| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with tehomot {תְּהֹמֹ֖ת | tə-hō-mōṯ} serving as the subject of the intensive verb yekhasyemu {יְכַסְיֻמוּ | yə-kha-syu-mū}, highlighting chaotic inundation. The Qal perfect yardu {יָרְדוּ | yā-rə-dū} then conveys completed descent. The prepositional phrase bimtsolot {בִּמְצוֹלֹ֖ת | bi-mə-tsō-lōṯ} specifies the abyssal location, and the simile kemo-aven {כְּמוֹ־אָֽבֶן | kə-mō-ʾā-ḇen} underscores abrupt finality. This progression from engulfment to sinking employs parallelism to emphasize decisive judgment. |