| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The clause begins with the noun shevuat {שְׁבֻעַת | šəvûʿāṯ} ‘oath of’ modifying Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yə-hō-wāh} ‘LORD,’ marking a formal divine oath. The verb tihyeh {תִּהְיֶה | tîhyēh} ‘it shall be’ introduces the judicial assertion “between the two of them” (bein shenehem {בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם | bên šənêhēm}). The conditional im-lo {אִם־לֹא | ʼim-lō} with the perfect verb shalach {שָׁלַח | šālaḥ} and accusative yado {יָדוֹ | yādô} forms the protasis, “if he has not stretched out his hand.” The construct chain bimelechet re'eihu {בִּמְלֶאכֶת רֵעֵהוּ | bimlê’āḵet rê’ēhû} specifies “in the work of his companion,” emphasizing possession. The vav-consecutive velakach {وְלָקַח | wə-lāqaḥ} plus be'alav {בְּעָלָיו | bə-‘ālāv} shifts to the owner’s response, “then the owner shall accept,” while the subsequent vav-consecutive velo yeshalllem {וְלֹא יְשַׁלֵּם | wə-lō yăšallēm} delivers the judicial outcome “and he shall not make restitution.” This sequence of perfect verbs in conditional and consecutive constructions communicates legal certainty and divine authority within the Hebrew syntax. |