Gen. 27:34 [Samaritan Pentateuch]
ויהי כשמע עשו את דברי אביו ויצעק צעקה גדלה ומרה עד מאד ויאמר לאביו ברכני גם אני אבי
And it happened when ʿEsav heard the words of his father, that he cried out with a great and very bitter cry, exceedingly so, and he said to his father, ‘Bless me, also me, my father!'”
Gen. 27:34 [Masoretic Text]
כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ עֵשָׂו֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו וַיִּצְעַ֣ק צְעָקָ֔ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה עַד־מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֔יו בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִֽי׃
When ʿEsav heard the words of his father, he cried out with a great and very bitter cry, exceedingly so, and he said to his father, “Bless me, also me, my father!”
Morphology
- כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ (ki-shmoaʿ) – Root: שׁמע (sh-m-ʿ); Form: Conjunction + verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct; Translation: “When he heard”; Notes: Introduces a temporal clause.
- עֵשָׂו֙ (ʿEsav) – Root: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʿEsav”; Notes: Refers to the elder son of Yitsḥaq.
- אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י (ʾet-divrei) – Root: דבר (d-v-r); Form: Direct object marker + noun, construct, mp; Translation: “The words of”; Notes: Indicates the subject of hearing.
- אָבִ֔יו (aviv) – Root: אב (ʾ-b); Form: Noun, ms with 3ms suffix; Translation: “His father”; Notes: Refers to Yitsḥaq.
- וַיִּצְעַ֣ק (vayitsʿaq) – Root: צעק (ṣ-ʿ-q); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav consecutive; Translation: “And he cried out”; Notes: Expresses intense emotional distress.
- צְעָקָ֔ה (tseʿaqah) – Root: צעק (ṣ-ʿ-q); Form: Noun, fs; Translation: “A cry”; Notes: Describes the nature of ʿEsav’s response.
- גְּדֹלָ֥ה (gedolah) – Root: גדל (g-d-l); Form: Adjective, fs; Translation: “Great”; Notes: Emphasizes the magnitude of the cry.
- וּמָרָ֖ה (umarah) – Root: מר (m-r); Form: Adjective, fs; Translation: “And bitter”; Notes: Highlights the emotional pain.
- עַד־מְאֹ֑ד (ʿad-meʾod) – Root: עד (ʿ-d) + מאד (m-ʾ-d); Form: Preposition + noun/adverb; Translation: “Exceedingly”; Notes: Intensifies the bitterness of the cry.
- וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms with vav consecutive; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces ʿEsav’s speech.
- לְאָבִ֔יו (le-aviv) – Root: אב (ʾ-b); Form: Preposition + noun, ms with 3ms suffix; Translation: “To his father”; Notes: Marks the recipient of his words.
- בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי (barakheni) – Root: ברך (b-r-k); Form: Verb, Piel, Imperative, 2ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “Bless me”; Notes: Expresses ʿEsav’s plea.
- גַם־אָ֖נִי (gam-ani) – Root: N/A; Form: Adverb + pronoun, 1cs; Translation: “Also me”; Notes: Indicates his desire for inclusion.
- אָבִֽי (avi) – Root: אב (ʾ-b); Form: Noun, ms with 1cs suffix; Translation: “My father”; Notes: Adds emotional weight to his appeal.
Textual Commentary on Genesis 27:34
Genesis 27:34 exhibits minor but significant textual differences between the Masoretic Text (MT) and the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP). These variations primarily affect verb forms, conjunctions, and intensifiers, reflecting different scribal traditions and phonetic developments.
Key Differences
| Feature | Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) | Masoretic Text (MT) | Effect on Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrative introduction | ויהי (wayəhî) | כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ (kišmōaʿ) | SP uses a waw-consecutive verb, emphasizing sequential action, while MT uses “when” for simultaneity. |
| Conjunction before “ʿEsav heard” | (implicit in SP) | כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ עֵשָׂו֙ (kišmōaʿ ʿEsav) | MT explicitly introduces “when” (כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ), marking the action’s condition. SP assumes it. |
| Verb form “heard” | כשמע (kišmōaʿ) | כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ (kišmōaʿ) | Identical. |
| Cry intensity phrase | עד מאד (ʿad məʾōd) | עַד־מְאֹ֑ד (ʿad-məʾōd) | Slight orthographic variation, no change in meaning. |
| Order of speech | ויאמר לאביו (wayyōʾmer ləʾābîw) | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֔יו (wayyōʾmer ləʾābîw) | Identical in function, SP omits the vowel marks of the MT. |
| Phrase “also me” | גם אני (gam ʾănî) | גַם־אָ֖נִי (gam-ʾănî) | Identical, MT includes a hyphen for readability. |
Phonological and Morphological Differences
Narrative Structure
- The SP begins with ויהי (wayəhî), a waw-consecutive form meaning “And it happened.”
- The MT uses כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ (kišmōaʿ), meaning “when he heard,” emphasizing simultaneity rather than sequence.
- This suggests that the SP emphasizes event progression, while the MT presents it as a reaction to an ongoing situation.
Cry Intensity
- Both texts use עד מאד (ʿad məʾōd), meaning “exceedingly so.”
- The MT adds a hyphen (עַד־מְאֹ֑ד), reflecting later standardization of Hebrew punctuation.
- The meaning remains unchanged, with both versions stressing ʿEsav’s extreme anguish.
Speech Order & Verb Forms
- The verb ויאמר (wayyōʾmer) is identical in both texts.
- The phrase “also me” (גם אני) is identical in both texts, with the MT’s hyphen (גַם־) being purely orthographic.
Textual and Linguistic Implications
- The MT employs structured narration, while the SP favors a sequential storytelling pattern.
- The MT contains additional vowel markings and a more refined orthographic tradition.
- Both versions maintain the dramatic intensity of ʿEsav’s lament, emphasizing his realization of the lost blessing.
Conclusion
The differences between the Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch in Genesis 27:34 are minor and mostly stylistic. The Masoretic Text presents a structured, immediate reaction, while the Samaritan Pentateuch follows a sequential narrative approach. These variations do not alter the meaning but highlight the different scribal traditions and textual transmission styles in the Hebrew Bible.