| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds as a triplet of similes creating a rising intensity from divine provision to enduring establishment. It begins with ehyeh {אֶהְיֶה | ʾehyeh} ‘I will be’ as a divine promise, followed by the simile kattal {כַּטַּל | kaṭṭal} ‘like the dew’ and leyisrael {לְיִשְׂרָאֵל | lə-yiś-rā-ʾēl} marking the beneficiary. The focus shifts to Israel with yifrach {יִפְרַח | yip̄raḥ} ‘he will blossom’ alongside kashoshanah {כַּשּׁוּשַׁנָּה | kaššûšannāh} ‘like the lily’ for visible growth. The wayyiqtol vayyashresh {וַיַּשְׁרֵשׁ | wayyašrēš} ‘and he will root’ continues the sequence toward stability, with sharashav {שָׁרָשָׁיו | šārāšāw} ‘his roots’ and kallebanon {כַלְּבָנוֹן | kal-ləḇānôn} ‘like Lebanon’ forming the climactic comparison. The chaining of dew → lily → Lebanon builds from gentle nourishment through beauty to steadfast grounding. |