Oct 26 2005

Exodus 1:1-7

Published by Hardy at 9:29 am under Exodus

וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמֹות֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַבָּאִ֖ים מִצְרָ֑יְמָה אֵ֣ת יַעֲקֹ֔ב אִ֥ישׁ וּבֵיתֹ֖ו בָּֽאוּ׃ 2 רְאוּבֵ֣ן שִׁמְעֹ֔ון לֵוִ֖י וִיהוּדָֽה׃ 3 יִשָּׂשכָ֥ר זְבוּלֻ֖ן וּבְנְיָמִֽן׃ 4 דָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִ֖י גָּ֥ד וְאָשֵֽׁר׃ 5 וַֽיְהִ֗י כָּל־נֶ֛פֶשׁ יֹצְאֵ֥י יֶֽרֶךְ־יַעֲקֹ֖ב שִׁבְעִ֣ים נָ֑פֶשׁ וְיֹוסֵ֖ף הָיָ֥ה בְמִצְרָֽיִם׃ 6 וַיָּ֤מָת יֹוסֵף֙ וְכָל־אֶחָ֔יו וְכֹ֖ל הַדֹּ֥ור הַהֽוּא׃ 7 וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּר֧וּ וַֽיִּשְׁרְצ֛וּ וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ וַיַּֽעַצְמ֖וּ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ אֹתָֽם׃ פ

Vocabulary

Verse 1-4

מצרים name: “Egypt”

יעקב  name: “Jacob”

Names (in order): “Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; Issachar, Zebulon and Benjamin; Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

  • The order of a noun-demonstrative combination differentiates between a verbless class and a noun phrase.  If a noun is preceded by a demonstrative as in verse 1, then it is rendered as a verbless clause: “This is the man.”  If a noun is followed by a demonstrative that agrees in person, number, and defines, then it is rendered as a noun phrase: “this man.” 
  • The particle, את, serves as both a preposition (7.5% of the time [890x] in MT) the direct object marker (10,978x).  The prepositional use is normally translated “with, beside.”
  • Notice the usage of waw in verses 2 & 3.  In a three (or more) component series, the conjunction frequently is included with the last nominal and not with the middle nominals.  This construction is similar to the English: “lock, stock, and barrel” or “Tom, Dick and Harry.”

Verse 5

ירך noun: “loins” (BDB, 437)

שׁבעים numeral: “seventy”

דור noun: “generation”

Verse 7

פרה verb: “be fruitful” (BDB, 826)

שׁרץ verb: “swarm” (BDB, 1056)

רבה verb: “multiply, become numerous”

עצם verb: “be numerous” (BDB, 782)

מאד “very much, exceedingly”

מלא verb (Niphal impf 3fs): “be filled”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 5

  • The participle (mpl construct) יֹצְאֵי is a substantival participle.
  • The plural form of the number seven,שׁבע , is seventy, שׁבעים .
  • The word is commonly understood as “soul” but has a broader range of meanings, such as “person” in this context.  See the article in BDB or HALOT for further description.

Verse 6

  • הוא is functioning as a demonstrative.

Verse 7

  • Notice the continuous verbal sequence Qal perfect + waw-consecutive imperfect (3x).

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