1 Samuel 16:8ExegesisTAB

1 Samuel 16 : 8 Selection | Rejection | Sovereignty
8. Linguistic Exegesis
The narrative progression is driven by a sequence of vav-consecutive verbs, beginning with vav-consecutive {וַיִּקְרָ֤א | wayyiqrā} ‘and he called’ and continuing with vayya’avirehu {וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּ | wayyaʿăwîrēhû} ‘and he made him pass’. The construct lifnei {לִפְנֵ֣י | lipʾnê} places the action before Samuel, marking a formal presentation. The adversative vav {וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | wayyōmer} then introduces the LORD’s evaluation. Within gambazeh {גַּם־בָּזֶ֖ה | gam-bāzéh}, the particle gam ‘also’ combined with demonstrative bazeh ‘in this one’ intensifies the repetition of rejection, while lobachar {לֹֽא־בָחַ֥ר | lō-ḇāḥar} ‘has not chosen’ delivers the decisive denial. Positioning Yahweh {יְהוָֽה | Yahweh} at the end of the clause foregrounds divine sovereignty as the climactic agent of selection. The English rendering preserves these connectors and emphases to maintain the LORD’s ultimate authority.

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