| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | way-yō-mer}, a Qal wayyiqtol verb with vav consecutive introducing the divine utterance. The subject Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yə-hō-wāh} follows, identifying the speaker, and el Avraham {אֶל־אַבְרָהָם | ʾel-ʾaḇ-rā-hām} designates Abraham as addressee. The interrogative lamah {לָמָּה | lām-māh} 'why' opens a question, with demonstrative zeh {זֶּה | zeh} referring to Sarah’s action. The perfect tsachaqah {צָחֲקָה | ṣā-ḥă-qāh} reports Sarah’s laughter, introduced by the quotative infinitive leemor {לֵאמֹר | lē-mōr}. The particles haaf {הַאַף | ha-ʾaf} and umnam {אֻמְנָם | ʾum-nām} form an emphatic interrogative intensifying the question. The imperfect eled {אֵלֵד | ʾê-lēḏ} expresses the potential to bear a child. The concessive clause vaani zakanti {וַאֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי | wa-ʾă-nî za-qan-tî} contrasts human aging with divine promise, highlighting skepticism in light of God’s word. |