| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ve-atta {וְעַתָּה | wə-ʿat-tāh} ‘and now’, marking a shift from narrative to covenantal stipulation. The conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} introduces a protasis underscored by the intensive pairing of shamoa {שָׁמוֹעַ | šā-môaʿ} infinitive absolute and tishme'u {תִּשְׁמְעוּ | tišməʿû} imperfect, stressing full attention. The phrase be-koli {בְּקֹלִי | bə-qō-lî} ‘in My voice’ identifies the summons’ source, while u-shemartem {וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם | wə-šə-mar-tem} ‘and you keep’ links obedience to covenant fidelity. The particle et {אֶת | ʾeṯ} marks beriti {בְּרִיתִי | bə-rî-tî} ‘my covenant’ as a definite object. In the apodosis, vihyitem {וִהְיִיתֶם | wı-hyî-ṯem} conveys a future-result nuance, and li segulah {לִי סְגֻלָּה | lî sə-gul-lāh} ‘to Me a treasured possession’ foregrounds chosen status. The partitive mi-kol ha-ammim {מִכָּל־הָעַמִּים | mikkōl hā-ʿammîm} ‘from among all nations’ sets Israel apart, and the causal clause ki-li kol ha-arets {כִּי־לִי כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ | kî lî kōl hā-āreṣ} ‘for the whole earth belongs to Me’ asserts universal sovereignty as the basis for particular election. |