| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive verb vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | wayyōmer}, introducing direct speech by shimshon {שִׁמְשׁוֹן | Šimšōn}. The protasis im-taʿasun {אִם־תַּעֲשׂוּן | ʾim–taʿăšûn} “if you act” with the demonstrative kazot {כָּזֹאת | kāzôt} forms a conditional clause. The conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} adds emphasis, realized as “surely” in the formal. The niphal perfect im-nikkamti {אִם־נִקַּמְתִּי | ʾim–nikkam·tî} expresses Samson’s vow of vengeance. Bakhem {בָכֶם | bä·ḵem} specifies the target of his retribution. The sequence ve-ahar eḥdal {וְאַחַר אֶחְדָּל | və·ʾaḥar ʾeḥdal} “and afterward I will cease” signals cessation after the vow is fulfilled. The original VSO order is rendered in English SVO to clarify the conditional and vow structure. |