| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the idiom vayyissa einav {וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו | way-yiś-śāʾ ʿê-nāyw} “and he lifted his eyes,” shifting focus to the unfolding scene. The verb vayyar {וַיַּרְא | way-yarʾ} “and he saw” introduces the vision, intensified by vehineh {וְהִנֵּה | wə-hin-nēh} “and behold,” an interjection that signals surprise. The phrase sheloshah anashim {שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים | šə-lō-šāh ʾă-nā-šîm} “three men,” modified by the participle nitsavim {נִצָּבִים | niṣ-ṣā-ḇîm} “standing,” indicates their posture and number. The prepositional phrase alav {עָלָיו | ʿā-lāyw} “upon him” denotes their immediate proximity. The second vayyar signals renewed perception, leading to vayarats {וַיָּרָץ | way-yā-rāṣ} “and he ran,” conveying prompt action. Likratam {לִקְרָאתָם | liq-rā-ʾā-ṯām} “to meet them” indicates purposeful movement toward the visitors. The locative phrase mippetach haohel {מִפֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל | mip-pe-taḥ hā-ʾō-hel} “from the entrance of the tent” situates the action at the threshold of Abraham’s dwelling, and vayishtachu artsah {וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ אָֽרְצָה | way-yiš-ta-ḥû ʾā-rə-ṣāh} “and he bowed down to the ground” uses the Hitpael stem to convey full humility in his greeting. |