הַצֵּ֛ל

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 הַצֵּ֛ל

   ha-TSEL

   the shadow
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 יָשׁ֥וּב הַצֵּ֛ל

   ya-SHUV ha-TSEL

   let it return the shadow
3. clause🔊 לֹ֣א כִ֔י יָשׁ֥וּב הַצֵּ֛ל אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

   LO KI ya-SHUV ha-TSEL a-kho-ran-NIT E-ser ma-a-LOT

   not for or rather let it return the shadow backward or to the rear ten steps or degrees
4. sentence🔊 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ נָקֵ֣ל לַצֵּ֔ל לִנְט֖וֹת עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֑וֹת לֹ֣א כִ֔י יָשׁ֥וּב הַצֵּ֛ל אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

   va-yo-MER ye-khiz-ki-YA-hu na-KEL la-TSEL lin-TOT E-ser ma-a-LOT LO KI ya-SHUV ha-TSEL a-kho-ran-NIT E-ser ma-a-LOT

   and he said Hezekiah easy or light for the shadow to stretch out or to extend ten steps or degrees not for or rather let it return the shadow backward or to the rear ten steps or degrees

Exegesis

The adversative lo ki {לֹא כִי | lōʾ kî} then introduces contrast, leading into the Qal jussive yāšûv {יָשׁוּב | yāšûv} with haṣṣēl {הַצֵּל | haṣṣēl} and ʾăḥôrānîṯ {אֲחֹרָנִית | ʾăḥôrānîṯ}, which commands the miraculous backward reversal of ten steps, underscoring the sign’s supernatural character by contrasting normal solar progression with its reversal.

Root and etymology

tsade-lamed🔊 צ־לtsade–lamed

“shadow, shade”

• 🔊 צִלṣîלshadePsalm 91:1