| 34. Linguistic Exegesis The clause begins with the conjunctive prefix u- introducing baʿal {בַּעַל | ba-ʿăl} ‘owner’ in construct with habor {הַבּוֹר | ha-bôr} ‘pit’. Two sequential verbs express obligation and restitution: yeshalem {יְשַׁלֵּם | yə-šal-lêm} ‘must pay’ takes kesef {כֶּסֶף | ke-sĕp̄} ‘silver’, and yashiv {יָשִׁיב | yā-šîb} ‘shall return’ governs libaalav ‘its owner’. The coordinating ve- introduces vehamet {וְהַמֵּת | wə-ha-mêt} ‘and the dead one’, concluding with yihyeh-lo {יִהְיֶה־לוֹ | yi-hyêh-lo} ‘shall be to him’. The parallel structure underscores the legal pattern of restitution followed by property transfer characteristic of casuistic law in Exodus. |