| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The conditional conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} introduces a protasis typical of casuistic law, followed by the Qal imperfect tikneh {תִּקְנֶה | tikkənê} “you will buy,” indicating a general stipulation. The noun phrase eved ivri {עֶבֶד עִבְרִי | ʿeḇeḏ ʿivrî} “Hebrew servant” shows adjective following noun. The temporal clause shesh shanim yaʿavod {שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים יַעֲבֹד | šêš šānîm yaʿăḇōḏ} “six years he shall serve” places the numeral before the plural noun, while the vav-prefixed ordinal u-vašviʿit {וּבַשְּׁבִיעִת | û-ḇaššəḇîʿəṯ} “and in the seventh” limits service duration. The final sequence yetse la-khofshi khinam {יֵצֵא לַחָפְשִׁי חִנָּם | yēṣēʾ laḥāp̄šî ḥinnām} “he shall go out to freedom freely” uses le to mark status or purpose and khinam as adverbial emphasis on gratuitous release. The Hebrew legal style relies on sequential vav-conjunctions and imperfect verb forms to outline obligations and outcomes. |