לִ֛י

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 לִ֛י

   LI

   to me
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 כֹּֽה־יַעֲשׂ֥וּן לִ֛י

   ko-ya-a-SUN LI

   thus may they do to me
3. clause🔊 וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֹּֽה־יַעֲשׂ֥וּן לִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֑פוּ

   va-yish-LAKH e-LAV ben-ha-DAD va-yo-MER ko-ya-a-SUN LI e-lo-HIM ve-KHO yo-SI-fu

   and he sent to him Ben-hadad and he said thus may they do to me God or gods and thus may they add
4. sentence🔊 וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֹּֽה־יַעֲשׂ֥וּן לִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֑פוּ אִם־יִשְׂפֹּק֙ עֲפַ֣ר שֹׁמְר֔וֹן לִשְׁעָלִ֕ים לְכָל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽי׃

   va-yish-LAKH e-LAV ben-ha-DAD va-yo-MER ko-ya-a-SUN LI e-lo-HIM ve-KHO yo-SI-fu im-yis-pe-KOK a-FAR shom-re-RON lish-e-a-LIM le-khol-ha-AM a-SHER be-rag-LAI

   and he sent to him Ben-hadad and he said thus may they do to me God or gods and thus may they add if will suffice dust of Samaria for handfuls for all the people who or which at my feet

Exegesis

The phrase lī-šə-ʿā-lîm lə-ḵāl-hā-ʿām {לִשְׁעָלִים לְכָל־הָעָם} uses a prepositional unit plus the universal quantifier kol and the definite article to underscore exhaustiveness.

Finally, the locative bə-rag-lāy {בְּרַגְלָֽי | bə-rag-lāy} ‘at my feet’ conveys complete subjugation. This layered structure of narrative, oath, and universal quantifier generates heightened emphasis on the certainty and scope of the threat.

Root and etymology

r-g-l🔊 ר־ג־לresh–gimel–lamed

“to walk, go on foot”

• 🔊 רֶגֶלregelfootGenesis 18:4