| 30. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} ‘if’, introducing a legal protasis. The noun kofer {כֹּפֶר | kô-p̄er} ‘ransom’ serves as the conditional subject, followed by the Nifal imperfect yushat {יוּשָׁת | yū-šat} ‘is imposed’ and the prepositional phrase alav {עָלָיו | ʿā-lav} ‘on him’, marking the party obligated. The Qal imperfect venatan {וְנָתַן | wə-nā-tan} ‘and he gives’ shifts to the apodosis, presenting the action of payment. The nominal phrase pidyon nafsho {פִּדְיֹן נַפְשׁוֹ | p̄id-yōn nap̄-shô} ‘redemption of his life’ expresses the purpose. The prepositional phrase kekol {כְּכֹל | kə-kōl} ‘according to all’ plus the relative clause asher-yushat {אֲשֶׁר־יוּשָׁת | ʾă-šer-yū-šat} ‘that is imposed’ establishes proportionality, and the final alav {עָלָיו | ʿā-lav} ‘on him’ forms an inclusio that underscores personal responsibility. The Hebrew structure is reflected in English by preserving the conditional form and parallel phrasing. |