Genesis 21:20

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And God was with the lad, and he grew; and he dwelt in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הַנַּ֖עַר וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וַיְהִ֖י רֹבֶ֥ה קַשָּֽׁת׃

Transliteration

And yəhî ʾĕlōhîm ʾet-hannaʿar and yigdāl and yēšeb in-the-midbār and yəhî rōbeh qaššāt.

Grammar Details

• *wə-*: conjunction with consecutive imperfect - and (sequential action)
• *yəhî*: qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - he became
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: masculine plural noun (used as singular) - God
• *ʾet*: preposition - with
• *ha-*: definite article - the
• *naʿar*: masculine singular noun - boy/lad
• *yigdāl*: qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - he grew
• *yēšeb*: qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - he lived/dwelt
• *ba-*: preposition with definite article - in the
• *midbār*: masculine singular noun - wilderness
• *rōbeh*: qal participle, masculine singular - shooting/archer
• *qaššāt*: feminine singular noun - bow

Word Meanings

• *yəhî* *ʾet*: was with/supported/helped
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: God/gods/divine beings (here used as singular)
• *naʿar*: boy/lad/young man
• *yigdāl*: grew/became great
• *yēšeb*: lived/dwelt/settled
• *midbār*: wilderness/desert
• *rōbeh* *qaššāt*: archer/bowman/one who shoots with a bow

Referenced Verses

• Gen 39:21 : 21 But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
• Gen 28:15 : 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
• Gen 39:2-3 : 2 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
• Gen 16:12 : 12 And he shall be [as] a wild ass among men; his hand [shall be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.
• Gen 17:20 : 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
• Gen 25:27 : 27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.
• Gen 27:3 : 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison;
• Gen 49:23-24 : 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecuted him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
• Judg 6:12 : 12 And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him, and said unto him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
• Judg 13:24-25 : 24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and Jehovah blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of Jehovah began to move him in {H4264} Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
• Luke 1:80 : 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.
• Luke 2:40 : 40 And the child grew, and waxed {G4151} strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
• Gen 10:9 : 9 He was a mighty hunter before Jehovah: wherefore it is said, Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before Jehovah.