| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds through a series of wayyiqtol verbs marking chronological events, beginning with vayigdal {וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל | way-yig-dal} ‘and he grew’, then vayigamal {וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל | way-yig-ga-mal} ‘and was weaned’, and vayyaas {וַיַּ֤עַשׂ | way-ya-ʿas} ‘and he made’, establishing growth, weaning, and celebration. The subject for the first two verbs is identified by hayeled {הַיֶּ֖לֶד | hay-ye-led} ‘the child’, while the Niphal stem of gamal in vayigamal and higgamel {הִגָּמֵ֥ל | hig-ga-mel} emphasizes the action occurring to Isaac. The temporal clause beyom higgamel {בְּי֖וֹם הִגָּמֵ֥ל | bə-yom hig-ga-mel} ‘on the day of being weaned’ uses an infinitive construct to indicate timing. The noun mishteh gadol {מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֔וֹל | miš-teh ga-dol} ‘great feast’ indicates a significant communal event, while the particle et {אֶת־ | ʾet} marks Isaac as the object of the weaning milestone. The sequence is rendered in English with adjusted syntax for clarity, preserving the focus on Isaac’s developmental stage and the ensuing celebration. |