Introduction to Genesis 12:1
Genesis 12:1 marks a pivotal moment in biblical history, where יְהוָה (YHWH) commands אַבְרָם (Avram, “Abram”) to leave his homeland and journey to an unknown land. The grammatical structure of this verse is significant, particularly the imperative phrase לֶךְ־לְךָ (lekh-lekha, “Go for yourself” or “Go forth”). The use of the imperative, the prepositional phrases, and the relative clause provides insight into the linguistic and theological depth of this divine calling.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ וּמִמֹּֽולַדְתְּךָ֖ וּמִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
1. וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ (vayyo’mer YHWH) – “And YHWH said” (wayyiqtol verb)
2. לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ (lekh-lekha) – “Go for yourself” or “Go forth” (imperative + reflexive/emphatic)
3. מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ (me’artzekha) – “From your land” (prepositional phrase)
4. וּמִמֹּֽולַדְתְּךָ֖ (umimmoladtekha) – “And from your birthplace”
5. וּמִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ (umibbeit avikha) – “And from your father’s house”
6. אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ (el-ha’aretz asher ar’eka) – “To the land that I will show you” (relative clause)
Explanation of Grammatical Function
1. The Imperative לֶךְ־לְךָ (Lekh-Lekha)
The phrase לֶךְ־לְךָ (lekh-lekha) consists of:
– לֶךְ (lekh) – Qal imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh, “to go, walk”), 2nd person masculine singular.
– לְךָ (lekha) – Prepositional pronoun, often interpreted as:
– Reflexive (“Go for yourself”) – Suggesting that Abram should undertake this journey for his own benefit.
– Emphatic (“Go forth”) – Strengthening the command.
This imperative + pronoun construction appears in only two other places in the Torah (Genesis 22:2, 24:4), always in the context of a major divine mission.
2. The Series of Prepositional Phrases
The command is followed by three prepositional phrases, each introduced by מִן (min, “from”):
1. מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ (me’artzekha, “from your land”) – Geographic separation.
2. וּמִמֹּֽולַדְתְּךָ֖ (umimmoladtekha, “from your birthplace”) – Social separation.
3. וּמִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ (umibbeit avikha, “from your father’s house”) – Familial separation.
The increasing levels of detachment highlight the magnitude of Abram’s departure.
3. The Destination Phrase אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ (El-ha’aretz)
The prepositional phrase אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ (el-ha’aretz, “to the land”) introduces the destination of Abram’s journey.
– The definite article הַ (ha-) on הָאָ֖רֶץ (ha’aretz, “the land”) implies a specific, divinely chosen land.
– The use of אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶֽךָּ (asher ar’eka, “that I will show you”) introduces a relative clause, emphasizing God’s control over the revelation of the destination.
4. The Relative Clause אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ (Asher Ar’eka)
The clause אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ (asher ar’eka, “that I will show you”) provides a future action dependent on divine revelation.
– אַרְאֶֽךָּ (ar’eka) is a Hifil imperfect 1st person singular of רָאָה (ra’ah, “to see”).
– The Hifil stem indicates causation, meaning “I will cause you to see” or “I will show you.”
This clause conveys that Abram must embark on the journey without knowing the final destination, emphasizing faith and divine guidance.
Theological and Linguistic Implications of לֶךְ־לְךָ
The imperative לֶךְ־לְךָ in Genesis 12:1 represents one of the most significant divine commands in the Hebrew Bible, signaling Abram’s separation from his past and his faith in God’s guidance. The use of the reflexive/emphatic לְךָ, the series of prepositional separations, and the uncertainty of the destination underscore the theological theme of obedience and divine promise. Understanding these grammatical structures enriches our appreciation of how Hebrew imperatives and prepositions shape the narrative of faith and covenant.
