Genesis 30:37a

Posted on November 7, 2024 by samaritan

Gen. 30:37a [Samaritan Pentateuch]

ויאמר מלאך אלהים אל יעקב בחלום ויאמר יעקב ויאמר הנני ויאמר שא נא עיניך וראה את כל העתודים העלים על הצאן עקדים נקדים וברדים כי ראיתי את כל אשר לבן עשה לך אנכי האל בית אל אשר משחת שם מצבה ואשר נדרת לי שם נדר ועתה קום צא מן הארץ הזאת ושוב אל ארץ אביך ואיטיב עמך :—

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מַלְאַ֤ךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב בַּחֲלֹ֖ום וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר שָׂא־נָ֤א עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ וּרְאֵ֔ה אֵ֛ת כָּל־הָֽעַתּוּדִ֥ים הָעֹלִ֖ים עַל־הַצֹּ֑אן עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּבְרֻדִּֽים׃ כִּ֣י רָאִ֔יתִי אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָבָ֥ן עֹשֶׂ֖ה לָּֽךְ׃ אָנֹכִ֞י הָאֵ֣ל בֵּֽית־אֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁ֤חְתָּ שָׁם֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֛ר נָדַ֥רְתָּ לִּ֖י שָׁ֑ם נֶ֕דֶר וְעַתָּ֛ה ק֥וּם צֵ֖א מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את וְשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ אֲבִֽיךָ׃ וְאֵיטִ֖יב עִמָּֽךְ ׃—

And the angel of God said to Yaʿaqov in a dream, and he said, “Yaʿaqov.” And he said, “Here I am.” And he said, “Lift now your eyes and see all the he-goats that are mounting the flock, streaked, speckled, and spotted. For I have seen all that Lavan has done to you. I am the God of Beit-ʾel, where you anointed a pillar and where you vowed a vow to Me. And now, arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your father, and I will do good to you.”

 

Morphology

  1. וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (va-yóʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces direct speech.
  2. מַלְאַ֤ךְ (malʾákh) – Root: מלאך (malʾakh); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “angel”; Notes: A messenger of God.
  3. אֱלֹהִים֙ (ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (eloah); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “God”; Notes: Used in a singular sense here.
  4. אֶל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ʾel-Yaʿaqóv) – Root: עקב (ʿaqav); Form: Preposition with proper noun; Translation: “to Yaʿaqov”; Notes: The recipient of the message.
  5. בַּחֲלֹ֖ום (ba-ḥalóm) – Root: חלם (ḥalam); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite; Translation: “in a dream”; Notes: Indicates the medium of revelation.
  6. וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (va-yóʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: A response to the angel’s call.
  7. יַעֲקֹ֑ב (Yaʿaqóv) – Root: עקב (ʿaqav); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Yaʿaqov”; Notes: The person being addressed.
  8. וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (va-yóʾmer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: A reply to the call.
  9. הִנֵּֽנִי (hinéni) – Root: הנה (hinneh); Form: Particle with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “Here I am”; Notes: A statement of readiness.
  10. שָׂא־נָ֤א (sa-na) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular with particle; Translation: “Lift now”; Notes: A command.
  11. עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (ʿeinekhá) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Noun, feminine dual with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your eyes”; Notes: The object of the imperative verb.
  12. וּרְאֵ֔ה (u-reʾéh) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and see”; Notes: A command to observe.
  13. כָּל־הָֽעַתּוּדִ֥ים (kol-ha-ʿattudím) – Root: עתד (ʿatad); Form: Noun, masculine plural, definite; Translation: “all the he-goats”; Notes: Refers to the flock.
  14. הָעֹלִ֖ים (ha-ʿolím) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “that are mounting”; Notes: Describes the action of the goats.
  15. עַל־הַצֹּ֑אן (ʿal-ha-tzon) – Root: צאן (tzon); Form: Noun, feminine singular collective, definite; Translation: “upon the flock”; Notes: Specifies the subject.
  16. עֲקֻדִּ֥ים (ʿakuddím) – Root: עקד (ʿaqad); Form: Adjective, masculine plural; Translation: “streaked”; Notes: Describes the markings of the goats.
  17. נְקֻדִּ֖ים (nequddím) – Root: נקד (naqad); Form: Adjective, masculine plural; Translation: “speckled”; Notes: Refers to their spotted appearance.
  18. וּבְרֻדִּֽים (u-veruddím) – Root: ברד (barad); Form: Adjective, masculine plural; Translation: “spotted”; Notes: A further description of their unique markings.
  19. כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces a causal statement.
  20. רָאִ֔יתִי (raʾíti) – Root: ראה (raʾah); Form: Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I have seen”; Notes: Refers to divine observation.
  21. אֵ֛ת (ʾet) – Root: את (ʾet); Form: Definite direct object marker; Translation: [Untranslated]; Notes: Marks the direct object.
  22. כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָבָ֥ן (kol-ʾasher-Laván) – Root: לבן (lavan); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “all that Lavan”; Notes: Refers to Lavan’s actions.
  23. עֹשֶׂ֖ה (ʿoséh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “is doing”; Notes: Denotes ongoing action.
  24. לָּֽךְ (lakh) – Root: לך (lakh); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to you”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov.
  25. אָנֹכִ֞י (ʾanokhí) – Root: אנכי (ʾanokhi); Form: Pronoun, 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Emphasizes divine self-identification.
  26. הָאֵ֣ל (ha-ʾEl) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Noun, masculine singular, definite; Translation: “the God”; Notes: Identifies divine authority.
  27. בֵּֽית־אֵ֗ל (Bet-ʾEl) – Root: בית (bayit) + אל (ʾel); Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Bethel”; Notes: Refers to the sacred location.
  28. אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁ֤חְתָּ (ʾasher-mashákhta) – Root: משח (mashach); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “where you anointed”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov’s previous action.
  29. שָׁם֙ (sham) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Indicates location.
  30. מַצֵּבָ֔ה (matzévah) – Root: נצב (natzav); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “a pillar”; Notes: A sacred monument.
  31. וַאֲשֶׁ֛ר (va-ʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “and where”; Notes: Introduces another clause.
  32. נָדַ֥רְתָּ (nadárta) – Root: נדר (nadar); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you vowed”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov’s promise.
  33. לִּ֖י (li) – Root: לי (li); Form: Preposition with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “to Me”; Notes: Refers to YHWH.
  34. שָׁ֑ם (sham) – Root: שם (sham); Form: Adverb; Translation: “there”; Notes: Reiterates location.
  35. נֶ֕דֶר (néder) – Root: נדר (neder); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a vow”; Notes: The object of “you vowed”.
  36. וְעַתָּ֛ה (ve-ʿattah) – Root: עתה (ʿattah); Form: Adverb; Translation: “And now”; Notes: Introduces a new command.
  37. ק֥וּם (qum) – Root: קום (qum); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “Arise”; Notes: A divine command.
  38. צֵ֖א (tze) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “go out”; Notes: Another imperative command.
  39. מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ (min-haʾáretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾaretz); Form: Noun, feminine singular, definite with preposition; Translation: “from the land”; Notes: Specifies origin.
  40. הַזֹּ֑את (ha-zot) – Root: זה (zeh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun, feminine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Defines the land.
  41. וְשׁ֖וּב (ve-shuv) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and return”; Notes: A divine command to go back.
  42. אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ (el-ʾéretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾaretz); Form: Noun, feminine singular with preposition; Translation: “to the land of”; Notes: Specifies the destination.
  43. אֲבִֽיךָ (ʾavíkha) – Root: אב (ʾav); Form: Noun, masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your father”; Notes: Refers to Yaʿaqov’s homeland.
  44. וְאֵיטִ֖יב (ve-ʾeitív) – Root: יטב (yatav); Form: Hifil wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 1st person singular; Translation: “and I will do good”; Notes: A divine promise of blessing.
  45. עִמָּֽךְ (ʿimmákh) – Root: עם (ʿim); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “with you”; Notes: Assures Yaʿaqov of divine support.

 

Textual Commentary on Genesis 30:37a – Addition in the Samaritan Pentateuch

Feature Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) Masoretic Text (MT) Effect on Meaning
Angel of God Speaks to Yaʿaqov ויאמר מלאך אלהים אל יעקב בחלום (vayomer malʾakh Elohim el Yaʿaqov baḥalom, “And the Angel of God said to Yaʿaqov in a dream”) Not present The SP includes an angelic revelation, aligning with Genesis 31:10-13 in the MT.
Yaʿaqov’s Response ויאמר יעקב ויאמר הנני (vayomer Yaʿaqov vayomer hineni, “And Yaʿaqov said, and he said, ‘Here I am'”) Not present This addition mirrors prophetic call narratives (e.g., Abraham in Genesis 22:1), emphasizing divine guidance.
Divine Instruction to Look at the Flocks שא נא עיניך וראה (sa na ʿeineikha u-reʾeh, “Lift your eyes and see”) Not present This phrase is reminiscent of God’s commands to Abraham (Genesis 13:14) and reinforces divine intervention.
Reference to Lavan’s Actions כי ראיתי את כל אשר לבן עשה לך (ki raʾiti et kol asher Lavan asa lekha, “For I have seen all that Lavan has done to you”) Not present The SP explicitly states God’s awareness of Lavan’s deceit, reinforcing divine justice.
God Identifies Himself as the El of Bethel אנכי האל בית אל (anokhi ha-El Bet-El, “I am the El of Bethel”) Not present This matches Genesis 31:13 in the MT and highlights the covenant connection with Bethel.
Command to Return to His Homeland קום צא מן הארץ הזאת ושוב אל ארץ אביך (qum tze min ha-aretz ha-zot ve-shuv el eretz avikha, “Arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your father”) Not present This instruction echoes God’s command in Genesis 31:3, reinforcing divine direction.
Promise of Blessing ואיטיב עמך (va-etiv ʿimmakh, “And I will do good to you”) Not present This aligns with divine assurances given to the patriarchs (Genesis 12:2, 28:15), confirming divine favor.

Analysis of Key Differences

The additional passage in the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) closely resembles content found later in the Masoretic Text (MT), particularly in Genesis 31:10-13. The SP appears to have harmonized the text by incorporating elements of God’s revelation to Yaʿaqov, which in the MT occur later in the narrative.

  • The angelic encounter mirrors other patriarchal visions (e.g., Abraham, Moshe).
  • Yaʿaqov’s response, “Here I am” (הנני), is a formal prophetic reaction found elsewhere in the Torah.
  • The command to lift his eyes and see reinforces divine control over events.
  • God’s identification as “the El of Bethel” strengthens the covenant connection.
  • The command to leave and the promise of blessing align with other divine instructions in Genesis.

Textual and Linguistic Implications

This addition in the SP suggests a theological emphasis on divine intervention and justice. It may reflect an effort to clarify or reinforce God’s involvement in Yaʿaqov’s life earlier than in the MT. The harmonization with Genesis 31:10-13 indicates a scribal tendency in the SP tradition to ensure narrative continuity.

Conclusion

The addition in Genesis 30:37a in the SP is a harmonizing expansion rather than an independent variant. It integrates material from Genesis 31:10-13, making God’s intervention explicit earlier in the narrative. This supports the common Samaritan textual pattern of clarifying or reinforcing divine action within the Torah.

 

 

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