Exodus 4:27
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן לֵ֛ךְ לִקְרַ֥את מֹשֶׁ֖ה הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַֽיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּ בְּהַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיִּשַּׁק־לֹֽו׃
Divine Command: וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־אַהֲרֹן
וַיֹּאמֶר is a Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of א־מ־ר (“to say”), standard for narrative progression. יְהוָה is the divine speaker, and אֶל־אַהֲרֹן marks Aaron as the recipient. This phrase introduces a command directly from God to Aaron.
Imperative Mission: לֵךְ לִקְרַאת מֹשֶׁה הַמִּדְבָּרָה
לֵךְ (“Go!”) is a Qal imperative 2ms from י־ל־ך, commanding immediate action. לִקְרַאת (“to meet”) is an infinitive construct of ק־ר־א with the preposition לְ, expressing purpose. מֹשֶׁה is the object, and הַמִּדְבָּרָה (“to the wilderness”) features the directional he (ה locative), indicating motion toward the desert where Moses is.
Sequential Journey: וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּ
Two sequential wayyiqtol forms narrate Aaron’s obedience:
- וַיֵּלֶךְ — “and he went” (Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of י־ל־ך)
- וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּ — “and he met him” (Qal wayyiqtol 3ms + 3ms suffix of פ־ג־שׁ)
וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּ uses the suffix ־הוּ (“him”) referring to Moses, ensuring the object of the meeting is clearly identified.
Place of Meeting: בְּהַר הָאֱלֹהִים
בְּהַר (“at the mountain”) uses the preposition בְּ to indicate location. הָאֱלֹהִים (“of God”) modifies הַר (“mountain”), traditionally understood as Mount Horeb or Sinai — a place of divine encounters. This elevates the meeting’s significance beyond a mere family reunion.
Expression of Affection: וַיִּשַּׁק־לֹו
וַיִּשַּׁק is a Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of נ־שׁ־ק (“to kiss”). לֹו (“to him”) indicates the indirect object. The kiss expresses reunion, love, and peace between Moses and Aaron — a strong emotional conclusion to the action sequence.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Exodus 4:27
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| לֵךְ | י־ל־ך | Qal imperative (2ms) | “Go!” — divine command to Aaron |
| לִקְרַאת | ק־ר־א | Infinitive construct + לְ | “To meet” — purpose of going |
| וַיֵּלֶךְ | י־ל־ך | Qal wayyiqtol (3ms) | “And he went” — obedience to divine command |
| וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּ | פ־ג־שׁ | Qal wayyiqtol (3ms + 3ms suffix) | “And he met him” — culmination of journey |
| וַיִּשַּׁק־לֹו | נ־שׁ־ק | Qal wayyiqtol (3ms) | “And he kissed him” — gesture of affection and reunion |
The Grammar of Divine Encounters
Exodus 4:27 narrates a moment of obedience, reunion, and emotional warmth through precise grammatical sequencing. Imperatives launch divine missions; wayyiqtol verbs move the story step-by-step to fulfillment; suffixes and infinitives detail the purpose and emotional intensity of the encounter. Here, Hebrew grammar choreographs a divine meeting where each word advances both mission and heart.
