| 24. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with vayomer {וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | way-yō-ʾmer}, a wayyiqtol narrative verb introducing direct speech and continuing the storyline. The subject Avraham {אַבְרָהָ֔ם | ʾaḇ-rā-hām} follows the verb in verb–subject order, focusing on the act of speaking. Within the quotation, the independent pronoun anokhi {אָנֹכִ֖י | ʾā-nō-kî} provides emphatic self-reference, heightening Abraham’s personal commitment. The Niphal imperfect ish-shavea {אִשָּׁבֵֽעַ | ʾiš-šā-vē-aʿ} functions as a performative declaration, where the speech act itself constitutes the oath. In English, the formal rendering preserves the Hebrew emphasis with “I myself will swear,” while the dynamic uses “replied” and “I swear” to convey natural dialogue flow and solemnity. |