כִּ֣י

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 כִּ֣י

   KI

   for
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת יָמ֑וּת

   KI MOT ya-MUT

   for dying he shall die
3. clause🔊 כִּ֣י חַי־יְהוָ֗ה הַמּוֹשִׁ֙יעַ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֧י אִם־יֶשְׁנ֛וֹ בְּיוֹנָתָ֥ן בְּנִ֖י כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת יָמ֑וּת

   KI KHAI-ye-ho-VAH ha-mo-SHI-a ET-yis-ra-EL KI IM-ye-SHE-no be-yo-na-TAN be-NI KI MOT ya-MUT

   for as the LORD lives the one saving Israel for if he is in Jonathan my son for dying he shall die
4. sentence🔊 כִּ֣י חַי־יְהוָ֗ה הַמּוֹשִׁ֙יעַ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֧י אִם־יֶשְׁנ֛וֹ בְּיוֹנָתָ֥ן בְּנִ֖י כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת יָמ֑וּת וְאֵ֥ין עֹנֵ֖הוּ מִכָּל־הָעָֽם׃

   KI KHAI-ye-ho-VAH ha-mo-SHI-a ET-yis-ra-EL KI IM-ye-SHE-no be-yo-na-TAN be-NI KI MOT ya-MUT ve-EN o-NE-hu mi-KOL-ha-AM

   for as the LORD lives the one saving Israel for if he is in Jonathan my son for dying he shall die and there is not answering him from all the people

Exegesis

The verse opens with the oath formula ki chai YHWH {כִּי חַי־יְהוָה | kî ḥay-yə·hō·wāh} ‘for as the LORD lives’, pairing the conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} with the adjective chai {חַי | ḥay} and the divine name to assert solemnity.

The conditional construct ki im {כִּי אִם | kî ʾim} ‘even if’ introduces a subordinate clause with the existential verb yeshno {יֶשְׁנוֹ | yēš·nō} ‘there is in him’ and a pronominal suffix to express liability.

Root and etymology

b-k-r🔊 ב-כ-רbet–kaph–resh

“firstborn”

• 🔊 בִּכּוּרִיםbikkurimfirstfruitsExodus 23:19