וְעַתָּה֙ לְכ֣וּ עִבְד֔וּ וְתֶ֖בֶן לֹא־יִנָּתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם וְתֹ֥כֶן לְבֵנִ֖ים תִּתֵּֽנּוּ׃
So now, go, work! And straw shall not be given to you, but the quota of bricks you must give.
Explanation of Feature
This verse from Exodus 5:18 contains:
1. Imperative verbs: לְכוּ (“Go!”) and עִבְדוּ (“Work!”), direct commands in the second person plural form.
2. A passive verb in the imperfect: יִנָּתֵן (“shall be given”) using the Nifʿal binyan.
3. A concessive structure: although no straw is provided, the required production remains unchanged.
Examples from Exodus 5:18
| Phrase | Form | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| לְכוּ עִבְדוּ | Imperative, Qal, 2mp | “Go, work!” – forceful twin commands from Parʿo to the Israelites |
| תֶ֖בֶן לֹא־יִנָּתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם | Noun + negation + Nifʿal yiqtol (3ms) + prepositional phrase | “Straw shall not be given to you” – passive form emphasizing the withholding of supply |
| וְתֹכֶן לְבֵנִים תִּתֵּֽנּוּ | Construct noun + direct object + Qal yiqtol, 2mp | “But the quota of bricks you shall give” – ongoing demand for productivity despite added burden |
Related Grammatical Insight
– Imperatives are common in direct royal speech and law: עֲשֵׂה (do), בֹּוא (come), etc.
– The Nifʿal stem often expresses passive or reflexive meaning:
– נִתַּן – “was given”
– יִנָּתֵן – “shall be given”
– The word תֹכֶן refers to a fixed quota or measure—likely the number of bricks expected daily.
Pharaoh’s grammar mirrors his tyranny: clear, sharp imperatives, and unyielding expectations with no provision—an oppressive sentence structured to reflect the suffering it demands.
