Tag Archives: Exodus 19:16

When Heaven Shook the Earth: Sound, Fear, and Syntax at Sinai

וַיְהִי֩ בַיֹּ֨ום הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י בִּֽהְיֹ֣ת הַבֹּ֗קֶר וַיְהִי֩ קֹלֹ֨ת וּבְרָקִ֜ים וְעָנָ֤ן כָּבֵד֙ עַל־הָהָ֔ר וְקֹ֥ל שֹׁפָ֖ר חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֑ד וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (Exodus 19:16) Temporal Framing with Double Participle וַיְהִי֩ בַיֹּ֨ום הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י בִּֽהְיֹ֣ת הַבֹּ֗קֶר “And it was on the third day, when the morning came…” This structure uses: A wayyiqtol verb: וַיְהִי (“and it came to be”) A temporal noun phrase: בַיֹּ֨ום הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י (“on the third day”) A construct infinitive clause: בִּֽהְיֹ֣ת הַבֹּ֗קֶר (“when it was morning”) This sets a cinematic scene—a specific time bracketed by expectation and solemnity, initiating one of the most dramatic theophanies in Scripture.… Learn Hebrew
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