| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse presents a bicolon with spatial antithesis where mitachat {מִ֭תַּחַת | mittaḥat} ‘from beneath’ contrasts with ûmimmaʿal {וּ֝מִמַּ֗עַל | ûmimmaʿal} ‘and from above.’ In the first clause, the plural subject sharashav {שָׁרָשָׁיו | šārāšāyw} ‘his roots’ takes the plural imperfect yivāšû {יִבָשׁוּ} ‘dry up,’ emphasizing comprehensive loss of vitality. The second clause employs the Niphal imperfect yimmal {יִמַּל} ‘is cut off’ with the object qetsîrô {קְצִירוֹ} ‘his harvest,’ shifting to a more abrupt termination of upper growth. The parallel structure underscores total ruin from root to shoot. |