| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the temporal preposition ad {עַד | ʿad} ‘until’, framing the Piel imperfect verb yefallach {יְפַלַּח | ye-p̄al-lāḥ} ‘pierces’. The noun chets {חֵץ | ḥêṣ} ‘arrow’ functions as the subject delivering sudden impact, and the object kevedo {כְּבֵדוֹ | kə-ḇê-ḏô} ‘his liver’ employs synecdoche for inner vitality. A comparative clause pairs the prefix kə with the Piel infinitive kemaher {כְּמַהֵר | kə-ma-hêr} ‘to hasten’ and its subject tzippor {צִפּוֹר | ṣip-pôr} ‘bird’, linked by vav to depict impulsive motion toward el-pach {אֶל־פָּח | ʾel-pāḥ} ‘a snare’. The coordination velo-yada {וְלֹא־יָדַע | wə-lō yā-ḏaʿ} ‘and does not know’ conveys ignorance, while the causal clause ki-venafsho {כִּי־בְנַפְשׁוֹ | kî bə-naf-šô} ‘because it concerns his life’ highlights the fatal outcome. The English preserves the Hebrew’s temporal and comparative structure with clear cause–effect linkage. |