| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the particle rak {רַק | raq} ‘only’, establishing an exclusive condition. The intensive infinitive+imperfect pairing shamoa tishma {שָׁמ֣וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע | šā-mō-‘a tiš-ma‘} conveys emphatic listening as resolute obedience. The prepositional phrase bekol {בְּקול | bə-qōl} ‘in the voice’ stresses direct reception of divine instruction. The compound title Yahweh Eloheicha {יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ | Yə-hō-wāh ʾĕ-lō-hê-ḵā} highlights both personal relationship and covenant authority. The infinitive pair lishmor laasot {לִשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת | liš-mōr la-‘ă-śōṯ} expresses dual aspects of obedience—keeping and performing the commandments. Finally, the relative clause asher anochi metzavekha {אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ | ’ă-šer ’ā-nō-ḵî mê-ṣaw-wek-ḥā} underscores the present, ongoing nature of God’s command. |