וַיְהִ֗י בְּיֹ֨ום דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
(Exodus 6:28)
This verse is a short narrative introduction that sets the scene for divine communication. It might look simple at first, but it reveals a lot about Hebrew narrative grammar, time expressions, and sentence flow. Let’s break it down and see how Hebrew builds meaning, even in one quiet verse.
English Translation (Clear and Literal)
And it came to pass on the day that YHWH spoke to Moshe in the land of Mitsrayim (Egypt).
This is a time marker. It introduces the moment when YHWH addressed Moshe—likely preparing for what follows next in the story.
Word Order and Flow: Setting the Scene
This is a classic Hebrew narrative introduction. It begins with:
- וַיְהִי — “And it came to pass” (typical of biblical openings)
- בְּיֹום דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה — “on the day YHWH spoke to Moshe”
- בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם — “in the land of Mitsrayim” (location)
In Hebrew, this type of structure is used to mark a moment in time right before a major divine act or command.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Hebrew Word | Meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִי | And it came to pass | From הָיָה (“to be”). This is a wayyiqtol (vav-consecutive past tense), used to start narrative sections. Very common in Biblical Hebrew stories. |
| בְּיֹום | on the day | יוֹם = “day.” בְּ = “in/on.” Time expression that introduces when the action happened. |
| דִּבֶּר | spoke | Perfect tense, 3rd person masculine singular from דָּבַר (“to speak”). Refers to what YHWH did. |
| יְהוָה | YHWH | The subject who is speaking. Hebrew syntax allows this to follow the verb. |
| אֶל־מֹשֶׁה | to Moshe | Prepositional phrase: אֶל = “to,” + proper noun. Moshe is the one spoken to. |
| בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם | in the land of Mitsrayim | Location phrase. אֶרֶץ = “land,” מִצְרָיִם = “Egypt.” The בְּ means “in.” |
Visual: Hebrew Narrative Openings
| Element | Function | Example from Verse |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִי | Marks new scene or event | “And it came to pass” |
| בְּיֹום… | Introduces time | “On the day…” |
| דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה | Main event or action | “YHWH spoke to Moshe” |
| בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם | Setting / place | “In the land of Mitsrayim” |
What We Learned from This Sentence
- You saw the typical Hebrew story opener: וַיְהִי (And it came to pass…)
- You learned how to recognize a time clause: בְּיֹום דִּבֶּר…
- You practiced Hebrew word order, where verbs often come before the subject (e.g., “spoke YHWH to Moshe”).
- You saw a simple but complete Hebrew narrative sentence with a clear event, time, and place.
This verse might seem like a quiet setup, but it’s a classic structure of how Hebrew tells sacred stories. You’re learning to hear the rhythm of revelation in its original language!
