| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The legal scope formula al kol devar pesha {עַל־כָּל־דְּבַר־פֶּשַׁע | ʿal kôl də-var pē-šaʿ} ‘for every matter of trespass’ is followed by an exhaustive paratactic series of topic phrases (al shor, al chamor, al seh, al salmah, al kol avedah) listing property categories. The relative clause asher yomer ki hu zeh {אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר כִּי־הוּא־זֶה | ʾă-šer yō-mer kî hū zeh} functions as a claimant’s assertion of ownership. The expression ad haelohim yavo devar shenehem {עַד־הָאֱלֹהִים יָבֹא דְּבַר־שְׁנֵיהֶם | ʿad hā-ʼĕ-lō-hîm yā-vōʾ də-var šə-nē-hêm} marks referral of the dispute to judicial authority. The Hiphil imperfect yarshiun {יַרְשִׁיעֻן | yār-šî-ʿûn} indicates formal condemnation, and the Piel imperfect yeshalem {יְשַׁלֵּם | yə-šal-lêm} mandates restitution. The plural elohim {אֱלֹהִים | ʼĕ-lō-hîm} for judges underscores the divine sanction behind human adjudication. |