Genesis 27:3

Gen. 27:3 [Samaritan Pentateuch]

ועתה שא נא כליך תליתך וקשתך וצא השדה וצוד לי ציד

And now, take your tools, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and hunt for me game.

Gen. 27:3 [Masoretic Text]

וְעַתָּה֙ שָׂא־נָ֣א כֵלֶ֔יךָ תֶּלְיְךָ֖ וְקַשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ וְצֵא֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְצ֥וּדָה לִּ֖י צָֽיִדה׃

And now, take your tools, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and hunt for me game.

 

Morphology

  1. וְעַתָּה֙ (veʿattah) – Root: עתה (ʿ-t-h); Form: Conjunction + adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Marks a transition or urgency.
  2. שָׂא־נָ֣א (sa-na) – Root: נשא (n-s-ʾ); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperative, 2ms + particle; Translation: “Take now”; Notes: A polite command to carry or lift.
  3. כֵלֶ֔יךָ (kelekha) – Root: כלי (k-l-y); Form: Noun, ms with 2ms suffix; Translation: “your tools”; Notes: Refers to hunting equipment.
  4. תֶּלְיְךָ֖ (telkha) – Root: תלי (t-l-y); Form: Noun, ms with 2ms suffix; Translation: “your quiver”; Notes: A container for arrows.
  5. וְקַשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ (veqashtekha) – Root: קשת (q-sh-t); Form: Noun, fs with 2ms suffix; Translation: “your bow”; Notes: Essential for hunting.
  6. וְצֵא֙ (vetse) – Root: יצא (y-ts-ʾ); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperative, 2ms; Translation: “And go out”; Notes: Instruction to leave or depart.
  7. הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה (hasadeh) – Root: שדה (s-d-h); Form: Noun, ms with definite article; Translation: “to the field”; Notes: Refers to the open countryside.
  8. וְצ֥וּדָה (vetsudah) – Root: צוד (ts-w-d); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperative, 2ms; Translation: “And hunt”; Notes: A command to capture or gather game.
  9. לִּ֖י (li) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition with 1cs suffix; Translation: “for me”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the action.
  10. צָֽיִדה (tsaydah) – Root: ציד (ts-y-d); Form: Noun, fs; Translation: “game”; Notes: Refers to animals captured for food.

 

Textual Commentary on Genesis 27:3

Genesis 27:3 exhibits several minor yet notable differences between the Masoretic Text (MT) and the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP). These variations primarily involve spelling, verbal morphology, and suffix usage, reflecting distinct scribal traditions.

Key Differences

Feature Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) Masoretic Text (MT) Effect on Meaning
Spelling of “And now” ועתה (ve-atah) וְעַתָּה֙ (ve-ʿattah) No major difference. The MT adds an extra dagesh in ע.
Imperative “Take” שא (śāʾ) שָׂא־נָ֣א (śāʾ-nā) SP lacks נָא, making it a more direct command.
Spelling of “your tools” כליך (kelikha) כֵלֶ֔יךָ (kelekha) Slight spelling variation, no change in meaning.
Spelling of “your quiver” תליתך (tallitekha) תֶּלְיְךָ֖ (telyekha) SP uses an alternate spelling.
Imperative “Hunt” וצוד (uṣūd) וְצ֥וּדָה (wə-ṣūdāh) SP uses a shorter form, while MT adds a paragogic .
Spelling of “game” ציד (ṣayid) צָֽיִדה (ṣayidāh) MT uses the -ah suffix, SP does not.

Phonological and Morphological Differences

  • Imperative verbs: The MT uses וְצ֥וּדָה (wə-ṣūdāh) for “hunt,” which includes the ending, a common feature in Biblical Hebrew imperatives. The SP instead has וצוד (uṣūd), a shorter form without the suffix.
  • Spelling differences: The SP form of “your quiver” (תליתך) includes an extra י compared to the MT (תֶּלְיְךָ), reflecting a different scribal tradition. Similarly, “game” appears as ציד in the SP, while the MT adds the ending (צָֽיִדה), possibly as a case marker.

Textual and Linguistic Implications

  • The MT employs expanded verb forms and final ה endings, reflecting a more polished scribal tradition.
  • The SP presents shorter imperative forms and simplified noun endings, suggesting an alternative Hebrew dialect or an effort to preserve a more spoken Hebrew style.
  • Neither variant changes the meaning of the passage, but the differences highlight distinct textual traditions.

Conclusion

The primary differences between the Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch in Genesis 27:3 lie in morphology and scribal tradition rather than in meaning. The Masoretic text follows a more refined and expanded literary style, while the Samaritan text reflects a simpler, possibly older grammatical form. These distinctions provide insight into how biblical texts were transmitted and preserved in different communities.

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