| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} introducing a protasis, followed by the imperfect yiqqach {יִקַּח | yiqqāḥ} (‘he takes’) marking the hypothetical action. The paired nouns ish ishah {אִישׁ אִשָּׁה | ʼîš ʼiššāh} define the husband–wife relationship. The waw-consecutive uba {וּבָא | ūbāʾ} with the perfect sequence signals the consummatory action expressed by eleha {אֵלֶיהָ | ʾêlêhā}. The final usneah {וּשְׂנֵאָהּ | wə-sînəʼā(h)} shifts to an emotional change, indicating hatred and setting the stage for the legal provisions that follow. |