וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֗ב הַלְעִיטֵ֤נִי נָא֙ מִן־הָאָדֹ֤ם הָאָדֹם֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֥י עָיֵ֖ף אָנֹ֑כִי עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמֹ֖ו אֱדֹֽום׃ (Genesis 25:30)
Opening Frame: A Syntactic Appetite
Genesis 25:30 is a narrative gem in which Esav’s physical hunger triggers not only a spoken request but the etymology of a national identity. The syntax of this verse reflects urgency, simplicity, and irony. Through imperatives, direct objects, causal conjunctions, and final commentary, the structure captures both Esav’s desperation and the narrator’s theological messaging.
Clause Structure: Speech, Reason, and Naming
This verse consists of three major clauses:
1. Direct Speech by Esav:
הַלְעִיטֵ֤נִי נָא֙ מִן־הָאָדֹ֤ם הָאָדֹם֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֥י עָיֵ֖ף אָנֹ֑כִי
(“Let me gulp down, please, some of this red red stuff—for I am weary”)
2. Narrator’s Interjection:
עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמֹ֖ו אֱדֹֽום
(“Therefore his name was called Edom”)
Each of these main clauses has a clear internal structure and syntactic function, contributing to the flow from request to explanation to conclusion.
Word Order and Fronted Elements: Urgency in Speech
Esav’s plea begins with an imperative verb:
– הַלְעִיטֵ֤נִי: Hiphil imperative + 1cs suffix, “Let me gulp down,” indicating haste or crudeness.
The particle of entreaty נָא follows, softening the demand with politeness—though the content remains primal.
The object phrase מִן־הָאָדֹ֤ם הָאָדֹם֙ הַזֶּ֔ה contains doubling of the noun הָאָדֹם, intensifying the visual and emotional focus on the stew. The demonstrative הַזֶּה finalizes the object with deictic clarity: “this one right here.”
Nominal Phrases: Repetition and Thematic Naming
– הָאָדֹם הָאָדֹם: repetition for emphasis. The doubling likely signals Esav’s inarticulateness or intensity—he doesn’t name the food but names its color.
– עָיֵף אָנֹכִי: subject-predicate construction with adjective first, giving weight to his condition: “weary I am.”
The final phrase:
– שְׁמֹו אֱדֹום: construct phrase “his name [was] Edom”—a play on אָדֹם and אֱדֹום (same root, different connotation).
Verbal Syntax: Imperative, Perfect, and Passive
– הַלְעִיטֵנִי: Hiphil imperative of ל־ע־ט, with object suffix.
– עָיֵף: stative adjective functioning as predicate.
– קָרָא: perfect 3ms with object suffix on שְׁמֹו (his name).
– קָרָא שְׁמֹו is idiomatic for naming.
– נִקְרָא is not used here; instead, the active קָרָא is used in a divine passive style, with the actor unstated—presumably society or God.
Agreement and Concord
– עָיֵף agrees with אָנֹכִי (1cs) in gender and number.
– שְׁמֹו: third ms possessive, referring back to Esav.
The structures are clean, with tight pronoun alignment maintaining flow and clarity.
Tense, Aspect, and Mood: Imperative Meets Narrative Past
– Imperative: הַלְעִיטֵנִי expresses immediate desire.
– Perfect: קָרָא is narrative past, describing a past naming event with continuing consequence.
Emphasis and Irony: Syntax as Theology
The repetition of הָאָדֹם and the unnamed food provide a rhetorical foil—Esav is so focused on gratification that he doesn’t even specify what he’s asking for. This syntactic roughness enhances the theological critique of his character.
Meanwhile, the narrator’s clause עַל־כֵּן קָרָא שְׁמֹו אֱדֹום turns a descriptive adjective into a lasting identity—“Edom” becomes a national label rooted in red stew and rash speech.
Discourse Flow: From Request to Reputation
The structure moves from:
1. Direct request (Esav’s speech)
2. Justification (he is tired)
3. Identity result (he’s called Edom)
This syntactic trajectory mirrors a thematic descent: desire → weakness → lasting consequence.
Unfolding the Structural Flow
Genesis 25:30 is a masterclass in how Hebrew syntax encapsulates character and consequence. Through repetition, verb form, and discourse sequencing, the verse links appetite to identity. Esav’s words are brief and impulsive, yet their structure bears the weight of tribal destiny. His syntax, like his decision, is short—but its impact is enduring.
