֣ הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבַ֖ר אֶת־פְּנוּאֵ֑ל): V-M-S-M
• Embedded Structure A (עָבַ֖ר אֶת־פְּנוּאֵ֑ל): V-O
• The shift in the name reflects the remnants of the original Semitic case system in which a short final i-vowel marked the genitive singular and u-vowel the nominative, פניאל and פנואל (GKC 90k; J-M 93s; W-O 8.2b).
• Clause Structure 2 (וְה֥וּא צֹלֵ֖עַ עַל־יְרֵכֹֽו): S-V-M

Verse 33

• Clause Structure 1 (עַל־כֵּ֡ן לֹֽא־יֹאכְל֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־גִּ֣יד הַנָּשֶׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־כַּ֣ף הַיָּרֵ֔ךְ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה): V-S-O-M
• The imperfect may connote repetitive, habitual, or customary action (GKC 107g; J-M 113c; W-O 31.3e).
• Clause Structure 2 (כִּ֤י נָגַע֙ בְּכַף־יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּגִ֖יד הַנָּשֶֽׁה): V-M
• The corresponding English verb "to touch" is transitive; whereas the Hebrew verb נגע is not (W-O 10.2.1c).

וַיִּוָּתֵ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְבַדֹּ֑ו וַיֵּאָבֵ֥ק אִישׁ֙ עִמּוֹ֔ עַ֖ד עֲל֥וֹת הַשָּֽׁחַר׃ 26 וַיַּ֗רְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָכֹל֙ לוֹ֔ וַיִּגַּ֖ע בְּכַף־יְרֵכֹ֑ו וַתֵּ֨קַע֙ כַּף־יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּהֵֽאָבְקֹ֖ו עִמּוֹֽ׃ 27 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י עָלָ֖ה הַשָּׁ֑חַר וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֲשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־בֵּרַכְתָּֽנִי׃ 28 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו מַה־שְּׁמֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹֽב׃ 29 וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל׃

Vocabulary

Verse 25

            יתר verb (Niphal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): "be left over, remain"

            אבק verb (Niphal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): "wrestle" (BDB, 7)

            שׁחר noun: "dawn" (BDB, 1007)

Verse 26

            יכל verb: "be able, to prevail"

            כף noun: "hand; hollow, palm; bend"

            ירך "loins, thigh" (BDB, 437)

            יקע verb: "dislocated" (BDB, 429)

            אבק verb (Niphal waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): "wrestle" (BDB, 7)

Verse 27

            שׁחר noun: "dawn" (BDB, 1007)

Verse 29

            שֹרה verb: "persevere, struggle" (BDB, 975)

            יכל verb: "be able, to prevail"

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 25

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיִּוָּתֵ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְבַדֹּ֑ו): V-S-M
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיֵּאָבֵ֥ק אִישׁ֙ עִמּוֹ֔ עַ֖ד עֲל֥וֹת הַשָּֽׁחַר):  V-S-M
• See W-O 23.5 for a description of the semantics of the Niphal verb used in this clause.

Verse 26

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיַּ֗רְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָכֹל֙ לוֹ֔):  V-O
• Embedded Structure A (לֹ֤א יָכֹל֙ לוֹ֔): V-M
• The prepositional phrase, לו, is used to connote "against him" (W-O 10.2.1e).
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיִּגַּ֖ע בְּכַף־יְרֵכֹ֑ו): V-M
• Clause Structure 3 (וַתֵּ֨קַע֙ כַּף־יֶ֣רֶךְ יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּהֵֽאָבְקֹ֖ו עִמּוֹֽ): V-S-M
• The infinitive clause, האבקו עמו (V-S-M), begins with a temporal ב "when."

Verse 27

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י עָלָ֖ה הַשָּׁ֑חַר):  V-O
• Embedded Structure A (שַׁלְּחֵ֔נִי): V-O
• The verbal form is an imperative, "let me go" (lit. "send me away").
• Embedded Structure B (כִּ֥י עָלָ֖ה הַשָּׁ֑חַר): V-S
• Dawn marks the departing, עלה, of the sun (from the nether world), while dusk is the going in, מבוא.
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙): V-O
• Embedded Structure A (לֹ֣א אֲשַֽׁלֵּחֲךָ֔):  V-O
• The final guttural before the suffix receives a hateph vowel (GKC 60f).
• Embedded Structure B (כִּ֖י אִם־בֵּרַכְתָּֽנִי): V-O
• The particles, כי אם, signal an exceptive clause, "unless" (GKC 163c; W-O 38.6b; J-M 173b).

Verse 28

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו מַה־שְּׁמֶ֑ךָ): V-M-O
• Embedded Structure A (מַה־שְּׁמֶ֑ךָ): S-P
• The proclitic interrogative מה requires doubling of the following consonant.  Elsewhere a similar expression inquires with מי (Judges 13:17).
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹֽב): V-O
• Embedded Structure A (יַעֲקֹֽב): P

Verse 29

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל):
• Embedded Structure A (לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל): O-V-M-S-M
• The particle כי is used with the force of "but (rather)" (J-M 172c).
• Embedded Structure B (כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים): V-M
• Embedded Structure C (וַתּוּכָֽל): V

וַיָּ֣קָם׀ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה ה֗וּא וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֤י נָשָׁיו֙ וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י שִׁפְחֹתָ֔יו וְאֶת־אַחַ֥ד עָשָׂ֖ר יְלָדָ֑יו וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֔ר אֵ֖ת מַעֲבַ֥ר יַבֹּֽק׃ 24 וַיִּקָּחֵ֔ם וַיַּֽעֲבִרֵ֖ם אֶת־הַנָּ֑חַל וַֽיַּעֲבֵ֖ר אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 23

            נשׁים noun (plur of אשׁה): "women"

            שׁפחה "maid-servant" (BDB, 1046)

            מעבר noun: "ford, pass" (BDB, 721)

            יבק name: "Jabbok" (BDB, 132)

Verse 24

            נחל "river, valley" (BDB, 636)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 23

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיָּ֣קָם׀ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה ה֗וּא): V-M
• The demonstrative is lacking the expected article in such an adnominal construction (GKC 126y; J-M 138g).
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֤י נָשָׁיו֙ וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י שִׁפְחֹתָ֔יו וְאֶת־אַחַ֥ד עָשָׂ֖ר יְלָדָ֑יו): V-O
• See W-O 15.2.3b for more on the numerical construction with the teens .
• Clause Structure 3 (וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֔ר אֵ֖ת מַעֲבַ֥ר יַבֹּֽק):  V-O

Verse 24

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיִּקָּחֵ֔ם): V-O
• Clause Structure 2 (וַיַּֽעֲבִרֵ֖ם אֶת־הַנָּ֑חַל): V-O-O
• The Hiphil of the verb is doubly transitive, that is, it takes two objects: "He caused X to cross over Y" (J-M 125u).

Clause Structure 3 (וַֽיַּעֲבֵ֖ר אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ): V-O