| 18. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with a metaphorical triad of destructive instruments introduced by mefits {מֵפִיץ | mêpîṣ} ‘one who shatters’, followed by kherev {חֶרֶב | ḥereḇ} ‘sword’ and khets shanun {חֵץ שָׁנוּן | ḥēṣ šānûn} ‘sharp arrow’. This phrase functions as the predicate complement in an equative clause. The subject ʾîš ʿōnēh {אִישׁ עֹנֶה | ʾîš ʿōnēh} ‘a man answering’ employs a participle expressing agentive action. The prepositional construct bǝ-rêʿehû {בְ־רֵעֵהוּ | bǝ-rêʿehû} ‘against his neighbor’ indicates the target, and the noun phrase ʿēd šāqer {עֵד שָׁקֶר | ʿēd šāqer} ‘false witness’ serves as the object. The w-conjunctions (we {וְ | wə}) link the listed instruments, creating paratactic intensification. |