| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the prepositional phrase uleShem {וּלְשֵׁ֥ם | û-lə-šēm} ‘and to Shem’, marking Shem as the indirect object of the passive verb yullad {יֻלַּ֖ד | yul-lad} ‘was born’. The fused adverb-pronoun gam-hu {גַּם־ה֑וּא | gam-hû} ‘also he’ conveys emphatic addition, indicating that Shem too received offspring. The construct kol-bene-Ever {כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֵ֔בֶר | kāl-bə-nê-ʿē-ḇer} ‘all the sons of Eber’ functions as the object of avi, emphasizing his foundational role as progenitor. The appositional phrase achi ye-phet ha-gadol {אֲחִי יֶ֥פֶת הַגָּדֽוֹל | ʾă-ḥî yé-p̄eṯ ha-gā-dôl} ‘brother of Japheth the elder’ establishes his place as the senior sibling. The layered appositions create a concise genealogical summary. |