| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with akh {אָ֗ח | ʾāḥ} ‘brother’ modified by the Niphal participle nifsha {נִפְשָׁ֥ע | nip-šāʿ} ‘was offended’, indicating a resultant relational break. The comparative expression uses the preposition mem in miqiryat-oz {מִקִּרְיַת־עֹ֑ז | mi-qir-yat-ʿōz} ‘than a strong city’, where qiryat {קִרְיַת־ | qir-yat} ‘city’ is in construct with oz {עֹז | ʿōz} ‘strength’. The copulative vav in umidyanim {וּמִדְיָנִ֗ים | u-min-yā-nim} ‘and disputes’ parallels the first clause. The simile marker kaf in kivriakh {כִּבְרִיחַ | ki-bri-ʾaḥ} ‘like a bolt’ likens disputes to a physical barrier, culminating in the noun armon {אַרְמֽוֹן | ʾar-mōn} ‘fortress’. This parallel comparative-simile structure underscores the severity of alienation by equating relational rifts with impenetrable fortifications. |