pa.lah marks a separation or exceptional treatment, especially in contrasts involving Israel and Egypt.

The attested uses center on marking a separation: Israel is contrasted with Egypt and its livestock in Exodus 11:7, Exodus 33:16, and Exodus 9:4. In the Psalms, the same forms occur where kindness is requested as “marvelous” and the speaker describes being “wonderfully made,” extending the observed usage to exceptional treatment or quality.

1. Marking a separation or exceptional status · dominant

   In Exodus 11:7, the Hiphil imperfect occurs in the statement that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel; Exodus 9:4 similarly contrasts the livestock of Israel and Egypt. In Exodus 33:16, the Niphal sequential perfect describes Moses and the people as distinguished from every other people; Psalm 17:7 and Psalm 139:14 place Hiphil and Niphal forms in clauses rendered “Show your kindness as marvelous” and “wonderfully made.”

   Exodus 11:7Exodus 9:4Exodus 33:16Psalm 17:7Psalm 139:14Exodus 8:18

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB explicitly uses “makes a distinction,” “will be distinguished,” and “make a distinction” in the Exodus clauses. In the Psalms it instead presents the surrounding clauses with “marvelous” kindness and being “wonderfully made”; Exodus 8:18 and Psalm 4:4 do not isolate the term's individual English contribution.