| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The prefixed vav verb venatatti {וְנָתַתִּ֥י | wə-nā-ṯaṯ-tî} ‘and I will make’ functions as the opening divine pronouncement. The particle et {אֶת־ | ʾeṯ} marks ha’aretz {הָאָרֶץ | hā-ʾā-reṣ} ‘the land’ as direct object, with shemamah {שְׁמָמָה | še-mā-māh} ‘desolation’ specifying its ruined state. The causal conjunction ya‘an {יַעַן | ya-ʿan} introduces the reason expressed by the paired verb–noun ma‘alu ma‘al {מָעֲלוּ מַעַל | mā-ʿă-lû ma-ʿal} ‘they acted unfaithfully’ + ‘unfaithfulness’, underscoring covenant breach. The construct ne‘um {נְאֻם | nə-ʾum} ‘utterance’ leads into the prophetic formula attributed to the compound divine name Adonai Yahweh {אֲדֹנָי יְהוִֽה | ʾă-ḏō-nāy Yəhōwāh}, highlighting Lordship and covenant authority. |