Genesis 17:18

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee!

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶל־הֽ͏ָאֱלֹהִ֑ים ל֥וּ יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל יִחְיֶ֥ה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃

Transliteration

wa-yōʾmer ʾAḇrāhām ʾel-hā-ʾĔlōhîm lû Yišmāʿēʾl yiḥyeh lə-p̄āneḵā

Grammar Details

• *wa-yōʾmer*: conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and said
• *ʾAḇrāhām*: proper noun masculine singular - Abraham
• *ʾel*: preposition - to/unto
• *hā-ʾĔlōhîm*: definite article + noun masculine plural - the God
• *lû*: particle of wish - O that/would that/if only
• *Yišmāʿēʾl*: proper noun masculine singular - Ishmael
• *yiḥyeh*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - might live
• *lə-p̄āneḵā*: preposition + noun masculine plural + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - before you/in your presence

Word Meanings

• *lû*: O that/would that/if only (expressing wish or desire)
• *yiḥyeh*: live/be alive/survive/prosper
• *lə-p̄āneḵā*: before you/in your presence/in your sight

Referenced Verses

• Gen 4:12 : 12 when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.
• Gen 4:14 : 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me.
• Ps 4:6 : 6 Many there are that say, Who will show us [any] good? Jehovah, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
• Ps 41:12 : 12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, And settest me before thy face for ever.
• Isa 59:2 : 2 but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.
• Jer 32:39 : 39 and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
• Acts 2:39 : 39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as {G302} the Lord our God shall call unto him.