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וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָהַ֤ב אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִכָּל־בָּנָ֔יו כִּֽי־בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים ה֖וּא לוֹ֑ וְעָ֥שָׂה לוֹ֖ כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים׃ 4 וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶחָ֗יו כִּֽי־אֹתוֹ֞ אָהַ֤ב אֲבִיהֶם֙ מִכָּל־אֶחָ֔יו וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּ אֹתוֹ֑ וְלֹ֥א יָכְל֖וּ דַּבְּרֹ֥ו לְשָׁלֹֽם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 3

            זקנים noun: “old age” (BDB, 279)

            כתנת noun: “tunic” (BDB, 509)

            פס noun: “palm, sole” (BDB, 821)

Verse 4

            שׂנא verb: “hate”

            יכל verb: “be able”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 3

• Clause Structure 1 (וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָהַ֤ב אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִכָּל־בָּנָ֔יו): S-V-O-M
• The initial waw is disjunctive, usually translated as a circumstantial clause ‘now’ (J-M 155nc).
• The preposition מן is used here as a comparative, מכל בניו ‘more than all his brothers’ (GKC 133b; W-O 14.4d).
• Clause Structure 2 (כִּֽי־בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים ה֖וּא לוֹ֑): P-S
• Clause Structure 3 (וְעָ֥שָׂה לוֹ֖ כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים): V-M-O
• Various meanings have been proposed for the construct phrase, כתנת פסים, from ‘multicolored robe’ to ‘full-length tunic’ (i.e. reaching to one’s feet).

Verse 4

• Clause Structure 1 (וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶחָ֗יו): V-S
• Clause Structure 2 (כִּֽי־אֹתוֹ֞ אָהַ֤ב אֲבִיהֶם֙ מִכָּל־אֶחָ֔יו): O-V-S-M
• Clause Structure 3 (וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּ אֹתוֹ֑): V-O
• Clause Structure 4 (וְלֹ֥א יָכְל֖וּ דַּבְּרֹ֥ו לְשָׁלֹֽם): V- M
• The infinitive construct, דבר, is used in this clause without an accompanying prefixed lamed (GKC 114m).  The suffix with the infinitive functions as an indirect object, ‘speak to him’ (GKC 115c).