| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the noun lev {לֵב | lēḇ} ‘heart’ followed by the attributive adjective sameaḥ {שָׂמֵחַ | sāmēaḥ} ‘rejoicing,’ forming an emotional-noun phrase. The Hiphil imperfect yēyiṭṭîḇ {יֵיטִב | yēyiṭṭîḇ} “makes well” takes gēhâ {גֵּהָה | gēhâ} ‘healing’ as its object, establishing a simile. The conjunction wə- {וְ | wə-} introduces the contrasting clause with wə-rûaḥ {וְרוּחַ | wə-rûaḥ} ‘spirit’ as the parallel subject. The Niphal participle nəḵe’āḥ {נְכֵאָה | nəḵe’āḥ} ‘stricken’ predicates on the spirit, and the Piel imperfect təyabbeš {תְּיַבֵּשׁ | təyabbeš} “dries up” governs gārem {גָּרֶם | gārem} ‘bone’ as its object. This vav-imperfect adversative structure highlights the contrast between joyful flourishing and emotional distress leading to physical decline. |