Job 1:3 in Hebrew
וַיְהִ֣י מִ֠קְנֵהוּ שִֽׁבְעַ֨ת אַלְפֵי־צֹ֜אן וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת אַלְפֵ֣י גְמַלִּ֗ים וַחֲמֵ֨שׁ מֵאֹ֤ות צֶֽמֶד־בָּקָר֙ וַחֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵאֹ֣ות אֲתֹונֹ֔ות וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה רַבָּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וַיְהִי֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא גָּדֹ֖ול מִכָּל־בְּנֵי־קֶֽדֶם׃
Introduction to the Verse
Job 1:3 describes Job’s great wealth in terms of livestock and servants, using several construct chains to show possession and quantity. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the use of the construct state, where multiple words are linked together to form a single idea.
Understanding Construct Chains in Biblical Hebrew
1. What is a Construct Chain?
– A construct chain (סְמִיכוּת) is a sequence of two or more nouns, where the first noun (construct form) is grammatically linked to the second noun (absolute form).
– The construct noun depends on the following noun for its full meaning, often translated with “of” in English.
2. Examples of Construct Chains in Job 1:3
– שִֽׁבְעַ֨ת אַלְפֵי־צֹ֜אן (shivʿat alfei-tzon) – “seven thousand sheep”
– שִׁבְעַת (shivʿat) = Construct form of שִׁבְעָה (shivʿah, “seven”).
– אַלְפֵי (alfei) = Construct form of אֶלֶף (elef, “thousand”).
– צֹאן (tzon, “sheep”) = Absolute noun.
– Translation: “Seven thousand sheep” (literally, “seven of thousands of sheep”).
– וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת אַלְפֵ֣י גְמַלִּ֗ים (ushloshet alfei-gemalim) – “three thousand camels”
– שְׁלֹשֶׁת (shloshet) = Construct form of שְׁלֹשָׁה (shloshah, “three”).
– אַלְפֵי (alfei) = Construct form of אֶלֶף (elef, “thousand”).
– גְמַלִּים (gemalim, “camels”) = Absolute noun.
– Translation: “Three thousand camels.”
– חֲמֵ֨שׁ מֵאֹ֤ות צֶֽמֶד־בָּקָר֙ (chamesh me’ot tzemed-bakar) – “five hundred yoke of oxen”
– חֲמֵשׁ מֵאֹות (chamesh me’ot) = “Five hundred” (numeric construct).
– צֶֽמֶד־בָּקָר (tzemed-bakar) = “yoke of oxen” (construct form).
– Translation: “Five hundred yoke of oxen.”
– וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה רַבָּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד (vaʿavudah rabbah meʾod) – “a very large number of servants”
– עֲבֻדָּ֖ה (avudah, “service” or “work”) is in construct with רַבָּ֣ה (rabbah, “great” or “numerous”).
– The phrase conveys the idea of many workers or servants.
The Function of Construct Chains in This Verse
1. Precision in Quantity and Ownership
– The construct forms link numbers, thousands, and animals together, showing the exact composition of Job’s wealth.
– This structure avoids repetition while making the meaning clear.
2. Emphasis on Job’s Status
– The construct phrase וַיְהִי֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא גָּדֹ֖ול מִכָּל־בְּנֵי־קֶֽדֶם (“this man was greater than all the people of the east”) highlights Job’s superiority.
– The construct מִכָּל־בְּנֵי־קֶֽדֶם (mikkol bnei-qedem, “than all the sons of the east”) expresses comparison.
The Role of Construct Chains in Job 1:3
The construct chains in Job 1:3 serve several important functions:
– They clarify possession and quantity, showing the structure of Job’s wealth.
– They create smooth, natural Hebrew phrasing, avoiding unnecessary repetition.
– They emphasize Job’s high status by linking his wealth to his greatness among the people of the east.
By understanding the construct form, we can appreciate how Hebrew conveys ownership, numbers, and relationships between nouns in a concise and elegant way.
