| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive perfect venagaf {וְנָגַ֧ף | wə-nā-ḡap} ‘and He will strike’, indicating sequential future action. The subject is the divine name Yahweh {יְהוָ֛ה | Yə-hō-wāh}. The direct-object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾeṯ} introduces Mitzrayim {מִצְרַ֖יִם | Mî-ṣrā-yim} ‘Egypt’. The paired infinitive absolutes nagof {נָגֹף | nā-ḡōp̄} ‘striking’ and verapo {וְרָפ֑וֹא | wə-rā-p̄ō} ‘and heal’ emphasize judgment and restoration. In the next clause, veshavu {וְשָׁבוּ֙ | wə-šā-vû} ‘and they will return’ takes ad {עַד־ | ʿad} ‘to’ with Yahweh {יְהוָ֔ה | Yə-hō-wāh} as its goal, marking repentance. The vav-consecutive Nifal perfect vene’etar {וְנֶעְתַּ֥ר | wə-neʿ-tar} ‘and He will be entreated’ reflects the divine response to prayer, and the final urefa’am {וּרְפָאָֽם | û-rə-p̄ā-ʾām} ‘and He will heal them’ completes the parallelism. The structure and repetition of vav-consecutive forms, along with the double infinitive absolutes, highlight the balance of divine justice and compassion. |