| 32. Linguistic Exegesis The conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} ‘for’ introduces a causal clause explaining divine motivation. The negator lo {לֹא | lōʾ} precedes the imperfect verb ekhpots {אֶחְפֹּץ | ʾeḥ-pōṣ} ‘I desire,’ resulting in a strong negative volition regarding bemot {בְּמ֣וֹת | bə-mōṯ} ‘death’ and hamet {הַמֵּת | ham-mêṯ} ‘the dying one.’ The oracle marker neum {נְאֻם | nəʾum} ‘declaration’ signals the divine oracle, followed by the compound title Adonai Yahweh {אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה | ʾăḏōnāy Yə-hō-wāh}, highlighting God’s authority. The paired imperatives vehashivu {וְהָשִׁיבוּ | wə-hā-šî-ḇû} ‘and turn back’ and vikhyu {וִחְיוּ | wi-ḥyû} ‘and live’ function as a conditional sequence, linking repentance to life. Hebrew noun constructs and successive imperatives contrast divine displeasure at death with the hopeful promise of restored life. |