| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb velakachta {וְלָקַחְתָּ | wə-lā-qā-ḥ-tā} introducing the ritual action. The particle et {אֶת־ | ʾet} marks hamartzea {הַמַּרְצֵעַ | ha-martzeʻa} as the direct object. A second vav-consecutive verb, venattata {וְנָתַתָּ | wə-nā-ṭā-tā}, governs the prepositional phrases beozno {בְּאָזְנוֹ | bə-ʾōz-nō} and uvdadelet {וּבַדֶּלֶת | u-ḇa-dē-let}, specifying placement through his ear and into the door. The result clause vehayah {וְהָיָה | wə-hā-yāh} links to the predicate nominal eved {עֶבֶד | ʿe-ved} and the adverbial noun olam {עוֹלָם | ʿō-lām}, expressing enduring servitude. The parallel clause veaf leamatkha taasehken {וְאַף לַאֲמָתְךָ תַּעֲשֶׂה־כֵּן | wə-ʾap̄ la-ʾǎ-māt-ḵā ta-ʿă-śē-ken} mirrors the procedure for both male and female servants, ensuring symmetry. |