| 28. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the adversative particle efes {אֶ֚פֶס | ʾê-fes} marking contrast, followed by the conjunction ki {כִּֽי־ | kî-} and adjective ‘az {עַ֣ז | ʿaz} modifying the subject ha-‘am {הָעָ֔ם | hā-ʿam} with the participle hayoshev {הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב | ha-yō-šēḇ} forming a relative clause. The locative phrase ba-’aretz {בָּאָ֑רֶץ | bā-ʾā-reṣ} completes the clause. The conjunction vav links the second clause, where ha-‘arim {הֶֽעָרִים | hē-ʿā-rîm} is described by the participle betsurot {בְּצֻר֤וֹת | bə-ṣū-rōṯ} and adjective gedolot {גְּדֹלֹת֙ | ḡə-dô-lōṯ}, intensified by me’od {מְאֹ֔ד | mə-ʾōḏ}. The additive particle gam in vegam-yeildei {וְגַם־יְלִדֵ֥י | wə-ḡam-yə-lî-ḏê} connects to ha-‘anaq {הֽ͏ָעֲנָ֖ק | hā-ʿa-nāq}, and the report closes with the perfect verb ra’inu {רָאִ֥ינוּ | rā-ʾî-nû} and locative sham {שָֽׁם | šām}. English shifts the Hebrew VSO order to SVO, rendering participial and additive constructions as finite clauses and conjunctions to preserve the original emphasis on formidable inhabitants and defenses. |