| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The sentence begins with the vav-consecutive prefix vayehi {וַיְהִ֥י | way·hî} ‘and it was’, a narrative marker indicating a shift. Next the construct noun dêvar {דְּבַר־ | də·var} ‘word’ links with Yahweh {יְהוָ֖ה | Yə·hō·wāh} to form ‘the word of the LORD’. The prepositional phrase ʾêlâw {אֵלָ֥יו | ʾê·lāw} ‘to him’ marks the recipient, and the infinitive lêmôr {לֵאמֹֽר׃ | lê·mōr} ‘saying’ introduces direct speech. Hebrew’s verb–subject–object–infinitive sequence underlies the literal version, while English idiomatic patterns guide the formal and dynamic renditions. |