| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the narrative marker vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wa-yō-mer} ‘and he said,’ indicating direct speech by chizkiyahu {חִזְקִיָּהוּ | ḥiz-qî-yā-hû} to yeshayahu {יְשַׁעְיָהוּ | ye-sha-ya-hû}. The phrase tov devar-Yahweh {ט֥וֹב דְּבַר־יְהוָה | ṭôv də-ḇar-Yə-hō-wāh} is a construct chain in which the adjective modifies the divine noun. The relative clause asher dibarta {אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ | ʾă-šer dib-bār-tā} identifies the prophecy as Isaiah’s own speech. The second vayomer introduces a rhetorical inquiry marked by the interrogative halo {הֲלוֹא | ha-lōʾ}, conveying hopeful anticipation. The conditional clause im-shalom ve-emet yihyeh be-yamai {אִם־שָׁלוֹם וֶאֱמֶת יִהְיֶה בְּיָמָי | ʾim-šā-lôm we-ʾe-met yiḥ-yēh bə-yā-māy} employs a paired noun to express holistic well-being and reliability, and the suffix clause specifies the temporal scope of Hezekiah’s reign. |