Genesis 11:3 in Hebrew
וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗הוּ הָ֚בָה נִלְבְּנָ֣ה לְבֵנִ֔ים וְנִשְׂרְפָ֖ה לִשְׂרֵפָ֑ה וַתְּהִ֨י לָהֶ֤ם הַלְּבֵנָה֙ לְאָ֔בֶן וְהַ֣חֵמָ֔ר הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לַחֹֽמֶר׃
Introduction to the Verse
Genesis 11:3 describes the conversation of the people as they prepared to build the Tower of Babel. This verse contains cohortative and jussive verb forms, which are significant for understanding the mood of command, encouragement, and collective action.
Understanding the Cohortative and Jussive Forms
1. What is the Cohortative?
– The cohortative is a first-person verb form in Biblical Hebrew that expresses intent, encouragement, or self-motivation.
– It is often translated as “Let us…” or “We should…”.
– The cohortative typically appears with a final ה (e.g., נִלְבְּנָ֣ה).
2. What is the Jussive?
– The jussive is a third-person or second-person verb form that expresses a mild command, wish, or suggestion.
– It is often translated as “Let him…”, “Let it be…”, or “May it happen…”.
– In this verse, נִשְׂרְפָ֖ה is a cohortative, while וַתְּהִ֨י functions as a narrative continuation.
Examining the Key Verbs
1. נִלְבְּנָ֣ה (Nilbənah) – “Let us make bricks”
– This verb comes from the root ל־ב־נ (l-b-n), meaning “to make bricks” or “to whiten.”
– It appears in the cohortative plural form, meaning “Let us burn/make bricks.”
– The cohortative ending (-ה) indicates a volitional expression from the speakers.
2. נִשְׂרְפָ֖ה (Nisrəfah) – “Let us burn them thoroughly”
– This verb comes from the root ש־ר־ף (ś-r-p), meaning “to burn.”
– It is another cohortative plural verb, emphasizing the collective desire to bake the bricks completely.
– The repetition of the root in לִשְׂרֵפָ֑ה (lisrəfah, “for burning”) intensifies the idea of thoroughness.
The Function of These Verb Forms
1. Collective Planning and Intent
– The use of two cohortative verbs indicates a shared goal and determination.
– The phrase הָ֚בָה נִלְבְּנָ֣ה לְבֵנִ֔ים וְנִשְׂרְפָ֖ה לִשְׂרֵפָ֑ה can be translated as:
“Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.”
– This structure suggests a deliberate and organized plan.
2. Comparison with Other Uses of Cohortatives
– Similar cohortative constructions appear in other collaborative or planning contexts:
– Genesis 1:26 – “Let us make man in our image.”
– Genesis 11:4 – “Let us build a city and a tower.”
– These forms emphasize collective action and mutual encouragement.
The Role of the Cohortative in Genesis 11:3
The verbs נִלְבְּנָ֣ה and נִשְׂרְפָ֖ה are cohortative forms, indicating that the people were collectively encouraging one another to take action.
– The cohortative mood expresses deliberate intent and collaborative planning.
– The parallel structure in Genesis 11:3 and Genesis 11:4 shows a growing determination among the people.
– These verb forms highlight the unity and resolve of the builders before God intervenes in the events of Genesis 11:7.
By understanding the grammatical structure, we gain deeper insight into how the Hebrew text conveys intent, cooperation, and action in Biblical narratives.
