וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י יֹוצֵ֤א מֵֽעִמָּךְ֙ וְהַעְתַּרְתִּ֣י אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וְסָ֣ר הֶעָרֹ֗ב מִפַּרְעֹ֛ה מֵעֲבָדָ֥יו וּמֵעַמֹּ֖ו מָחָ֑ר רַ֗ק אַל־יֹסֵ֤ף פַּרְעֹה֙ הָתֵ֔ל לְבִלְתִּי֙ שַׁלַּ֣ח אֶת־הָעָ֔ם לִזְבֹּ֖חַ לַֽיהוָֽה׃
(Exodus 8:25)
And Moshe said, “Behold, I am going out from you, and I will plead to YHWH, and the swarm will depart from Parʿo, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow. Only, let not Parʿo continue to deceive by not sending the people to sacrifice to YHWH.”
Clause Structure
The verse presents Moses’ reply to Parʿo in a series of coordinated and subordinated clauses that balance divine promise with human responsibility:
- וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה – Main narrative introduction (“And Moses said”).
- הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי יֹוצֵא מֵעִמָּךְ – Moses’ departure announced.
- וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי אֶל־יְהוָה – Petition to YHWH as subsequent action.
- וְסָר הֶעָרֹב מִפַּרְעֹה מֵעֲבָדָיו וּמֵעַמֹּו מָחָר – Promise of plague removal “tomorrow.”
- רַק אַל־יֹסֵף פַּרְעֹה הָתֵל… – Prohibition clause warning against deceit.
Key Grammatical Features
| Phrase | Syntax | Function |
|---|---|---|
| הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי יֹוצֵא | Demonstrative particle + participial clause | Announces imminent action (“Behold, I am going out”). The participle emphasizes certainty and immediacy. |
| וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי אֶל־יְהוָה | Wayyiqtol + indirect object | Sequential consequence: Moses’ intercession follows his departure. |
| וְסָר הֶעָרֹב… | Wayyiqtol + subject + prepositional complements | Promise of result: the flies will depart from Parʿo, his servants, and his people. |
| מָחָר | Temporal adverb | Specifies the timing of divine intervention. |
| רַק אַל־יֹסֵף פַּרְעֹה הָתֵל | Adverbial particle + negative jussive + infinitive absolute | Restrictive warning: “Only let Parʿo not again deceive…” The infinitive absolute הָתֵל strengthens the prohibition. |
| לְבִלְתִּי שַׁלַּח | Purpose clause with infinitive construct | States the deceit: preventing the people from sacrificing to YHWH. |
Syntactic Flow
– The verse follows a VSO rhythm typical of narrative Hebrew, but the direct speech moves into first-person participial and imperfect clauses for immediacy.
– Temporal anchoring with מָחָר situates the promise within a concrete timeframe.
– The climactic prohibition (רַק אַל־יֹסֵף פַּרְעֹה הָתֵל) shifts tone from promise to warning, highlighting the conditional nature of divine mercy.
Theological and Literary Significance
The syntax reflects the covenantal tension: YHWH’s power to remove the plague is clear, but Parʿo’s deceit threatens covenantal compliance. The verse’s layered clauses enact a negotiation: divine action promised, human integrity demanded.
Syntax as a Treaty
Exodus 8:25 is structured like a treaty clause. The sequence of participles, wayyiqtol verbs, and prohibitive jussives mirrors the rhythm of covenant negotiations. Syntax here not only narrates but legislates, binding promise with accountability.