| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with veyom {וְי֨וֹם֙ | wə-yôm} “and day,” connecting to the preceding narrative and signaling a shift. The ordinal hashvi‘i {הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י | haš-šə-bî-ʿî} modifies shabbat {שַׁבָּ֖֣ת | šabbāṯ} “sabbath, rest,” identifying a consecrated timeframe. The phrase laYHWH eloheikha {לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ | la-Yahweh ʾĕ-lō-hê-kā} “to the LORD your God” denotes divine possession and purpose. The prohibition uses lo taaseh {לֹא־תַעֲשֶׂה | lōʾ taʿă-sê} “you shall not do,” a negative imperfect verb phrase expressing modal prohibition over kol melakhah {כָל־מְלָאכָ֡֜ה | kōl mə-lā-ʾā-kāh} “all work.” A polysyndetic list follows—attah {אַתָּה | ʾă-tāh}, uvinkha {וּבִנְךָ | û-vîn-kā}, uvittekha {וּבִתֶּךָ | û-bit-te-kā}, avdekha {עַבְדְּךָ | ʿavd-de-kā}, waamatkha {وַאֲמָתְךָ | wa-ʾa-māṯ-kā}, uvehemtekha {וּבְהֶמְתְּךָ | û-və-hem-te-kā}, vegerkha {וְגֵרְךָ | wə-gēr-kā}—each joined by vav to emphasize inclusivity. The relative clause asher bisharekha {אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ | ʾa-šer biš-ʿārê-kā} “who is within your gates” defines the boundary. The English translation mirrors the Hebrew structure with an em dash and coordinated noun phrases to preserve emphasis and flow. |