| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} marking a protasis. The Qal infinitive absolute tarof {טָרֹף | ṭā-rōp̄} ‘torn’ paired with the Qal imperfect yitaref {יִטָּרֵף | yi-ṭā-rēp̄} ‘it shall be torn’ forms an intensive construction. The Hifil imperfect yeviehu {יְבִאֵהוּ | yə-ḇî-ʾē-hû} ‘he shall bring it’ conveys causative obligation. The noun ed {עֵד | ʿēd} ‘witness’ categorizes the remains as legal evidence, and hatterefah {הַטְּרֵפָה | ha-ṯə-rē-pāh} ‘the torn thing’ specifies the item. The negative particle lo {לֹא | lōʾ} precedes the Piel imperfect yeshalem {יְשַׁלֵּם | yə-šăl-lêm} ‘he shall pay’, forming the apodosis that exempts the obligated party from compensation. The protasis–apodosis structure establishes a legal stipulation emphasizing evidentiary presentation and liability shift. |