| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the demonstrative zeh {זֶה | zeh} ‘this’, specifying a particular instance. The imperfect verb yāmuṭ {יָמוּת | yā-mûṯ} conveys a general truth about death. The idiomatic phrase bəʿeṣēm tummō {בְּעֶצֶם תֻּמּוֹ | bə-ʿe-ṣēm tûm-mō} merges the noun etzem {עֶצֶם | ʿe-ṣem} ‘strength’ with the construct tummō {תֻּמּוֹ | tûm-mō} ‘his completeness’, indicating dying at one’s full vigor and wholeness. The adverb kullō {כֻּלּוֹ | kul-lō} ‘entirely’ leads into a paratactic list of adjectives: šal'anan {שַׁלְאֲנַ֥ן | šal-ʾă-nān} ‘secure’ and wə-šālēv {וְשָׁלֵֽיו | wə-šā-lē-v} ‘and tranquil’, portraying undisturbed repose. This syntactic structure highlights the poignant contrast between human vitality and the universality of death in Job’s argument. |