| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with gam {גַּם | gam} ‘even,’ framing a paradox. The phrase bischok {בִּשְׂח֥וֹק | biš-ḥôq} ‘in laughter’ precedes the Qal imperfect yikav {יִכְאַב | yiḵ-ʾāv} ‘will ache,’ and the subject lev {לֵב | lēḇ} ‘heart’ follows the verb for emphasis on hidden pain. The coordinating vav introduces veacharitah {וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ | wə-ʾaḥă-rî-ṯāh} ‘and its end,’ linked to simchah {שִׂמְחָה | śim-ḥāh} ‘joy’ and culminating in tugah {תוּגָה | ṯū-gāh} ‘sorrow.’ This chiastic and antithetical parallelism underscores the contrast between outward mirth and inward grief, with the construct chain expressing the culmination of joy in sorrow. |