| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the demonstrative phrase zeh ha-davar {זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָר | zeh ha-dā-vār} ‘this word’, marking a prophetic announcement. It is followed by the relative verb asher-dibber {אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר | ʾă-šer-di-bēr} ‘that spoke’, linking divine speech with its subject Yahweh alav. The perfect verbs bazah lekha {בָּזָה לְךָ | bā-zāh lə-ḵā} ‘despises you’ and la'agah lekha {לָעֲגָה לְךָ | lā-ʿă-gāh lə-ḵā} ‘mocks you’ form a chiasm that intensifies Zion’s derision. The construct betulat bat-tsiyon {בְּתוּלַת בַּת-צִיּוֹן | bə-tu-lāt baṯ-ṣiy-yōn} ‘virgin daughter of Zion’ personifies the city as a pure maiden. Finally, the Hiphil perfect heni’ah in achareikha rosh heni’ah {אַחֲרֶיךָ רֹאשׁ הֵנִיעָה | ʾa-ḥa-rei-ḵā rō-š hē-nī-ʿāh} ‘shakes her head behind you’ conveys a causative gesture of contempt. |