וַיְמַהֵ֣ר פַּרְעֹ֔ה לִקְרֹ֖א לְמֹשֶׁ֣ה וּלְאַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר חָטָ֛אתִי לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם וְלָכֶֽם׃
(Exodus 10:16)
And Parʿo hastened to call for Moshe and Aharon, and he said, “I have sinned against YHWH your God and against you.”
This verse captures a moment of panic and confession after the plague of locusts. Parʿo (Pharaoh) realizes the severity of YHWH’s power and urgently summons Moshe (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron). The Hebrew grammar here beautifully conveys urgency, repentance, and direct speech through its verbs and word order.
How Hebrew Builds Urgency
In Biblical Hebrew storytelling, verbs often come first to show fast-moving action. The verse begins with וַיְמַהֵר (“and he hastened”)—a word that signals immediate response.
The next verbs—לִקְרֹא (“to call”) and וַיֹּאמֶר (“and he said”)—follow quickly, creating a chain of motion and speech that mirrors Pharaoh’s emotional state.
Hebrew doesn’t need extra words like “quickly” or “immediately.” The grammar itself carries the urgency.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Hebrew Word | English Meaning | Part of Speech | Grammar & Notes | Role in Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְמַהֵר | and he hastened | Verb | Root: מ־ה־ר (“to hurry, hasten”) Form: Qal wayyiqtol, 3rd masculine singular Function: narrative action, sequential—moves story forward |
Main action: Pharaoh’s immediate reaction |
| פַּרְעֹה | Pharaoh (Parʿo) | Noun (proper name) | Subject of the verb וַיְמַהֵר | Performer of the action |
| לִקְרֹא | to call | Verb (infinitive construct) | Root: ק־ר־א (“to call, summon”) Preposition לְ marks purpose or result: “to call for” |
Explains Pharaoh’s purpose for hurrying |
| לְמֹשֶׁה | for Moshe | Proper noun with preposition | לְ = “to/for”; attached to Moshe’s name | Recipient of Pharaoh’s call |
| וּלְאַהֲרֹן | and for Aharon | Proper noun with preposition | Prefix וּ = “and”; לְ = “to/for” | Second recipient of the call |
| וַיֹּאמֶר | and he said | Verb | Root: א־מ־ר (“to say”) Form: Qal wayyiqtol, 3rd masculine singular Common introduction to direct speech |
Introduces Pharaoh’s confession |
| חָטָאתִי | I have sinned | Verb | Root: ח־ט־א (“to sin, miss the mark”) Form: Qal perfect, 1st person singular Indicates completed confession—“I have sinned” |
Pharaoh’s statement of guilt |
| לַיהוָה | against YHWH | Prepositional phrase | לְ = “to/against”; the divine name indicates the object of sin | First object of confession |
| אֱלֹהֵיכֶם | your God | Noun + suffix | Root: אֱלֹהִים (“God”) Suffix -כֶם = “your (plural masculine)” Here, “YHWH your God” |
Specifies whose God is meant |
| וְלָכֶם | and against you | Prepositional phrase | וְ = “and” + לָכֶם = “to/against you (plural masculine)” Expresses Pharaoh’s guilt toward Moshe and Aharon |
Second object of confession |
Grammar and Syntax Insights
- Sequential Verbs: וַיְמַהֵר and וַיֹּאמֶר are in the wayyiqtol form, the standard tense for Hebrew narrative storytelling. Each verb pushes the story forward with vivid immediacy.
- Purpose Clause: לִקְרֹא explains why Pharaoh hurried—to summon Moshe and Aharon.
- Confession Formula: The phrase חָטָאתִי לַיהוָה (“I have sinned against YHWH”) is one of the few confessions of sin spoken by a foreign ruler in the Torah, showing rhetorical humility under divine judgment.
Tips for Beginners
- Follow the verbs! In Hebrew narrative, each action verb usually begins with וַ (“and”), marking the next step in the sequence.
- Perfect vs. Wayyiqtol: Perfect verbs (like חָטָאתִי) describe completed actions. Wayyiqtol verbs (like וַיֹּאמֶר) move the story forward.
- Suffixes matter: The ending -כֶם means “your” (plural masculine). Hebrew pronoun endings reveal relationships in the sentence.
- Learn the root system: Words like מ־ה־ר (to hurry) and ח־ט־א (to sin) appear in many contexts. Recognizing roots builds reading confidence.
Hebrew in Motion
Every word in Exodus 10:16 pulses with urgency. Pharaoh’s heart, once proud, is now fearful. The verbs rush forward like the story itself: he hastens, he calls, he speaks, he confesses. This verse shows how Hebrew grammar mirrors emotion, using swift verbs and compact phrasing to carry both movement and meaning.
By following these patterns, you’re not just learning Hebrew, you’re feeling its rhythm, hearing its heartbeat, and understanding how divine encounters sound in the sacred language itself.
