| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds as a sequence of negated clauses introduced by lo {לֹא | lōʾ} ‘not’, establishing an emphatic parallelism that conveys total desolation. The first pair of clauses employs the Qal imperfect verbs teshev {תֵשֵׁב | te-šêḇ} ‘dwell’ and tishkon {תִשְׁכֹּן | tiš-qōn} ‘abide’, modified by the temporal expressions lanetsach {לָנֶצַח | lā-nê-ṣāḥ} ‘forever’ and ad dor va-dor {עַד־דּוֹר וָדֹר | ʿad dōr wā-dōr} ‘from generation to generation’, reinforcing ongoing uninhabitability. The subsequent clauses use the Hifil imperfect forms yahel {יַהֵל | ya-hêl} ‘pitch tent’ and yarbitzu {יַרְבִּצוּ | yar-bi-ṣû} ‘make lie down’, extending the negation to temporary encampments. The repeated waw-conjunctions ensure syntactic continuity across the clauses, and the feminine verb forms personify Babylon as a forsaken entity. Together, these features highlight the absolute abandonment of both permanent settlement and transient occupation. |