וַֽיְחִי־לֶ֗מֶךְ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הֹולִידֹ֣ו אֶת־נֹ֔חַ חָמֵ֤שׁ וְתִשְׁעִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֹ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֥ולֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֹֽות׃ (Genesis 5:30)
And Lemekh lived after he had begotten Noaḥ five and ninety years and five hundred years and he begot sons and daughters
Introduction: Rhythm of Life in Repetition
Genesis 5 is a genealogical chapter full of repetition—but repetition with meaning. The verb patterns throughout this list are not arbitrary. In this single verse, we encounter two binyanim—Qal and Hiphil—that structure the rhythm of life, time, and reproduction. These stems are not flashy, but they’re the grammatical heartbeat of a generational record that moves history forward.
Key Verbs and Their Binyanim
1. וַיְחִי — “he lived”
2. הֹולִידֹו — “he had begotten him”
3. וַיֹּולֶד — “he begot”
Let’s unpack the significance of these forms.
1. וַיְחִי — Qal, Imperfect with Vav-Consecutive, 3ms
Root: חָיָה (to live)
Binyan: Qal
Voice: Stative/Active
Function:
– The Qal here expresses existence or continuation.
– Vav-consecutive turns it into a narrative action: “And he lived…”
– It’s the default form in genealogical formulas, marking passage of time.
2. הֹולִידֹו — Hiphil, Infinitive Construct + Suffix
Root: יָלַד (to bear, beget)
Binyan: Hiphil
Voice: Causative
Structure:
– Prefix הֹו־: Hiphil indicator
– Infinitive construct with object suffix ֹו (“him” = Noaḥ)
Meaning: “After he had caused [Noaḥ] to be born”
Why Hiphil?
– In genealogies, Hiphil of יָלַד is the standard form for male begetting.
– The Qal form is more common with women giving birth.
– Hiphil = causative procreation: the father causes the child to be born.
3. וַיֹּולֶד — Hiphil, Imperfect with Vav-Consecutive, 3ms
Root: יָלַד
Binyan: Hiphil
Voice: Causative
Function:
– Describes Lemekh fathering other sons and daughters
– The same Hiphil form seen earlier, but now in narrative sequence with vav-consecutive
– The verb ends the verse with a reproductive flourish, continuing the line beyond Noaḥ
Genealogy and the Binyanim
| Verb | Root | Binyan | Voice | Function | Narrative Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְחִי | חיה | Qal | Stative | He lived | Marks time after begetting Noaḥ |
| הֹולִידֹו | ילד | Hiphil | Causative | He begot him | Marks procreation of Noaḥ |
| וַיֹּולֶד | ילד | Hiphil | Causative | He begot [others] | Continues family lineage |
How the Binyanim Sustain the Line
In genealogies, the binyanim do the heavy lifting:
– Qal verbs like וַיְחִי simply tell us he lived—anchoring the life-span.
– Hiphil verbs like הֹולִיד tell us he caused a child to be born—indicating the father’s role in continuation.
These forms, though seemingly repetitive, are ritualized grammar—repetition with meaning. They shape a rhythm where life leads to birth, and birth leads to more life.
Even in lineage lists, the binyanim breathe life into the generations.
