| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The verse presents two parallel questions introduced by hayaazov {הֲיַעֲזֹב | ha-ya-ʿa-zōv} and im-yinnateshu {אִם־יִנָּתְשׁוּ | ʾim-yin-nā-teš-û}, contrasting the enduring imagery of snow with the continuity of water. The construct chain mitsur saday {מִצּ֛וּר שָׂדַי | miṣ-ṣūr śā-ḏay} ‘rock of the field’ conveys permanence, while the sequence mayim zarim karim nozlim {מַ֛יִם זָרִ֥ים קָרִ֖ים נוֹזְלִֽים | ma-yim zārîm qārîm nōz-lîm} forms a chiastic parallel emphasizing ongoing motion. The Nifal imperfect expresses passive expectation, and the Qal participle nozlim highlights continuous action. The English renditions preserve both interrogation and parallelism to heighten rhetorical effect. |