| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The clause begins with way-ya-ʼas {וַיַּ֥עַשׂ | way-ya-ʼas} ‘and he did’, where the vav-consecutive prefix on a Qal imperfect verb indicates sequential narrative action. The noun phrase hay-yā-šār {הַיָּשָׁ֖ר | hay-yā-šār} ‘the upright’ includes a definite article specifying moral correctness. The prepositional-construct phrase be-ʿê-nê {בְּעֵינֵ֣י | bə-ʿê-nê} ‘in the eyes of’ precedes the divine name Yahweh {יְהוָ֑ה | Yə-hō-wāh}, emphasizing divine evaluation. The particles rāk {רַ֕ק | rāk} ‘only’ and lō {לֹ֖א | lō} ‘not’ establish the intended contrast. The final phrase be-lē-ḇāḇ šā-lēm {בְּלֵבָ֥ב שָׁלֵֽם | bə-lē-ḇāḇ šā-lēm} ‘with a whole heart’ employs the construct state to convey undivided inner devotion. The parallel structure contrasts external moral action with incomplete internal commitment. |