Judges 16:17 — ExegesisTAB

The narrative sequence is driven by the vav consecutive chain, beginning with wayyōmer {וַיֹּ֤אמֶר | wayyōmer} “and he said,” which introduces direct speech. The repetition of lāh {לָהּ֙ | lāh} “to her” underscores confidential disclosure. The construct chain mi-betên immî {מִבֶּ֣טֶן אִמִּ֑י | mi-betên ʾimmî} “from my mother’s womb” highlights lifelong dedication. The conditional particle ʾim {אִם־ | ʾim} introduces the consequence clause, followed by the Pual perfect ʾim-gullachṯî {אִם־גֻּלַּ֙חְתִּי֙ | ʾim-gullachṯî} “if I am shaved” and a series of consecutive perfect verbs (wə-sār, wə-ḥāliṯî, wə-hāyiṯî) that build a logical progression of loss, weakness, and sameness. The simile kə-khol-hā-ʾāḏām {כְּכָל־הָאָדָֽם | kə-khol-hā-ʾāḏām} “like all the people” contrasts the dedicated vow with ordinary humanity.