independentpurposecausecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The man in the land of Uz 1:1–5
1
אִ֛ישׁ הָיָ֥ה בְאֶֽרֶץ ע֖וּץindependent — the inverted opening — אִישׁ הָיָה, subject first: the once-upon-a-time cadence, and a land outside Israel
אִיּ֣וֹב שְׁמ֑וֹindependent — verbless naming formula
וְהָיָ֣ה הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֗וּא תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר וִירֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְסָ֥ר מֵרָֽעindependent — the four-fold verdict — תָּם וְיָשָׁר, fearing and turning: the narrator's own testimony, soon to be God's (v. 8)
2
וַיִּוָּ֥לְדוּ ל֛וֹ שִׁבְעָ֥ה בָנִ֖ים וְשָׁל֥וֹשׁ בָּנֽוֹתindependent — seven and three — the tens of a complete house
3
וַיְהִ֣י מִ֠קְנֵהוּ שִֽׁבְעַ֨ת אַלְפֵי צֹ֜אן וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת אַלְפֵ֣י גְמַלִּ֗ים וַחֲמֵ֨שׁ מֵא֤וֹת צֶֽמֶד בָּקָר֙ וַחֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת אֲתוֹנ֔וֹת וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה רַבָּ֣ה מְאֹ֑דindependent — the sevens and threes again, in thousands; עֲבֻדָּה — the whole service of servants
וַיְהִי֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא גָּד֖וֹל מִכָּל בְּנֵי קֶֽדֶםindependent — בְּנֵי־קֶדֶם — the fabled sages of the east; Job the greatest of them
4
וְהָלְכ֤וּ בָנָיו֙ וְעָשׂ֣וּ מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אִ֣ישׁ יוֹמ֑וֹindependent — weqatal habituals — the settled round of festivity
וְשָׁלְח֗וּ וְקָרְאוּ֙ לִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אחיתיהם אַחְיֽוֹתֵיהֶ֔םindependent — the Kethiv אחיתיהם / Qere אַחְיוֹתֵיהֶם sit side by side in the text here
לֶאֱכֹ֥ל וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת עִמָּהֶֽםpurpose — purpose infinitives — the feast's whole agenda
5
וַיְהִ֡י כִּ֣י הִקִּיפֽוּ֩ יְמֵ֨י הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֜הconditional — temporal frame — הִקִּיפוּ, the circuit completed; leaning on the mainline below
וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח אִיּ֣וֹב וַֽיְקַדְּשֵׁ֗םindependent — קִדֵּשׁ — the father as household priest
וְהִשְׁכִּ֣ים בַּבֹּקֶר֮independent — הִשְׁכִּים — the diligence formula
וְהֶעֱלָ֣ה עֹלוֹת֮ מִסְפַּ֣ר כֻּלָּם֒independent — one עֹלָה per child — piety by arithmetic
כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר אִיּ֔וֹבcause — the motive clause — כִּי אָמַר
אוּלַי֙ חָטְא֣וּ בָנַ֔יcontent — אוּלַי — piety against a mere maybe
וּבֵרֲכ֥וּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בִּלְבָבָ֑םcontent — בֵּרְכוּ — the famous scribal EUPHEMISM: 'blessed' written where 'cursed' is meant (again vv. 11; 2:5, 9)
כָּ֛כָה יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אִיּ֖וֹב כָּל הַיָּמִֽיםindependent — the exposition closes on habit — כָּל־הַיָּמִים
The first council in heaven 1:6–12
6
וַיְהִ֣י הַיּ֔וֹםindependent — וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם — the scene-shift formula; earth gives way to heaven
וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔יםindependent — בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים — the divine council in session
לְהִתְיַצֵּ֖ב עַל יְהוָ֑הpurpose — הִתְיַצֵּב עַל — courtiers standing in attendance
וַיָּב֥וֹא גַֽם הַשָּׂטָ֖ן בְּתוֹכָֽםindependent — הַשָּׂטָן with the ARTICLE — a title, 'the adversary/accuser', not yet a proper name
7
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל הַשָּׂטָ֖ןindependent — the dialogue opens from the throne
מֵאַ֣יִן תָּבֹ֑אcontent — the court's opening formality
וַיַּ֨עַן הַשָּׂטָ֤ן אֶת יְהוָה֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔רindependent — the full answering formula
מִשּׁ֣וּט בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּמֵֽהִתְהַלֵּ֖ךְ בָּֽהּcontent — מִשּׁוּט — the roving patrol; the accuser as the eyes of the court
8
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל הַשָּׂטָ֔ןindependent — YHWH raises the case — the boast is God's, not Job's
הֲשַׂ֥מְתָּ לִבְּךָ֖ עַל עַבְדִּ֣י אִיּ֑וֹבcontent — עַבְדִּי — 'my servant': the honorific of Abraham, Moses, David
כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין כָּמֹ֨הוּ֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץcause — the incomparability formula
אִ֣ישׁ תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר יְרֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְסָ֥ר מֵרָֽעphrase modifier — v. 1's four-fold verdict repeated verbatim — now in God's own mouth
9
וַיַּ֧עַן הַשָּׂטָ֛ן אֶת יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑רindependent — the wager begins
הַֽחִנָּ֔ם יָרֵ֥א אִיּ֖וֹב אֱלֹהִֽיםcontent — הַחִנָּם — 'gratis?': the book's central question, asked in one word
10
הֲלֹֽא את אַ֠תָּה שַׂ֣כְתָּ בַעֲד֧וֹ וּבְעַד בֵּית֛וֹ וּבְעַ֥ד כָּל אֲשֶׁר ל֖וֹ מִסָּבִ֑יבcontent — שַׂכְתָּ — the hedge; note the Kethiv את / Qere אַתָּה pair in the text
מַעֲשֵׂ֤ה יָדָיו֙ בֵּרַ֔כְתָּcontent — בֵּרַכְתָּ in its TRUE sense — the accuser can say the word straight
וּמִקְנֵ֖הוּ פָּרַ֥ץ בָּאָֽרֶץcontent — פָּרַץ — herds breaking every fence but the satan's point: the hedge
11
וְאוּלָם֙ שְֽׁלַֽח נָ֣א יָֽדְךָ֔content — וְאוּלָם — the adversative pivot of the wager
וְגַ֖ע בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר ל֑וֹcontent — נָגַע — a mere touch, from heaven
אִם לֹ֥א עַל פָּנֶ֖יךָ יְבָרֲכֶֽךָּcontent — אִם־לֹא oath formula ('if he does not… !') — and the euphemistic 'bless' again, meaning its opposite
12
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל הַשָּׂטָ֗ןindependent — the wager accepted
הִנֵּ֤ה כָל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָcontent — the possessions handed over — verbless, instantaneous
רַ֣ק אֵלָ֔יו אַל תִּשְׁלַ֖ח יָדֶ֑ךָcontent — רַק — the limit; the satan's own verb (v. 11) bounded
וַיֵּצֵא֙ הַשָּׂטָ֔ן מֵעִ֖ם פְּנֵ֥י יְהוָֽהindependent — the council adjourns; the scene drops to earth
The four blows 1:13–19
13
וַיְהִ֖י הַיּ֑וֹםindependent — the formula of v. 6 again — but this time the day belongs to earth
וּבָנָ֨יו וּבְנֹתָ֤יו אֹֽכְלִים֙ וְשֹׁתִ֣ים יַ֔יִן בְּבֵ֖ית אֲחִיהֶ֥ם הַבְּכֽוֹרindependent — circumstantial participles — the feast of v. 4 in progress as the blow falls
14
וּמַלְאָ֛ךְ בָּ֥א אֶל אִיּ֖וֹב וַיֹּאמַ֑רindependent — the first of four — the relay begins
הַבָּקָר֙ הָי֣וּ חֹֽרְשׁ֔וֹתcontent — the report opens on ordinary work
וְהָאֲתֹנ֖וֹת רֹע֥וֹת עַל יְדֵיהֶֽםcontent — עַל־יְדֵיהֶם — 'at their hands', close by
15
וַתִּפֹּ֤ל שְׁבָא֙ וַתִּקָּחֵ֔םcontent — the Sabeans — the first blow, by human raiders
וְאֶת הַנְּעָרִ֖ים הִכּ֣וּ לְפִי חָ֑רֶבcontent — לְפִי־חָרֶב — 'by the mouth of the sword'
וָֽאִמָּ֨לְטָ֧ה רַק אֲנִ֛י לְבַדִּ֖יcontent — the survivor formula, first sounding — וָאִמָּלְטָה רַק־אֲנִי לְבַדִּי
לְהַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְpurpose — the survivor exists to carry the news
16
ע֣וֹד זֶ֣ה מְדַבֵּ֗רconditional — עוֹד זֶה מְדַבֵּר — the relay formula: no gap between blows
וְזֶה֮ בָּ֣א וַיֹּאמַר֒independent — the second messenger
אֵ֣שׁ אֱלֹהִ֗ים נָֽפְלָה֙ מִן הַשָּׁמַ֔יִםcontent — אֵשׁ אֱלֹהִים — the second blow, from the sky: the blows alternate human and heavenly
וַתִּבְעַ֥ר בַּצֹּ֛אן וּבַנְּעָרִ֖ים וַתֹּאכְלֵ֑םcontent — the flocks of v. 3 gone
וָאִמָּ֨לְטָ֧ה רַק אֲנִ֛י לְבַדִּ֖יcontent — the formula again, verbatim
לְהַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְpurpose
17
ע֣וֹד זֶ֣ה מְדַבֵּ֗רconditional — the relay formula, third time
וְזֶה֮ בָּ֣א וַיֹּאמַר֒independent — the third messenger
כַּשְׂדִּ֞ים שָׂ֣מוּ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה רָאשִׁ֗יםcontent — שְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁים — a three-pronged raid; human agency again
וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֤וּ עַל הַגְּמַלִּים֙ וַיִּקָּח֔וּםcontent — the three thousand camels of v. 3
וְאֶת הַנְּעָרִ֖ים הִכּ֣וּ לְפִי חָ֑רֶבcontent — the same clause as v. 15 — the reports rhyme
וָאִמָּ֨לְטָ֧ה רַק אֲנִ֛י לְבַדִּ֖יcontent
לְהַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְpurpose
18
עַ֚ד זֶ֣ה מְדַבֵּ֔רconditional — עַד for עוֹד — the formula's one variation, at the worst news
וְזֶ֖ה בָּ֣א וַיֹּאמַ֑רindependent — the fourth messenger
בָּנֶ֨יךָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֤יךָ אֹֽכְלִים֙ וְשֹׁתִ֣ים יַ֔יִן בְּבֵ֖ית אֲחִיהֶ֥ם הַבְּכֽוֹרcontent — v. 13's idyll repeated word for word — the narrator has already shown us what this sentence precedes
19
וְהִנֵּה֩ ר֨וּחַ גְּדוֹלָ֜ה בָּ֣אָה מֵעֵ֣בֶר הַמִּדְבָּ֗רcontent — רוּחַ גְּדוֹלָה — the fourth blow, from the sky: the alternation completes
וַיִּגַּע֙ בְּאַרְבַּע֙ פִּנּ֣וֹת הַבַּ֔יִתcontent — four corners, four blows
וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל הַנְּעָרִ֖ים וַיָּמ֑וּתוּcontent — הַנְּעָרִים — here the CHILDREN; the word that meant 'servants' in every prior report now takes everything
וָאִמָּ֨לְטָ֧ה רַק אֲנִ֛י לְבַדִּ֖יcontent — the formula's fourth and final sounding
לְהַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְpurpose
YHWH gave, and YHWH has taken 1:20–22
20
וַיָּ֤קָם אִיּוֹב֙independent — five wayyiqtols in a row — grief enacted before it speaks
וַיִּקְרַ֣ע אֶת מְעִל֔וֹindependent — קָרַע — the mourning rite
וַיָּ֖גָז אֶת רֹאשׁ֑וֹindependent — גָּזַז — the second rite
וַיִּפֹּ֥ל אַ֖רְצָהindependent — אַרְצָה — down to the dust
וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּindependent — וַיִּשְׁתָּחוּ — the astonishing fifth verb: not cursing but prostration
21
וַיֹּאמֶר֩independent — the confession
עָרֹ֨ם יצתי יָצָ֜אתִי מִבֶּ֣טֶן אִמִּ֗יcontent — the Kethiv יצתי / Qere יָצָאתִי pair sits in the text here
וְעָרֹם֙ אָשׁ֣וּב שָׁ֔מָהcontent — שָׁמָה — 'there': the womb become the earth
יְהוָ֣ה נָתַ֔ןcontent — two words in the Hebrew
וַיהוָ֖ה לָקָ֑חcontent — the same hand in both clauses
יְהִ֛י שֵׁ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה מְבֹרָֽךְcontent — מְבֹרָךְ — the true blessing, where the satan predicted cursing: the wager lost in one line
22
בְּכָל זֹ֖את לֹא חָטָ֣א אִיּ֑וֹבindependent — the narrator's verdict
וְלֹא נָתַ֥ן תִּפְלָ֖ה לֵאלֹהִֽיםindependent — תִּפְלָה — a rare word: 'unseemliness, folly'; Job gave God nothing of it
Analysis. The prose prologue, laid out clause by clause. The narrative mainline runs flush-left in wayyiqtol chains — nowhere more starkly than v. 20, where five verbs in a row (rose, tore, shaved, fell, worshiped) enact grief before a word is spoken, and the fifth verb is not the one the wager predicted. All speech hangs as content-clauses under its verb of saying: the heavenly dialogue of vv. 7–12 alternates speaker by speaker, and the four messenger reports of vv. 14–19 share one shape — report, the survivor formula ('and I alone have escaped'), and the purpose tail 'to tell you' — with the relay formula 'while this one was still speaking' leaning forward between them. The famous euphemism (בֵּרַךְ written for 'curse', vv. 5, 11) and its reversal in Job's true blessing (v. 21) are flagged in the tags, as are the chapter's three Kethiv-Qere pairs, which stand as adjacent words in the running text.