| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav consecutive verb vatitskhaq {וַתִּצְחַ֥ק | wat-titṣ-ḥaq} ‘and she laughed’, which shifts the narrative into Sarah’s personal response. The verb–subject order places Sarah {שָׂרָה | śā-rāh} after the action, emphasizing her reaction. The prepositional phrase bekirbah {בְּקִרְבָּהּ | bə-qir-bāh} ‘within herself’ marks this laughter as inward. The quotative infinitive leimor {לֵאמֹ֑ר | lē-ʾmōr} introduces her unspoken words. The preposition acharei {אַחֲרֵ֤י | ʾa-ḥă-rê} governs the infinitive beloti {בְלֹתִי֙ | bə-lō-tî} ‘my being worn out’, creating a temporal setup for her doubt. The existential construction hayetah-li ednah {הֽ͏ָיְתָה־לִּ֣י עֶדְנָ֔ה | hā-yə-ṯāh-lî ʿeḏ-nāh} uses a Qal perfect plus preposition and suffix to ask if she will have delight. The coordinate clause vaadoni zaken {וֽ͏ַאדֹנִי זָקֵֽן | wa-ʾă-ḏō-nî zā-qēn} presents Abraham’s age as an additional obstacle, with a verbless predicate adjective. The English translation turns these structures into a direct question while preserving the twofold emphasis on Sarah’s state and her husband’s age. |