Gen. 31:15 [Samaritan Pentateuch]
הלוא כנכריות נחשבנו לו כי מכרנו ויאכל גם אכל את כספנו
Gen. 31:15 [Masoretic Text]
Are we not considered as strangers to him? For he has sold us and has even devoured our money.
הֲלֹ֧וא נָכְרִיֹּ֛ות נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ לֹ֖ו כִּ֣י מְכָרָ֑נוּ וַיֹּ֥אכַל גַּם־אָכֹ֖ול אֶת־כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ׃
Are we not considered strangers to him? For he has sold us and has even devoured our money.
Morphology
- הֲלֹ֧וא (halo) – Root: הלוא (halo); Form: Interrogative particle; Translation: “Are we not”; Notes: Introduces a rhetorical question.
- נָכְרִיֹּ֛ות (nokriyyot) – Root: נכר (nakar); Form: Adjective, feminine plural; Translation: “foreign”; Notes: Describes how they are perceived by their father.
- נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ (neḥshavnu) – Root: חשב (ḥashav); Form: Niphal perfect 1st person plural; Translation: “we have been considered”; Notes: Indicates their changed status.
- לֹ֖ו (lo) – Root: לו (lo); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to Lavan.
- כִּ֣י (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for their statement.
- מְכָרָ֑נוּ (mekharanu) – Root: מכר (makar); Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine singular with 1st person plural suffix, Qal; Translation: “he has sold us”; Notes: Refers to Lavan treating them as commodities.
- וַיֹּ֥אכַל (vayyoʾkhal) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular, Qal; Translation: “and he has devoured”; Notes: Emphasizes total consumption.
- גַּם־אָכֹ֖ול (gam-ʾakhol) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Infinitive absolute, Qal; Translation: “has even completely eaten”; Notes: Reinforces the intensity of his action.
- אֶת־כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ׃ (et-kaspenu) – Root: כסף (kesef); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “our money”; Notes: The object of Lavan’s exploitation.
Textual Commentary on Genesis 31:15
| Feature | Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) | Masoretic Text (MT) | Effect on Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spelling of “Strangers” | כנכריות (kenokhriyot, “as strangers”) | נכריות (nokhriyot, “strangers”) | The SP adds the prefix כ־ (“as”), slightly altering the phrase to “as strangers” instead of simply “strangers.” |
| Spelling of “He Devoured” | ויאכל גם אכל (vayoʾkhal gam akhal, “and he devoured, also devoured”) | ויאכל גם־אכול (vayoʾkhal gam akhol, “and he devoured, also devouring”) | The SP repeats the verb “devoured” explicitly instead of using an infinitive (“also devouring”) as in the MT, emphasizing the consumption. |
Analysis of Key Differences
The Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) and the Masoretic Text (MT) in this verse have minor orthographic and stylistic differences but retain the same fundamental meaning. The main distinctions are:
- The SP adds the prefix כ־ (“as”), making the phrase read “as strangers” rather than simply “strangers.”
- The SP repeats the verb “devoured” explicitly, while the MT uses an infinitive absolute construction (“also devouring”), which is a stylistic variation.
Textual and Linguistic Implications
The addition of כ־ (“as”) in the SP makes the phrase slightly more comparative, whereas the MT treats it as a direct statement. The repetition of “devoured” in the SP emphasizes the extent of Lavan’s exploitation more than the infinitive form in the MT. However, these variations do not significantly change the overall interpretation of the passage.
Conclusion
The difference in Genesis 31:15 between the MT and SP is minor and stylistic. The SP adds slight emphasis by repeating “devoured” and inserting “as” before “strangers,” but these do not alter the meaning of the verse. Both texts convey the same complaint from Rachel and Leah regarding their father Lavan’s treatment of them.