| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive imperfect vayissa {וַיִשָּׂא | vayyiśśāʾ} “and he lifted up,” introducing Balaam’s prophetic speech. The noun mesholo {מְשָׁלוֹ | mĕšālō} “oracle” designates a parabolic pronouncement, and the repeated formula neum {נְאֻם | nĕʼûm} “utterance” frames two parallel announcements. The construct chain bilam beno beor {בִּלְעָם בְּנוֹ בְּעוֹר | bilʻām bĕnô bĕʻôr} identifies the prophet and his lineage. The nominal phrase hagever shtum haayin {הַגֶּבֶר שְׁתֻם הָעַיִן | haggĕḇer šĕtûm hā’āyin} literally reads “the man whose eye is shut” but idiomatically means “the man whose eye is opened,” conveying clear prophetic vision within a balanced rhetorical frame. |