| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the comparative marker u-khe-avshalom {וּכְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹם | û-kə-ʼăḇ-šāl-ôm} establishing Absalom as the standard of comparison. The clause lo-hayah ish-yafeh {לֹא־הָיָ֧ה אִישׁ־יָפֶ֛ה | lōʾ hāyâ ʾîš yāp̄eh} uses a Qal perfect with negation to assert the absence of any comparable individual. The prepositional phrase be-khol-yisrael {בְּכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל | bə-ḵōwl yiśrāʾēl} denotes the universal scope within the nation. The Piel infinitive construct lehallel {לְהַלֵּ֣ל | ləhallēl} combined with meod {מְאֹ֑ד | məʾōḏ} functions as an intensifier of praise. The merism mi-kaf raglo ve-ad kadkodo {מִכַּ֤ף רַגְלוֹ֙ וְעַ֣ד קָדְקֳד֔וֹ | mikkap̄ raglāw wəʿad qādəqōḏô} “from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” signifies total bodily extent. The final clause lo-hayah bo mum {לֹא־הָ֥יָה ב֖וֹ מֽוּם׃ | lōʾ hāyâ bô mūm} repeats negation to emphasize his flawless perfection. The English rendering preserves the Hebrew’s merism and emphatic parallelism to convey Absalom’s unparalleled beauty. |