| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with two Qal perfect verbs kar’a {כָּרַע | qā-rāʿ} ‘he crouched’ and shakhav {שָׁכַב | šā-ḵāḇ} ‘he lay down’, forming a parallel structure that underscores Israel’s steadfast security. This is followed by the similes ka’ari {כַּאֲרִי | ka-’ă-rî} ‘like a lion’ and u-khelavi {וּכְלָבִיא | wə-ḵă-lā-vî-ʾ} ‘and like a lioness’, which amplify the image of invincibility. The interrogative pronoun mi {מִי | mî} ‘who?’ introduces a rhetorical question with the Hiphil imperfect yekimennu {יְקִימֶנּוּ | yə-qî-me-nnû} ‘will rouse him’, highlighting the challenge of disturbing Israel’s protected state. The participial clauses mevarakhekha {מְבָרֲכֶיךָ | mə-vā-ră-ḵê-ḵā} ‘those who bless you’ and ve-orrekha {וְאֹרְרֶיךָ | wə-’ō-rre-ḵê-ḵā} ‘and those who curse you’ are followed by the Qal passive participles barukh {בָּרוּךְ | bārûḵ} ‘blessed’ and arur {אָרוּר | ’ārûr} ‘cursed’. This parallel blessing–curse structure frames the verse with covenantal assurance, emphasizing that blessing Israel brings favor while cursing Israel brings judgment. |