| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs parallel appositional constructs: zera {זֶרַע | zĕ-rāʿ} ‘seed’ in construct with Yisrael {יִשְׂרָאֵל | Yiś-rāʾēl}, followed by avdo {עַבְדּוֹ | ʿaḇ-dō} ‘servant’ with a possessive suffix. This pattern repeats with bnei {בְּנֵי | bə-nê} ‘sons of’ and Yaʿakov {יַעֲקֹב | Yaʿă-qōḇ}, then bechirav {בְּחִירָיו | bə-ḥî-rāw} ‘his chosen ones.’ The absence of a finite verb creates a vocative or address formula typical of Hebrew poetry, underscoring corporate identity and divine election. |