| 30. Linguistic Exegesis The verse forms a compact poetic sequence beginning with the negation lo-yāsûr {לֹֽא־יָס֨וּר | lōʾ-yāsûr} that foregrounds the impossibility of evasion. The prepositional phrase minni-ḥōšeḵ {מִנִּי־חֹשֶׁךְ | minnî-ḥōšeḵ} intensifies the image of utter darkness. The object-first placement of yonakto {יֹֽ֭נַקְתּוֹ | yōnaq-tô} spotlights vitality before the verb teyabesh {תְּיַבֵּ֣שׁ | təyabbēš} and its agent shalhevet {שַׁלְהָ֑בֶת | šalhāḇeṯ} ‘flame’ destructively dries it up. The echoing repetition of yāsûr in wə-yāsûr {וְ֝יָס֗וּר | wə-yāsûr} creates a grim parallel between turning aside and departing. The instrumental chain bərûaḥ pîw {בְּר֣וּחַ פִּֽיו | bərûaḥ pîw} brings together ruach {רוּחַ | rûaḥ} ‘breath’ and pîw {פִּֽיו | pîw} ‘mouth,’ implying divine agency: it is the LORD’s breath that carries him away. |