| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the construct participle yir-ei {יִרְאֵי | yir-’ê} ‘fearing ones’, serving a vocative function. It employs paired Piel imperatives in shib-huhu {שִׁבְּחוּהוּ | šib-ḥû-hû} ‘praise Him’ and kab-bed-huhu {כַּבְּדוּהוּ | kab-bə-ḏû-hû} ‘glorify Him’, both directed at the divine name. The construct chain kol zera {כָּל־זֶרַע | kol zê-ra‘} ‘all offspring’ linked to ya-aqov {יַעֲקֹב | ya-‘ă-qōv} and yisra-el {יִשְׂרָאֵל | yiś-rā-’êl} creates poetic parallelism. The final Qal imperative we-gu-ru {וְגוּרוּ | wə-gû-rū} ‘and stand in awe’ with the prepositional phrase mi-men-nu {מִמֶּנּוּ | mi-me-nû} ‘from Him’ underscores reverential fear. This triadic structure of imperatives and parallel constructs emphasizes communal praise, honor, and awe in response to divine presence. |