| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The verse is driven by a rapid chain of short clauses, where the initial verb shalaf {שָׁלַף֮ | šālap̄} ‘he drew out’ is followed immediately by wayyetse {וַיֵּצֵ֢א | wayyēṣēʾ} ‘and it came out,’ using vav-consecutive to heighten momentum and depict irreversible consequence. Two min-phrases mark sources: miggevah {מִגֵּ֫וָ֥ה | miggēwāh} ‘from (the) body/back’ and mimmerorato {מִֽמְּרֹרָת֥וֹ | mimmərōrātô} ‘from his gall,’ shifting from the external wound to internal organ imagery, a poetic intensification of mortal damage. The clause uvaraq {וּ֭בָרָק | ûḇārāq} ‘and a flash’ is appositional and vivid, functioning like a sudden visual flare (often associated with lightning or a gleaming point) that underscores the sharpness and terror of the moment. The imperfect yahaloch {יַהֲלֹ֗ךְ | yăhălōḵ} ‘it goes’ is syntactically open regarding its subject (the “flash/gleam” or what it represents), but its pairing with ʿālāyw {עָלָ֥יו | ʿālāyw} ‘upon him’ portrays advancing, unavoidable impact. The final noun eimim {אֵמִֽים׃ | ʾēmîm} ‘terrors’ is placed at the end for emphasis, functioning as the climactic result: the physical image culminates in psychological collapse. |