Grammatical Choreography: The Binyanim Behind Boaz’s Generous Gesture

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָ֠בִי הַמִּטְפַּ֧חַת אֲשֶׁר־עָלַ֛יִךְ וְאֶֽחֳזִי־בָ֖הּ וַתֹּ֣אחֶז בָּ֑הּ וַיָּ֤מָד שֵׁשׁ־שְׂעֹרִים֙ וַיָּ֣שֶׁת עָלֶ֔יהָ וַיָּבֹ֖א הָעִֽיר׃ (Ruth 3:15)

And he said bring the cloak that is on you and hold it and she held it and he measured six measures of barley and placed it on her and he came to the city.

Scene Overview: Action-Packed Verbs

Ruth 3:15 narrates a moment filled with small but meaningful actions. Boaz, ever deliberate and generous, instructs Ruth, and then personally ensures she leaves with a gift. Though the verse reads quickly, the verbs embedded in it are doing a quiet dance—each step marked by a specific binyan that directs agency, intensity, and tone.

In this verse, every verb belongs to a core binyan, and their interplay reinforces themes of provision, trust, and careful planning.

All the Verbs and Their Binyanim

This verse contains seven verbs, and each reveals something about the nature of the action:

1. וַיֹּאמֶר — “he said”
2. הָבִי — “bring”
3. וְאֶֽחֳזִי — “and hold”
4. וַתֹּאחֶז — “and she held”
5. וַיָּמָד — “and he measured”
6. וַיָּשֶׁת — “and he placed”
7. וַיָּבֹא — “and he came”

Let’s look at the binyanim in detail.

Step-by-Step: Analyzing the Binyanim

1. וַיֹּאמֶר — Qal, Perfect, 3ms

– Root: אָמַר (to say)
– Form: Qal with vav-consecutive (narrative perfect)
– Voice: Active
– Usage: A classic narrative frame verb. The Qal binyan is unmarked—it lets the speech take focus, not the form.

2. הָבִי — Hiphil, Imperative, 2fs

– Root: יָבָה (a rare root meaning “to bring”)
– Form: Hiphil imperative feminine singular
– Voice: Causative
– Impact: The Hiphil commands Ruth not just to come—but to cause something to come to Boaz (i.e., the cloak). The causative meaning is essential: she is to initiate the act of giving.

3. וְאֶֽחֳזִי — Qal, Imperative, 2fs (with cohortative flavor)

– Root: אָחַז (to grasp, hold)
– Form: Qal imperative 2fs with slightly irregular spelling
– Voice: Active
– Tone: A soft imperative, matching the tone of cooperation and mutual respect. The Qal keeps the action direct.

4. וַתֹּאחֶז — Qal, Perfect, 3fs

– Root: אָחַז (same as above)
– Form: Qal narrative perfect
– Voice: Active
– Note: The Qal continues—this is not a dramatic holding, but a responsive one. Ruth follows his instruction exactly.

5. וַיָּמָד — Qal, Perfect, 3ms

– Root: מָדַד (to measure)
– Form: Qal narrative perfect
– Voice: Active
– Contextual Insight: Boaz is doing the measuring himself. The active Qal form keeps the focus on his personal involvement.

6. וַיָּשֶׁת — Qal, Perfect, 3ms

– Root: שִׂים (to place, set)
– Form: Qal perfect with narrative vav
– Voice: Active
– Semantics: He “set” it on her, not “threw,” “gave,” or “handed.” The Qal retains a quiet respect—it’s deliberate, not aggressive.

7. וַיָּבֹא — Qal, Perfect, 3ms

– Root: בּוֹא (to come)
– Form: Qal perfect with vav-consecutive
– Voice: Active
– Narrative Role: A closing action, common in Hebrew narrative. The Qal’s simplicity here conveys finality without flourish.

Comparative Table: How the Binyanim Function

How the Binyanim Shape the Scene

The repetition of Qal forms in this verse gives the sequence a rhythm of quiet intentionality. Boaz doesn’t use force; he acts precisely. The only Hiphil verb—הָבִי—adds a single touch of causative force at the start, fitting for the moment Ruth is drawn into action.

There are no intensive stems, no reflexive constructions—because none are needed. The scene is about generosity, not struggle. Kindness, not conquest. The binyanim match that tone with minimalist clarity. They carry the choreography of care.

This verse is a textbook example of how binyanim aren’t just grammatical categories—they’re the soul of the action.