| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The Hebrew uses the restrictive adverb rak {רַק | raq} to limit the prohibition to blood. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet} introduces damo {דָּמ֖וֹ | dā-mô}, highlighting specificity. The negative particle lo {לֹא | lōʾ} with the Qal imperfect toekhel {תֹאכֵל | tō-ʾă-ḵēl} forms a second-person prohibition. The Qal imperfect tishpekhennu {תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ | tiš-pā-ḵe-nnû} resumes reference to the blood, coordinating a positive directive. The simile kammayim {כַּמָּֽיִם | kam-ma-yim} intensifies the act, likening the blood’s flow to water. English renderings reorder to subject–verb–object for clarity while preserving the prohibition–directive pattern. |