| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative employs the vav consecutive imperfects vayyak {וַיַּךְ | way-yaḵ}, vayyered {וַיֵּרֶד | way-yē-reḏ}, and vayyeshev {וַיֵּשֶׁב | way-yē-šeḇ} to present sequential actions. The idiomatic phrase shoq al-yarekh {שׁוֹק עַל־יָרֵךְ | šōq ʿal-yārēḵ} ‘thigh upon hip’ intensifies the completeness of the strike. The compound mak-kāh gedōlāh {מַכָּה גְדוֹלָה | mak-kāh ge-dō-lāh} ‘great blow’ emphasizes the forcefulness of Samson’s victory. The locative expression biseif sela {בִּסְעִיף סֶלַע | bis-ʽîp se-laʿ} ‘in the cleft of the rock’ specifies a narrow opening used for refuge. The place name Etam {עֵיטָם | ʿê-tām} situates Samson in a known Judahite stronghold. |