| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive imperfect vayyomer {וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | wayyōʾmer} introducing direct speech. The nominal phrase nāqēl laṣṣēl linṭôt ʿeśer maʿălôt {נָקֵל לַצֵּל לִנְטוֹת עֶשֶׂר מַעֲל֑וֹת} employs the Qal participle nāqēl as predicate with the infinitive construct linṭôt to express ease of the shadow’s forward movement. 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. |