| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the emphatic participial-consecutive chazeh havait {חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֗ית | ḥā-zēh ha-wêṯ} “I was looking, I was,” indicating a sustained prophetic vision. The temporal marker ’ad di {עַ֣ד דִּ֤י | ’aḏ dî} “until that” introduces a turning point in the revelation. The plural noun karsavan {כָרְסָוָן֙ | kar-sā-wān} “thrones” plus the passive perfect remiu {רְמִ֔יו | rə-mî-w} “were set” conveys divine ordination of authority. The title Atik Yomin {עַתִּ֥יק יוֹמִ֖ין | ’at-tîq yō-mîn} “Ancient of Days” highlights timeless sovereignty and judicial role. The description levusheh kitlag chiwar {לְבוּשֵׁ֣הּ כִּתְלַ֣ג חִוָּ֗ר | lə-ḇû-šê kit-lag ḥi-vār} “garment like snow white” and u-se’ar reisheh ka‘amar neqe {וּשְׂעַר רֵאשֵׁהּ כַּעֲמַ֣ר נְקֵ֔א | û-sə-‘ar rē-šê(h) ka-‘a-mar nə-qê} “hair of his head like pure wool” stresses transcendent purity. The throne imagery karsyeh shevivin di-nur {כָרְסְיֵהּ שְׁבִיבִ֣ין דִּי־נ֔וּר | kar-sə-yê(h) she-vi-vîn dî-nûr} “his throne, flaming with fire” and galgilohi nur dalik {גַּלְגִּלּ֖וֹהִי נ֥וּר דָּלִֽק | gal-gil-lo-hî nûr dā-lîq} “its wheels, burning fire” evoke divine energy and unceasing judgment. The progression from observation to enthronement, framed by stark contrasts of white purity and fiery majesty, underscores the awe-inspiring authority of the vision. |