| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with wayyomer {וַיֹּ֥אמֶר | wayyōmer} introducing direct discourse. The phrase el-malakh Yahweh {אֶל־מַלְאַךְ יְהוָ֑ה | ʾel-məlaʾḵ Yəhōwāh} functions as the indirect object, identifying the divine messenger. The Qal cohortative naʿṣrah-nāʾ {נַעְצְרָה־נָּ֣א | naʿṣrah-nāʾ} with the entreaty particle conveys a polite request to remain. The suffix in otakh {אוֹתָ֔ךְ | ʾōṯāḵ} marks the second person feminine singular to match malakh. The conjunction wə-naʿăśeh {וְנַעֲשֶׂ֥ה | wə-naʿăśeh} introduces a second cohortative, and the prepositional phrase lə-pānêḵā {לְפָנֶ֖יךָ | lə-pānêḵā} indicates purpose “before you.” Finally, the construct chain gədî ʿizzîm {גְּדִ֥י עִזִּֽים | gədî ʿizzîm} “young goat of goats” denotes the sacrificial offering. English word order mirrors Hebrew clauses to preserve emphasis and politeness. |