| 18. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the conjunctive vav and bows qeshetot {וּקְשָׁת֖וֹת | ū-qə-šā-ṯōt}, linking to the theme of relentless devastation. The Piel imperfect תְּרַטַּשְׁנָה {tə-raṭ-ṭaš-nāh} intensifies the violent action and agrees in feminine plural with its subject. The construct phrase fruit-of-the-womb prî-beṭen {וּפְרִי־בֶ֙טֶן֙ | ū-prî-be-ten} functions as a single unit denoting unborn offspring. Two successive negative particles lo {לֹא | lōʾ} introduce parallel clauses: the first denies compassion (verb יְרַחֵמוּ {yə-rā-ḥê-mû}) within the prepositional phrase ʿal-bā-nîm {עַל־בָּנִים | ʿal-bā-nîm} “upon children”; the second denies sparing (qal imperfect תָח֥וּס {tā-ḥûs}) linked to the subject einam {עֵינָם | ʿê-nām} “their eye.” The inversion of verb and subject in the closing clause heightens the pronouncement’s severity. This balanced parallelism and repeated negation underscore the total lack of mercy. |