| 8. Linguistic Exegesis venivhalu {וְֽנִבְהָ֓לוּ | vᵊ-nî-ḇhā-lû} ‘they will be dismayed’ functions as an introductory verb with the vav consecutive plus a Nifal perfect to indicate passive emotional impact. The coordinated subjects tzirim {צִירִ֤ים | ṣî-rîm} ‘birth-pangs’ and vachavalim {וַֽחֲבָלִים֙ | va-ḥa-vā-lîm} ‘sorrows’ (joined by vav) establish cumulative distress, and yoachezun {יֹֽאחֵז֔וּן | yō-ḥē-zûn} as a Qal imperfect conveys the active action of seizing. The prepositional comparison in kayoledah {כַּיּוֹלֵדָ֖ה | ka-yo-lē-ḏāh} ‘like a woman in labor’ is followed by yechilun {יְחִיל֑וּן | yᵊ-ḥî-lûn} ‘they will writhe’ (Hifil imperfect), intensifying the image of agony. A shift to singular with ish {אִ֤ישׁ | ’îš} ‘a man’ and the construct el-re'ehu {אֶל־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ | ’el-rê-’ê-hû} ‘toward his companion’ signals communal response, while yitmahu {יִתְמָ֔הוּ | yit-mā-hû} ‘will be appalled’ underscores astonishment. The repetition of penei {פְּנֵ֥י | pə-nê} ‘faces’—first with the prepositional lə-hā-ḇîm {לְהָבִ֖ים | lᵊ-hā-ḇîm} ‘to flames’, then as peneihem {פְּנֵיהֶֽם | pᵊ-nê-hêm} ‘their faces’—frames a chiastic structure that culminates in a vivid depiction of visible terror. |