| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the conditional conjunction ve-oh-asiti {וְאוֹ־עָשִׂיתִי | wə-ʾō-ʿā-śî-tî} ‘and if I had done’, pairing the vav consecutive with a perfect verb to frame a hypothetical scenario. The prepositional phrase be-napshi {בְּנַפְשִׁי | bə-nap̄-šî} ‘with my soul’ intensifies the personal stake in the action. Following this, sheqer {שֶׁקֶר | še-qer} ‘falsehood’ introduces the moral quality of the action. The coordinate particle in ve-khol-davar {וְכָל־דָּבָר | wə-ḵol-dā-var} ‘and every matter’ expands the assertion to every aspect of speech or deed. The result clause is marked by the Niphal imperfect lo-yikkached {לֹא־יִכָּחֵד | lō-yik-ḵeḏ} ‘would not be hidden’, emphasizing the inevitability of disclosure. The prepositional phrase min-ha-melekh {מִן־הַמֶּלֶךְ | min-hā-me-leḵ} ‘from the king’ situates the perspective under royal purview. In the final clause, the Hitpael imperfect tit-yatzev {תִּתְיַצֵּב | tit-ya-ẓēv} ‘you would stand’ conveys a conditional stance, linked with min-neged {מִנֶּגֶד | min-nĕ-ged} ‘from before’ to denote separation from proximity. The sequence of clauses thus builds from a personal hypothetical to the public consequences of betrayal in view of the king’s all-seeing oversight. |