| 11. Linguistic Exegesis Hebrew arranges this clause with the waw-consecutive verb vayedabber {וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר | way-də-bēr} ‘and he spoke’, marking narrative continuation. It is followed by the subject Yahweh {יְהוָ֖ה | Yə-hō-wāh}, yielding a VSO order typical of formal divine speech introductions. The phrase el Mosheh {אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה | ʾel-mō-šeh} ‘to Moses’ serves as the indirect object, indicating the recipient. Finally the infinitive construct leemor {לֵּאמֹֽר | lē-ʾmōr} ‘saying’ completes the oratio recta formula that heralds a direct quotation in the next verse. English renders this sequence in subject–verb–object–clause order to preserve both clarity and the formal weight of God’s communication. |