| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav prefix on the perfect verb ve-shalakh-ti {וְשָׁלַחְתִּי | və-šā-laḥ-tî} signaling sequential narrative action. The direct object na‘ar {נַעַר | na-‘ar} identifies the lad. The second vav-prefixed perfect verb ve-’amarti {וְאָמַרְתִּי | wə-’ā-mar-tî} introduces the speech act, governed by the conjunction vav. Imperatives lēḵ {לֵךְ | lēḵ} ‘go’ and re’eh {רְאֵה | re’ê} ‘look’ form the command clause. The coordinate clause ve-ha-yah kî-’ōmar {וְהָיָה כִּי־אֹמַר | wə-hā-yāh kî-’ō-mar} sets a temporal condition marked by the signal particle hen {הֵן | hēn} ‘behold’. The construct chain ‘al-yadkha {עַל־יָדְךָ | ‘al-yā-d-ḵā} conveys proximity. The perfect verb ha-veyta {הָבֵאתָ | hā-ve-ṯā} describes the lad’s response to the sign. The final nominal clause shalom ’atta ve-ein ra‘ah {שָׁלֹם אַתָּה וְאֵן רָעָה | šā-lôm ’ăttā wə-’ên ra-‘āh} asserts well-being without a copula. The structure moves from instruction to conditional signaling to assured safety, underlining covenantal trust. |