Gen. 28:4 [Samaritan Pentateuch]
ויתן לך את ברכת אברהם אביך לך ולזרעך אתך לרשת את ארץ מגריך אשר נתן יהוה לאברהם
And may He give you the blessing of Avraham your father, to you and to your offspring with you, to inherit the land of your sojourning, which YHWH gave to Avraham.”
Gen. 28:4 [Masoretic Text]
וְיִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ אֶת־בִּרְכַּ֣ת אַבְרָהָ֔ם לְךָ֖ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֣ אִתָּ֑ךְ לְרִשְׁתְּךָ֙ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ מְגֻרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְאַבְרָהָֽם׃
And may He give you the blessing of Avraham, to you and to your offspring with you, to inherit the land of your sojourning, which God gave to Avraham.”
Morphology
- וְיִֽתֶּן (veyitten) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Conjunction + Verb, Qal, Imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “And may He give”; Notes: Expresses a wish or blessing.
- לְךָ֙ (lekha) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition + pronoun, 2ms; Translation: “To you”; Notes: Directs the blessing to the recipient.
- אֶת־בִּרְכַּ֣ת (ʾet-birkat) – Root: ברך (b-r-k); Form: Direct object marker + Noun, fs construct; Translation: “The blessing of”; Notes: Refers to the specific blessing given to Avraham.
- אַבְרָהָ֔ם (Avraham) – Root: N/A; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Avraham”; Notes: Name of the patriarch.
- לְךָ֖ (lekha) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition + pronoun, 2ms; Translation: “To you”; Notes: Reiterates the recipient of the blessing.
- וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֣ (ulzarʿakha) – Root: זרע (z-r-ʿ); Form: Conjunction + Noun, ms construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “And to your offspring”; Notes: Indicates descendants.
- אִתָּ֑ךְ (ittakh) – Root: את (ʾ-t); Form: Preposition with 2ms suffix; Translation: “With you”; Notes: Highlights the shared nature of the blessing.
- לְרִשְׁתְּךָ֙ (lerishtekha) – Root: ירש (y-r-sh); Form: Preposition + Verb, Qal, Infinitive Construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “To inherit”; Notes: Refers to the possession of the land.
- אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ (ʾet-ʾeretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ts); Form: Direct object marker + Noun, fs; Translation: “The land of”; Notes: Specifies the territory.
- מְגֻרֶ֔יךָ (megurekha) – Root: גור (g-w-r); Form: Noun, mp construct with 2ms suffix; Translation: “Your sojourning”; Notes: Refers to a temporary dwelling place.
- אֲשֶׁר־ (asher) – Root: N/A; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “Which”; Notes: Introduces a clause.
- נָתַ֥ן (natan) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Verb, Qal, Perfect, 3ms; Translation: “Gave”; Notes: Refers to a past action by God.
- אֱלֹהִ֖ים (ʾelohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “God”; Notes: The subject of the action.
- לְאַבְרָהָֽם (leʾavraham) – Root: N/A; Form: Preposition + Proper noun; Translation: “To Avraham”; Notes: Indicates the original recipient of the blessing.
Textual Commentary on Genesis 28:4
Genesis 28:4 presents minor but meaningful variations between the Masoretic Text (MT) and the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP). These differences primarily involve proper nouns, pronoun usage, and divine names, reflecting distinct scribal traditions.
Key Differences
| Feature | Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) | Masoretic Text (MT) | Effect on Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb “May He give” | ויתן לך (wəyitten ləkha) | וְיִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ (wəyitten-ləkha) | Identical in meaning. SP uses ויתן without the conjunction וְ at the beginning. |
| “Blessing of Avraham” | ברכת אברהם אביך (birkat ʾAvraham ʾāvîkha) | בִּרְכַּ֣ת אַבְרָהָ֔ם (birkat ʾAvraham) | SP explicitly adds אביך (ʾāvîkha, “your father”), reinforcing lineage. |
| “To inherit” | לרשת (lirāšət) | לְרִשְׁתְּךָ֙ (lərishtekha) | SP lacks -ךָ (-kha, “your”), making “inherit” a general rather than personalized statement. |
| “The land of your sojourning” | את ארץ מגריך (ʾet ʾereṣ məgurêkha) | אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ מְגֻרֶ֔יךָ (ʾet-ʾereṣ məgurêkha) | SP and MT are identical |
| Divine Name | יהוה (YHWH) | אֱלֹהִים (ʾElohim) | SP uses יהוה, aligning with Samaritan scribal tradition, while MT uses אֱלֹהִים. |
Phonological and Morphological Differences
Proper Names and Pronouns
- The SP explicitly states אביך (ʾāvîkha, “your father”) after אברהם (Avraham), reinforcing the patriarchal lineage.
- The MT includes an extra לְךָ (ləkha, “to you”) before “your offspring,” making the recipient of the blessing clearer.
- The verb לרשת (lirāšət, “to inherit”) lacks -ךָ (-kha, “your”) in the SP, making the inheritance statement broader rather than personalized.
Use of Divine Names
- The Samaritan Pentateuch consistently uses יהוה (YHWH) instead of אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), reflecting a distinct theological preference.
- The Masoretic Text’s use of Elohim may emphasize God’s universal authority, while the Samaritan text maintains a direct covenantal reference.
Textual and Linguistic Implications
- The SP reinforces patriarchal identity by explicitly stating “your father” after Avraham.
- The MT’s use of Elohim vs. SP’s YHWH may reflect scribal traditions and theological perspectives in post-exilic vs. Samaritan communities.
- Both texts maintain the same core meaning, emphasizing Yitsḥaq’s blessing to Yaʿaqov and the inheritance of the land.
Conclusion
The differences between the Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch in Genesis 28:4 are minor yet indicative of scribal traditions. The MT personalizes the blessing more explicitly, while the SP follows a simpler grammatical structure and reinforces lineage by adding “your father.” The use of divine names reflects theological preferences, with the MT employing “Elohim” and the SP favoring “YHWH.” Despite these differences, the overall message of the verse remains unchanged, emphasizing the continuity of Avraham’s blessing to Yaʿaqov and his descendants.