| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with a vav-consecutive in vayhi {וַיְהִ֣י | way-hî}, which continues the narrative flow. The idiomatic age expression ben tish'im shanah vetesha shanim {בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְתֵ֣שַׁע שָׁנִ֑ים | ben tiš-ʿîm šā-nāh wə-tē-šaʿ šā-nîm} literally “a son of ninety years and nine years” is rendered “was ninety-nine years old.” The clause vayera Yahweh el-Avram {וַיֵּרָ֨א יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם | way-yē-rāʾ Yə-hō-wāh ʾel-ʾaḇ-rām} uses the Niphal imperfect “appeared,” foregrounding divine initiative in the theophany. Vayomer elav {וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ | way-yō-ʾmer ʾê-lāyw} introduces direct speech. The self-identification ani El Shaddai {אֲנִי־אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י | ʾă-nî ʾēl šad-day} apposes divine titles. Finally, the coordinated imperatives hithalekh lefanai vehyeh tamim {הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י וֶהְיֵ֥ה תָמִֽים | hit-hāl-lēḵ lə-fā-nay we-hyēh tā-mîm} pair “walk/live before Me” with “be blameless,” linking relational presence and moral integrity. |