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וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה עַתָּ֣ה תִרְאֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה לְפַרְעֹ֑ה כִּ֣י בְיָ֤ד חֲזָקָה֙ יְשַׁלְּחֵ֔ם וּבְיָ֣ד חֲזָקָ֔ה יְגָרְשֵׁ֖ם מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃ ס      2 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ 3 וָאֵרָ֗א אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּאֵ֣ל שַׁדָּ֑י וּשְׁמִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי לָהֶֽם׃ 4 וְגַ֨ם הֲקִמֹ֤תִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙ אִתָּ֔ם לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֖ם אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֵ֛ת אֶ֥רֶץ מְגֻרֵיהֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־גָּ֥רוּ בָֽהּ׃ 5 וְגַ֣ם ׀ אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶֽת־נַאֲקַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם מַעֲבִדִ֣ים אֹתָ֑ם וָאֶזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־בְּרִיתִֽי׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1

            פרעה  name: “Pharaoh”

            גרשׁ  verb: “drive out” (BDB, 176)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The feminine adjective, חֲזָקָה “strong,” is in attributive position (after noun) and agrees in number, gender and definiteness.
• The adverbial phrase, בְיָ֤ד חֲזָקָה֙, is fronted (i.e. highlighted) in the last two clauses.

Vocabulary

Verse 3

            ראה  verb (Niphal waw-consecutive imperfect 1cs): “appear”

            אל שׁדי  name: “El Shaddai”

Verse 4

            ברית  “covenant”

            כנען  name: “Canaan”

            מגור  noun: “sojourning” (BDB, 158)

            גור  verb: “sojourn”

Verse 5

            נאקה  noun: “groaning” (BDB, 611)

            משרים  “Egypt”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 2

• Such a “double” introduction of direct speech,וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו, is common in Hebrew.
• An exhaustive study of this phrase, אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה, would reveal its use in the context of God authenticating his deliverance and power.
• The verbless clause, אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה, has the typology S—P.

Verse 3

• The disjunctive waw (waw + non-verb in narrative) can be translated as “but.”
• The verb, נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי “make known,” is a Niphal perfect 1cs from the root ידע.
• See my overview of the debate concerning the Divine Name.

Verse 4

• The infinitive construct, לָתֵ֥ת, is derived from נתן.
• The noun phrase, אֵ֛ת אֶ֥רֶץ מְגֻרֵיהֶ֖ם, is in apposition to the previous object of the infinitive, אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן.

Verse 5

• The particle, אֲשֶׁ֥ר, can signal a causal clause, “because.”

In response to Tim’s comment on Exodus 5:20-23, I decided to post my thoughts on the issue here instead of in the comments so that others may add to the discussion.

Tim’s original question:

Why is the accent on the second syllable of this word ?????? in verse 22a, when it is on the first syllable in verse 22b (???????)?

Quotation of Exodus 5:22:

???????? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????????????

Tim,

 Thanks for the keen question and excellent observation!  The accent system is at times difficult to navigate and not always consistent, but let me explain the situation in a general way first and if you like we can discuss instances where this solution may falter.

 Most grammarians note that Hebrew words prefer end stress (i.e. stress on the ultima, or last syllable), however some words have penultimate (i.e. stress on the second to last syllable) emphasis (GKC 15c).  The term, ??? “why,” is of the later type (BDB 552).

 Emphasis, however, is not an absolute quality of any word.  The accent may shift from one syllable to another for several reasons, including:

1. The addition of affixes (think “sacrament” and “sacramental”).
2. Position in a clause (e.g. pausal forms).
3. Close relationship with previous or following words.

Let us consider the last qualification in more depth. 

 Words may lose their accent completely if bound to another word by a maqqep as in ???????????? (1 Samuel 17:28).  Conversely, the emphasis may be shifted to the ultima as a result of a strong connection to a previous word, ???????????? (Ezra 7:23). 

 Emphasis may vary also to distinguish a syllable from one that follows.  This appears to be at work in Exodus 5:22.  If one is not careful in reading the passage, the ending vowel of ??? may be slurred into the first syllable of the following word ?????.  Without stressing the final syllable, ambiguity would make the meaning of the clause unclear.  In this case, one may think of the accent shift as marking a “glottal stop,” or slight pause, between the final syllable of ??? and the first of the following word.  In English, one may slur together the words “his sin” so that one might hear the word hissin’, slag for “hissing.”

Other Notes:

 Gesenius comments on this situation as follows (120L):

Before the gutturals ?????? ,? ,? ,? is used for euphonic reasons (exceptions 1 Samuel 28:15, 2 Samuel 14:31, Jeremiah 15:18, before ?; 2 Samuel 2:22, Psalm 49:6, before ?); ???????, however, remains before ?. Before letters which are not gutturals, ?????? is found in Psalm 42:10, 43:2 (immediately after a tone-syllable).

Additionally, the accent shifts if followed by ???? or another word beginning with ? (Exodus 32:11, 12; Judges 21:3; Ezra 4:22; Daniel 1:10), however the shift does not occur with all ? words (see Genesis 44:7; Numbers 27:4; Judges 5:17; 2 Samuel 13:26, 16:9; 1 Chronicles 21:3; 2 Chronicles 25:16; Jeremiah 40:15; Joel 2:17).  In Joshua 9:22, the “guttural” ? causes the accent to shift forward as well.

Also notice that the dagesh forte is lost as the emphasis moves forward in the word (GKC 20L).

 וַֽיִּפְגְּעוּ֙ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֔ן נִצָּבִ֖ים לִקְרָאתָ֑ם בְּצֵאתָ֖ם מֵאֵ֥ת פַּרְעֹֽה׃ 21 וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם יֵ֧רֶא יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם וְיִשְׁפֹּ֑ט אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִבְאַשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־רֵיחֵ֗נוּ בְּעֵינֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ וּבְעֵינֵ֣י עֲבָדָ֔יו לָֽתֶת־חֶ֥רֶב בְּיָדָ֖ם לְהָרְגֵֽנוּ׃ 22 וַיָּ֧שָׁב מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנָ֗י לָמָ֤ה הֲרֵעֹ֙תָה֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה שְׁלַחְתָּֽנִי׃ 23 וּמֵאָ֞ז בָּ֤אתִי אֶל־פַּרְעֹה֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר בִּשְׁמֶ֔ךָ הֵרַ֖ע לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה וְהַצֵּ֥ל לֹא־הִצַּ֖לְתָּ אֶת־עַמֶּֽךָ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 20

            פגע  verb: “meet with” (BDB, 803)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The mpl subject of the initial verb is continued from the previous passage—שֹֽׁטְרֵ֧י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל.
• The beth preposition attached to the infinitive construct (בְּצֵאתָ֖ם) signals a temporal clause “when.”  The 3mp pronominal suffix refers back to the officials and serves as the “subject” of the infinitive.
• The phrase, נִצָּבִ֖ים לִקְרָאתָ֑ם, appears to be idiomatic for “waiting for them.”

Vocabulary

Verse 21

            באשׁ  verb (Hiphil): “cause to stink” (BDB, 92)

            ריח  noun: “smell, stink, odor”

Verse 22

            רעע  verb (Hiphil perfect 2ms): “caused harm, evil”

Verse 23

            מאז  “since” (BDB, 23)

            רעע  verb (Hiphil perfect 3ms): “cause harm, evil”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 21

• The first word of the quotation, יֵרֶא “May he look,” is a jussive by form; it is easily distinguishable from the imperfect, יִרְאֶה (see Genesis 22:8).
• The infinitive construct, לָֽתֶת, is derived from the root נתן.

Verse 22

• The final clause initial particle, זֶּ֖ה, refers to the people and is functioning as the object of the clause.

Verse 23

• The phrase, בִּשְׁמֶ֔ךָ, is the preposition beth plus שֵׁם “name” plus 2ms pronominal suffix.
• The apodosis begins with the verb, הֵרַ֖ע, with Pharaoh as the implied subject.
• The final clause uses the infinitive absolute plus finite verb construction, הַצֵּ֥ל לֹא־הִצַּ֖לְתָּ “surely you have not delivered.”

 וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֧מָּה תַעֲשֶׂ֦ה כֹ֖ה לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃ 16 תֶּ֗בֶן אֵ֤ין נִתָּן֙ לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּלְבֵנִ֛ים אֹמְרִ֥ים לָ֖נוּ עֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ מֻכִּ֖ים וְחָטָ֥את עַמֶּֽךָ׃ 17 וַיֹּ֛אמֶר נִרְפִּ֥ים אַתֶּ֖ם נִרְפִּ֑ים עַל־כֵּן֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹֽמְרִ֔ים נֵלְכָ֖ה נִזְבְּחָ֥ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃ 18 וְעַתָּה֙ לְכ֣וּ עִבְד֔וּ וְתֶ֖בֶן לֹא־יִנָּתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם וְתֹ֥כֶן לְבֵנִ֖ים תִּתֵּֽנּוּ׃ 19 וַיִּרְא֞וּ שֹֽׁטְרֵ֧י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֹתָ֖ם בְּרָ֣ע לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹא־תִגְרְע֥וּ מִלִּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם דְּבַר־י֥וֹם בְּיוֹמֽוֹ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 15

            שׁטר  “officer” (BDB, 1009)

            צעק  verb (Qal waw-consecutive imperfect 3mpl): “cry out”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• The verb, בוא, can refer to movement away (“go”) or movement to (“come”) a locality.
• The adverb, כֹה, functions as a ::glossary(demonstrative):: referring to the previous actions of Pharaoh.

Vocabulary

Verse 16

            תבן  “straw” (BDB, 1061)

            לבנה  “brick” (BDB, 527)

            מכים  verb (Hophal participle mpl from נכה): “be beaten”

Verse 17

            רפה  verb (Niphal participle mpl): “be lazy” (BDB, 951)

            על־כן  “therefore”

Verse 18

            לבנה  “brick” (BDB, 527)

            תכן  “measurement, quota, capacity” (BDB, 1067)

            לבנה  noun: “brick” (BDB, 527)

Verse 19

            שׁטר  “officer” (BDB, 1009)

            גרע  verb: “diminish” (BDB, 175)

לבנה  noun: “brick” (BDB, 527)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 16

• The first clause serves as an explanation of the wrong done to the Hebrews.  ::glossary(asyndeton,Asyndeton)::, the lack of a clause connector, indicates such an explanative clause.
• Notice the highlighting of the first elements of the clauses— תבן“straw” and לבנה “brick.”
• The direct speech marker, אֹמְרִ֥ים לָ֖נוּ, is interjected in the middle of the command: לְבֵנִ֛ים עֲשׂ֑וּ “Make bricks!”

Verse 17

• The final quotation begins with נֵלְכָ֖ה, a cohortative form of הלך.

Verse 18

• The object of the clause, תֶ֖בֶן, is ::glossary(fronting,fronted):: for emphasis (cf. verse 16).

Verse 19

• The phrase, דְּבַר־י֥וֹם בְּיוֹמֽוֹ, serves as an ::glossary(idiom):: meaning “daily amount.”

וַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּ נֹגְשֵׂ֤י הָעָם֙ וְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יו וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֶל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֵינֶ֛נִּי נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם תֶּֽבֶן׃ 11 אַתֶּ֗ם לְכ֨וּ קְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ תֶּ֔בֶן מֵאֲשֶׁ֖ר תִּמְצָ֑אוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין נִגְרָ֛ע מֵעֲבֹדַתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָֽר׃ 12 וַיָּ֥פֶץ הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם לְקֹשֵׁ֥שׁ קַ֖שׁ לַתֶּֽבֶן׃ 13 וְהַנֹּגְשִׂ֖ים אָצִ֣ים לֵאמֹ֑ר כַּלּ֤וּ מַעֲשֵׂיכֶם֙ דְּבַר־י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּהְי֥וֹת הַתֶּֽבֶן׃ 14 וַיֻּכּ֗וּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣מוּ עֲלֵהֶ֔ם נֹגְשֵׂ֥י פַרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֡וּעַ לֹא֩ כִלִּיתֶ֨ם חָקְכֶ֤ם לִלְבֹּן֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם גַּם־תְּמ֖וֹל גַּם־הַיּֽוֹם׃

Vocabulary

Verse 10

            נגשׁ  “taskmaster” (BDB, 620)

שׁטר  “officer” (BDB, 1009)

            תבן  “straw” (BDB, 1061)

Syntax & Miscellaneous

• When the second element of a construct phrase is definite, the entire phrase is definite; hence, הָעָם is translated as “the taskmasters of the people” (GKC 127).
• The negative existence predicator, אֵין, (with a 1cs pronominal suffix functioning as the clause subject; GKC 152m) sequenced with the participle, נֹתֵן, is periphrastic.  There are more than 200 occurrences of this grammatical construction in the MT (33x in the Pentateuch—Genesis 20:7, 30:1, 41:8, 24, 39, 43:5; Exodus 3:2, 5:10-11, 16, 8:17, 12:30, 22:9, 33:15; Lev. 11:4, 26, 14:21, 26:6, 17, 36; Numbers 27:17; Deuteronomy 1:32, 4:12, 22, 8:15, 21:18, 20, 22:27, 28:26, 29, 31, 68, 32:39).
• The sentence typology of the quotation is S-V_phrase-IO-O.

Vocabulary

Verse 11

            תבן  “straw” (BDB, 1061)

            מאשׁר  “from wherever” (BDB, 84; GKC 138e)

            גרע  verb (Niphal participle ms): “be withdrawn” (BDB, 175)

Verse 12

            פוץ  verb (Hiphil waw-consecutive imperfect 3ms): “scatter”

            קשׁשׁ  verb (Po’el infinitive construct): “gather stubble” (BDB, 905)

            קשׁ  “stubble” (BDB, 905)

            תבן  “straw” (BDB, 1061)

Verse 13

            נגשׁ  “taskmaster” (BDB, 620)

            אוץ  verb (Qal participle ms): “press” (BDB, 21)

            תבן  “straw” (BDB, 1061)

Verse 14

שׁטר  “officer” (BDB, 1009)

ויכו  verb (Hophal waw-consecutive imperfect 3mpl from נכה): “be beaten”

נגשׁ  “taskmaster” (BDB, 620)

חק  noun: “amount due, prescribed duty”

            לבן  verb: “make brick” (BDB, 527)

            תמול  “yesterday, formerly” (BDB, 1069)

            שׁלשֹם  “three days ago” (BDB, 1026)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 11

• The common grammatical construction—double imperatives without intervening waw—usually links a verb of motion (e.g. הלך, בוא, קום, ירד) with another command to express durative action.  Also found in Exodus 4:19, 5:18; 6:11, 8:21, 9:19, 10:8, 24, 12:31, 17:9, 19:21, 24, 32:1, 7, 34, 33:1 (more than 250x in MT).
• A negative particle sequenced with דָּבָר means “nothing” (regularly with negative לֹא cf. 1 Kings 5:7, 10:3; Isaiah 39:2; Jeremiah 42:4 or with אֵין cf. Numbers 20:19; 1 Samuel 20:21).

Verse 12

• The Po’el (or Poel) verbal stem occurs as a replacement for the causative Piel with geminate and hollow roots (original ו).  The passive is Po’al and reflexive Hithpo’el.  GKC 55c states: “[Po’el] expresses an aim or endeavour to perform the action.”

Verse 13

• The idiom, דְּבַר־י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ, means “daily work” or possibly “daily amount.”
• The beth preposition, בִּהְי֥וֹת, is temporal “when.”

Verse 14

• The relative clause, אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣מוּ עֲלֵהֶ֔ם נֹגְשֵׂ֥י פַרְעֹ֖ה, modifies the clause subject, שׁטר.
• The idiom, תְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם “three days ago,” refers to the day before yesterday.
• Two phrases sequencing גַם … גַם should be understood as “either … or” (BDB, 168).