וַיִּקַּ֣ח אַבְרָם֩ אֶת־שָׂרַ֨י אִשְׁתֹּ֜ו וְאֶת־לֹ֣וט בֶּן־אָחִ֗יו וְאֶת־כָּל־רְכוּשָׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁוּ וְאֶת־הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֣וּ בְחָרָ֑ן וַיֵּצְא֗וּ לָלֶ֨כֶת֙ אַ֣רְצָה כְּנַ֔עַן וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃ (Genesis 12:5)
Overview: Syntax as Pilgrimage
Genesis 12:5 is the narrative unfolding of Avram’s obedience to YHWH’s call. Syntactically, the verse follows a typical Biblical Hebrew narrative structure, yet it carries theological depth through coordination, accumulation of objects, and purposeful repetition. The grammar walks with Avram—each clause, phrase, and verb mirroring the act of gathering and going.
Clause Structure: Compound Actions with Coordinated Elements
The verse includes three main narrative verbs, each introducing a phase of the journey:
1. וַיִּקַּ֣ח אַבְרָם – “And Avram took…”
2. וַיֵּצְאוּ לָלֶכֶת – “And they went out to go…”
3. וַיָּבֹאוּ אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן – “And they came to the land of Kenaʿan”
Each verb is in wayyiqtol form, marking sequential past narrative action.
Word Order and Focus: Fronted Subjects, Final Destination
– וַיִּקַּ֣ח אַבְרָם – Verb-subject structure (standard Hebrew narrative syntax)
– וַיֵּצְאוּ and וַיָּבֹאוּ – Plural verbs referring back to the group gathered by Avram.
The verse ends with אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן, first as a goal and then as a result. This repetition creates semantic emphasis on the destination, reinforced grammatically.
Accumulative Object Phrases: Constructing a Community
The verb וַיִּקַּ֣ח governs a series of direct objects, each introduced with אֶת־ and joined by וְ:
1. אֶת־שָׂרַי אִשְׁתּוֹ – “Sarai his wife”
2. וְאֶת־לוֹט בֶּן־אָחִיו – “Lot, his brother’s son”
3. וְאֶת־כָּל־רְכוּשָׁם אֲשֶׁר רָכָשׁוּ – “all their possessions that they had acquired”
4. וְאֶת־הַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂוּ בְחָרָן – “the people they had made in Ḥaran”
This structure builds from family to property to people, expanding Avram’s scope as a leader. The relative clauses אֲשֶׁר רָכָשׁוּ and אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂוּ are nested into the objects, providing explanatory detail and syntactic depth.
Verbal Syntax: Movement and Narrative Sequence
– וַיִּקַּח: Qal wayyiqtol – “he took”
– וַיֵּצְאוּ: Qal wayyiqtol – “they went out”
– לָלֶכֶת: Qal infinitive construct – “to go” (expressing purpose)
– וַיָּבֹאוּ: Qal wayyiqtol – “they arrived”
This threefold verbal sequence traces intention (took), journey (went), completion (arrived).
Agreement and Syntactic Cohesion
The verbs shift from singular (וַיִּקַּח with subject Avram) to plural (וַיֵּצְאוּ, וַיָּבֹאוּ), indicating that the action extends beyond Avram to the group he gathers. The plural pronouns ensure syntactic inclusivity of all traveling with him.
Thematic Parallelism: Going and Coming
The dual use of אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן first with לָלֶכֶת and then with וַיָּבֹאוּ creates temporal and narrative symmetry. What was once intention becomes realization. Syntax mirrors destiny.
The Architecture of Obedience
Genesis 12:5 is a syntactic journey: verbs of gathering lead to verbs of going and verbs of going to verbs of fulfillment. Its repeated object markers, relative clauses, and movement verbs do not merely describe a relocation—they narrate a covenantal turning point, one step and one clause at a time.
