| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the adversative particle akh {אַךְ | ’aḵ} ‘however,’ marking an exception, followed by the negation lo {לֹא | lōʾ} ‘not’ negating the Niphal imperfect yachashev {יֵחָשֵׁב | yē-ḥā-šêḇ} ‘it will be reckoned.’ The noun phrase hakesef hanittan {הַכֶּסֶף הַנִּתָּן | ha-kes-seph ha-nit-tān} ‘the money entrusted’ forms a construct with the participle hanittan functioning adjectivally. The prepositional phrase al-yadam {עַל־יָדָם | ’al-yā-dām} ‘into their hands’ indicates personal stewardship. The causal conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} ‘because’ introduces the justification, and be-emunah {בֶאֱמוּנָה | bə-’e-mu-nāh} ‘in faithfulness’ with the participle osim {עֹשִׂים | ‘ō-šîm} ‘are doing’ describes manner. English order has been adjusted to highlight the contrast between exception and rationale. |