| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with lakhen {לָכֵן | lā-ḵēn} ‘therefore’, signaling a conclusion. The imperfect yihyu {יִהְיוּ | yi-hyû} ‘they will be’ sets a vivid future simile. Each parallel simile is introduced by the k-prefixed preposition ke {כְּ} combining with the nouns cloud, dew, chaff, and smoke to depict rapid disappearance. The construct phrase ke‘anan boqer ‘like a cloud of morning’ and the sequence ukhetal mashkim holekh ‘and like dew going early’ highlight transient moisture. The Hiphil participle mashkim {מַשְׁכִּים | mash-kîm} ‘going early’ and Qal participle holekh {הוֹלֵךְ | hō-lēḵ} ‘going’ convey swift action. Likewise, the Nifal imperfect yisso‘ar {יִסֹּעַר | yi-sō-ʿar} ‘it will be driven’ intensifies the image of chaff expelled from the threshing floor migoren {מִגֹּרֶן | mi-gō-ren}. Finally, uke‘ashan me’arubah {וּכְעָשָׁן מֵאֲרֻבָּה | wə-ʿā-šān mē-ʾā-rū-bā} ‘and like smoke from a window’ completes the series. The waw conjunction links the four images in parallel, reinforcing the theme of fleeting existence. |