| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with vayomer {וַיֹּ֖אמֶר | wayyōʾmer} ‘and he said’, introducing direct speech. The oath formula khay-Yahweh {חַי־יְהוָ֕ה | ḥay Yə-hô-wāh} ‘as the LORD lives’ signals a solemn affirmation. The conjunction ki {כִּ֛י | kî} indicates exclusivity. The nominal relative clause et-asher-yōmar-elōhāy-ōtō-’ăḏabbēr {אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר אֱלֹהַ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃ | ʾet-ʾăšer-yōʾmar-ʾĕlōhāy-ʾōṯô-’ăḏabbēr} ‘whatever my God says, that I will speak’ uses the direct object markers et and otō to frame the prophet’s sole message. The Piel stem ’ăḏabbēr conveys an official declarative act, rendered dynamically as “gives me to speak,” reflecting the verb’s formal nuance. |