| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the legal formula vehayah {וְהָיָה֙ | wə-hā-yāh}, marking a stipulation, followed by the conditional ki1 {כִּֽי | kî} introducing the protasis. The verb yomar {יֹאמַ֣ר | yō-mar} in the Qal imperfect establishes direct speech. The negative lo1 {לֹ֥א | lōʾ} negates etze {אֵצֵ֖א | ʾē-ṣēʾ}, “I will go out,” and the prepositional phrase meimmakh {מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ | mê-ʿim-mākh} indicates separation. The first causal ki2 {כִּ֤י | kî} links this refusal to ahevkha {אֲהֵֽבְךָ֙ | ʾă-hē-ḇ-kā}, “he loves you,” with veet {וְאֶת־ | wə-ʾet} introducing beitekha {בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ | bē-ṯe-kha}, “your house.” The second causal ki3 {כִּי־ט֥וֹב | kî} shifts to an evaluative clause where tov {ט֥וֹב | ṭōv} plus lo2 immakh {ל֖וֹ עִמָּֽךְ | lō ʿim-mākh} conveys favorable circumstances. This protasis–apodosis structure follows Deuteronomic legal style and underscores both emotional devotion and practical benefits underlying the servant’s choice. |