| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with vayyiqra {וַיִּקְרָא | way-yiq-rāʾ} as a narrative wayyiqtol verb advancing the action to the naming event. Avraham {אַבְרָהָם | ʾaḇ-rā-hām} follows as the subject, reflecting Hebrew VSO order. The direct object marker et {אֶת | ʾeṯ} and the construct chain shem beno {שֵׁם־בְּנוֹ | šēm-bə-nô} link name and son closely. The participle hanolad lo {הַנּוֹלַד־לוֹ | han-nô-lāḏ-lô} adjectives the son as “the one born to him,” and the relative clause asher yaldah lo Sarah {אֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָה־לוֹ שָׂרָה | ʾă-šer-yā-lə-ḏāh-lô śā-rāh} specifies Sarah’s role. This double reference to paternal and maternal birth underscores legal descent and promise fulfillment. The positioning of Yitschak {יִצְחָק | yiṣ-ḥāq} at the end creates a climactic focus typical of Hebrew naming formulas. |