1 Kings 5:20

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Now then, command that cedar trees be cut for me from Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that we have no one among us skilled in cutting timber like the Sidonians.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְעַתָּ֡ה צַוֵּה֩ וְיִכְרְתוּ־לִ֨י אֲרָזִ֜ים מִן־הַלְּבָנ֗וֹן וַֽעֲבָדַי֙ יִהְי֣וּ עִם־עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּשְׂכַ֤ר עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לְךָ֔ כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאמֵ֑ר כִּ֣י ׀ אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֗עְתָּ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין בָּ֛נוּ אִ֛ישׁ יֹדֵ֥עַ לִכְרָת־עֵצִ֖ים כַּצִּדֹנִֽים׃

Transliteration

And-ʿattāh ṣawwēh and-yikrətû-to-me ʾărāzîm from-the-Ləvānôn and-ʿăvāday yihyû with-ʿăvādêkā and-śəkar ʿăvādêkā ʾettēn to-you according-to-all which tōʾmēr for you yādaʿtā that ʾên among-us ʾîš yōdēaʿ to-likrōt-ʿēṣîm like-the-Ṣîdōnîm

Grammar Details

• *ʿattāh*: adverb - now
• *ṣawwēh*: verb, Piel imperative masculine singular - command
• *yikrətû*: verb, Qal imperfect 3rd plural with prefix - let them cut
• *ʾărāzîm*: noun, masculine plural - cedars
• *Ləvānôn*: proper noun with article - Lebanon
• *ʿăvāday*: noun, masculine plural with 1st singular suffix - my servants
• *yihyû*: verb, Qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - they will be
• *ʿăvādêkā*: noun, masculine plural with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your servants
• *śəkar*: noun, masculine singular construct - wages of
• *ʾettēn*: verb, Qal imperfect 1st singular - I will give
• *tōʾmēr*: verb, Qal imperfect 2nd masculine singular - you will say
• *yādaʿtā*: verb, Qal perfect 2nd masculine singular - you have known
• *ʾên*: particle of negation - there is not
• *ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular - man
• *yōdēaʿ*: participle, Qal masculine singular - knowing
• *likrōt*: verb, Qal infinitive construct - to cut
• *ʿēṣîm*: noun, masculine plural - trees/timber
• *Ṣîdōnîm*: proper noun, masculine plural with prefix - Sidonians

Word Meanings

• *ṣawwēh*: command/order/instruct
• *yikrətû*: let them cut/they should cut
• *ʾărāzîm*: cedars/cedar trees/cedar timber
• *śəkar*: wages/payment/hire
• *yōdēaʿ*: knowing/skilled in/expert at
• *likrōt*: to cut/to fell/to harvest