| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The Hebrew conditional force is marked by vehayu {וְ֠הָיוּ | wə-hā-yû} followed by the demonstrative-numeral phrase sheloshet ha-anashim ha-eleh {שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ | šəlōšet hā-ʾănāšîm hā-ʾēlleh} “these three men.” The appositional list Noach, Daniel, ve-iyov {וְאִיּ֑וֹב | wə-ʾiyyôḇ} underscores their exemplar status. Betokhah {בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ | bə-tô-khā} situates them within the city under judgment. The pronoun hemah {הֵ֤מָּה | hēm-mā} adds emphasis. The instrumental phrase be-tzidkatam {בְצִדְקָתָם֙ | bə-ṣid-qā-tām} with nafsham {נַפְשָׁ֔ם | nap̄-šām} as object shows that their life is delivered by their righteousness. The Hifil imperfect y-natzlu {יְנַצְּל֣וּ | yə-naṣ-ṣə-lû} conveys limited causative deliverance. The prophetic signature neum Adonai Yahweh {נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה | nə-ʾum ʾăḏōnāy Yahweh} asserts divine authority. English restructures phrases for clarity while preserving the hypothetical, individual limitation, and divine sovereignty. |