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“Then Iyov Answered and Said”: Formulaic Speech Introductions in Biblical Hebrew
וַיַּ֥עַן אִיֹּ֗וב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
(Job 3:2)
Then Job answered and said:
The Turning Point of Silence into Speech
Job 3:2 contains only six Hebrew words, yet it marks a pivotal moment in the literary structure of the book: וַיַּ֥עַן אִיֹּ֗וב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃ — “Then Iyov answered and said.” This terse formula is the standard biblical narrative introduction to direct speech, particularly in dialogues. After a long narrative setup in chapters 1–2 and seven days of silence (Job 2:13), these words announce the beginning of Iyov’s poetic lament.… Learn Hebrew