| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conditional particle vechi {וְכִי | wə-kî} “and if,” introducing the protasis of a legal case. The imperfect yazid {יָזִד | yā-zîd} “acts willfully” denotes premeditated intent. The agent ish {אִישׁ | ʾîš} “a man” is followed by al re’eihu {עַל־רֵעֵהוּ | ʿal-rê-ʿê-hû} “against his neighbor,” marking the potential victim. The Hifil infinitive laharogo {לַהֲרֹגוֹ | la-har-ō-gō} “to kill him” expresses purpose. The manner clause be-armah {בְּעָרְמָה | bə-ʿar-māh} “with cunning” heightens culpability. The locative me-im mizbechi {מֵעִם מִזְבְּחִי | mê-ʿim miz-bê-ḥî} “from my altar” signals that sanctuary protection is forfeited. The jussive tikachennu {תִּקָּחֶנּוּ | ti-qa-ḥe-nnû} “you shall take him” assigns legal duty. The infinitive lamut {לָמוּת | lā-mût} “to die” states the penalty. The structure moves from conditional protasis to directive apodosis, emphasizing that deliberate murder is punishable by death even within sacred precincts. |