Genesis 44:4
הֵ֠ם יָֽצְא֣וּ אֶת־הָעִיר֮ לֹ֣א הִרְחִיקוּ֒ וְיֹוסֵ֤ף אָמַר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּיתֹ֔ו ק֥וּם רְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת טֹובָֽה׃
Clause One: הֵם יָצְאוּ אֶת־הָעִיר
הֵם (“they”) is the subject pronoun. יָצְאוּ (Qal perfect 3mp of י־צ־א) means “they went out.” The preposition אֶת here functions unusually with a place — אֶת־הָעִיר (“from the city”), which normally takes מִן. This construction likely carries narrative style and idiomatic influence.
Negative Perfect: לֹא הִרְחִיקוּ
לֹא negates the verb הִרְחִיקוּ (Hiphil perfect 3mp from ר־ח־ק, “to go far”), meaning “they had not gone far.” Together, this clause defines temporal proximity — they had just left the city when the next event occurs.
Speech Introduction: וְיֹוסֵף אָמַר לַאֲשֶׁר עַל־בֵּיתֹו
וְיֹוסֵף אָמַר (“and Yosef said”) uses Qal perfect 3ms of אָמַר to report speech. לַאֲשֶׁר עַל־בֵּיתֹו (“to the one over his house”) is a descriptive phrase referring to the steward. עַל־בֵּיתֹו (“over his house”) expresses administrative authority.
Imperative Chain: קוּם רְדֹף אַחֲרֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים
This clause features sequential imperatives:
- קוּם (“Get up”) — Qal imperative 2ms from ק־ו־ם
- רְדֹף (“pursue”) — Qal imperative 2ms from ר־ד־ף
אַחֲרֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים (“after the men”) is a prepositional phrase marking the object of the pursuit. The repetition of verbs increases urgency in Joseph’s command.
Coordinated Instructions: וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם וְאָמַרְתָּ
These are vav-consecutive perfects with imperative force:
- וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם — Hiphil perfect 2ms of נ־שׂ־ג, “and you shall overtake them”
- וְאָמַרְתָּ — Qal perfect 2ms, “and you shall say”
This syntax reflects standard Hebrew sequencing for future or imperative speech within narrative.
Direct Quote: לָמָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּם רָעָה תַּחַת טֹובָה
לָמָּה (“why”) introduces the question. שִׁלַּמְתֶּם (Piel perfect 2mp from ש־ל־ם, “to repay”) means “have you repaid.” The phrase רָעָה תַּחַת טֹובָה (“evil for good”) uses תַּחַת (“in place of, instead of”) to express betrayal or ingratitude — a strong accusatory idiom in Hebrew.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Genesis 44:4
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| קוּם | ק־ו־ם | Qal imperative (2ms) | “Rise!” — command to act swiftly |
| רְדֹף | ר־ד־ף | Qal imperative (2ms) | “Pursue!” — follow after the men |
| הִשַּׂגְתָּם | נ־שׂ־ג | Hiphil perfect (2ms + 3mp suffix) | “You shall overtake them” — result of pursuit |
| שִׁלַּמְתֶּם | ש־ל־ם | Piel perfect (2mp) | “You have repaid” — accusation |
The Grammar of Confrontation
This verse builds tension with swift imperatives and perfect verbs of authority. Joseph orchestrates a confrontation with carefully sequenced instructions, using Hebrew grammar to stage both pursuit and moral questioning. The interrogative climax — “Why have you repaid evil for good?” — delivers rhetorical force with elegant precision. Language becomes the tool of justice, echoing both narrative drama and ethical expectation.
