Gen. 30:15 [Samaritan Pentateuch]
ותאמר לה המעט קחתך את אישי ולקחתי גם את דודאי בני ותאמר רחל לכן ישכב עמך הלילה תחת דודאי בנך
And she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband, that I also take my son’s mandrakes?” And Raḥel said, “Therefore, he shall lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
Gen. 30:15 [Masoretic Text]
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לָ֗הּ הַמְעַט֙ קַחְתֵּ֣ךְ אֶת־אִישִׁ֔י וְלָקַ֕חַת גַּ֥ם אֶת־דּוּדָאֵ֖י בְּנִ֑י וַתֹּ֣אמֶר רָחֵ֗ל לָכֵן֙ יִשְׁכַּ֤ב עִמָּךְ֙ הַלַּ֔יְלָה תַּ֖חַת דּוּדָאֵ֥י בְנֵֽךְ׃
And she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband, that you also take my son’s mandrakes?” And Raḥel said, “Therefore, he shall lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
Morphology
- וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (vattómer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “And she said”; Notes: Refers to Le’ah speaking.
- לָ֗הּ (lah) – Root: לה (lah); Form: Preposition with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “To her”; Notes: Indicates Le’ah addressing Raḥel.
- הַמְעַט֙ (hamʿat) – Root: מעט (maʿat); Form: Interrogative particle + adjective; Translation: “Is it a small matter”; Notes: Used for rhetorical emphasis.
- קַחְתֵּ֣ךְ (qaḥtekh) – Root: לקח (laqakh); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person feminine singular with paragogic suffix; Translation: “That you have taken”; Notes: Refers to Le’ah accusing Raḥel.
- אֶת־אִישִׁ֔י (et-ishi) – Root: איש (ʾish); Form: Noun, masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My husband”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov.
- וְלָקַ֕חַת (velaqaḥat) – Root: לקח (laqakh); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person feminine singular; Translation: “That you also take”; Notes: Continues Le’ah’s complaint.
- גַּ֥ם (gam) – Root: גם (gam); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Also”; Notes: Adds emphasis.
- אֶת־דּוּדָאֵ֖י (et-duda’ei) – Root: דודאים (duda’im); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “My son’s mandrakes”; Notes: Refers to the plants found by Re’uven.
- בְּנִ֑י (beni) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My son’s”; Notes: Refers to Re’uven.
- וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (vattómer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (preterite) 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “And she said”; Notes: Refers to Raḥel responding.
- רָחֵ֗ל (Raḥel) – Root: רחל (Raḥel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Raḥel”; Notes: Identifies the speaker.
- לָכֵן֙ (lakhen) – Root: כן (ken); Form: Adverb; Translation: “Therefore”; Notes: Marks a consequence.
- יִשְׁכַּ֤ב (yishkav) – Root: שכב (shakav); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He shall lie”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov.
- עִמָּךְ֙ (immakh) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “With you”; Notes: Directing the action to Le’ah.
- הַלַּ֔יְלָה (hallaylah) – Root: לילה (laylah); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “Tonight”; Notes: Specifies the time.
- תַּ֖חַת (taḥat) – Root: תחת (taḥat); Form: Preposition; Translation: “In exchange for”; Notes: Indicates a barter.
- דּוּדָאֵ֥י (duda’ei) – Root: דודאים (duda’im); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “Your son’s mandrakes”; Notes: The object of exchange.
- בְנֵֽךְ׃ (benekh) – Root: בן (ben); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “Your son’s”; Notes: Refers to Re’uven.
Textual Commentary on Genesis 30:15
Genesis 30:15 presents a key difference in pronoun usage between the Masoretic Text (MT) and the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP). The SP changes the perspective, altering whether Raḥel or Leah is portrayed as the one taking the mandrakes.
Key Differences
| Feature | Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) | Masoretic Text (MT) | Effect on Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| “And she said to her” | ותאמר לה (vatomer lah) | ותאמר לה (vatomer lah) | Identical wording. |
| “Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband?” | המעט קחתך את אישי (hamʿat qaḥtek et ishi) | המעט קחתך את אישי (hamʿat qaḥtek et ishi) | No difference. |
| “That I also take my son’s mandrakes” | ולקחתי גם את דודאי בני (velaqaḥti gam et dudaʾei beni) | ולקחת גם את דודאי בני (velaqaḥat gam et dudaʾei beni) | The SP uses לקחתי (“I will take”), while the MT uses לקחת (“you will take”), shifting the speaker’s perspective. |
| “Therefore, he shall lie with you tonight” | ותאמר רחל לכן ישכב עמך הלילה (vatomer Raḥel lakhen yishkav ʿimakh halailah) | ותאמר רחל לכן ישכב עמך הלילה (vatomer Raḥel lakhen yishkav ʿimakh halailah) | Identical wording. |
| “In exchange for your son’s mandrakes” | תחת דודאי בנך (taḥat dudaʾei binkha) | תחת דודאי בנך (taḥat dudaʾei binkha) | Identical wording. |
Phonological and Morphological Differences
Shift in Perspective: “I will take” vs. “You will take”
- The MT uses לקחת (“you will take”), making it a second-person feminine singular verb, meaning Leah is accused of taking the mandrakes.
- The SP uses לקחתי (“I will take”), a first-person verb, meaning Raḥel is now the one taking the mandrakes.
- This shift changes the dynamic of the argument, making the SP’s version more self-reflective, while the MT’s version keeps it accusatory toward Leah.
Textual and Linguistic Implications
- In the MT, Raḥel accuses Leah: “Is it not enough that you have taken my husband? Do you also want to take my son’s mandrakes?”
- In the SP, Raḥel reflects on herself: “Is it not enough that you have taken my husband? Now I will also take my son’s mandrakes.”
- The SP’s wording presents Raḥel as more self-aware, while the MT portrays her as more confrontational.
Conclusion
The primary difference between the Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch in Genesis 30:15 is the shift in pronoun usage—whether Raḥel or Leah is seen as taking the mandrakes. The MT portrays Raḥel as accusing Leah, while the SP subtly changes it to a more self-reflective statement. This variation reflects a difference in narrative tone rather than a change in theological meaning, as both texts still maintain the same overall event and outcome.