| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the interrogative particle ha-yesh {הֲיֵשׁ | ha-yēš} ‘is there’, framing a rhetorical question that underlines the incapacity of idols. The construct phrase be-havlei hagoyim {בְּהַבְלֵי הַגּוֹיִם | bə-hav-lê ha-gō-yim} ‘among the vanities of the nations’ emphasizes their emptiness. Magshimim {מַגְשִׁמִם | mag-shi-mîm} ‘rainmakers’ parallels the clause hashamayim yitnu revivim {הַשָּׁמַיִם יִתְּנוּ רְבִבִים | ha-šā-ma-yim yit-tə-nu rə-vi-vim} ‘the heavens give showers’, highlighting that neither pagan figures nor cosmic forces independently provide rain. The emphatic attah-hu {אַתָּה־הוּא | at-tah-hū} ‘you are he’ asserts the exclusive divine identity of Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yahweh}. The declaration u-nekaveh lakh {וּנְקַוֶּה־לָּךְ | u-nə-ka-veh lakh} ‘and we hope in You’ is supported by ki {כִּי־ | ki} ‘because’, culminating in attah asita et-kol-eleh {אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֵלֶּה | at-tah ʿā-sî-tā ʾet-kōl-ʾěl-lê} ‘You have made all these things’, which affirms divine sovereignty over creation. |