| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The passage begins with the conjunction vav {וַ | va-} prefixed to two verbs, marking successive action. The verb wāʾeš-bōṯ {וָאֶשְׁבֹּת | wāʾeš-bōṯ} is a Qal wayyiqtol of shavat {שָׁבַת | ša-vaṯ} ‘to cease’, here rendered ‘but I withheld’, invoking the metaphor of the divine hand for action. The following wāʾəʿē-seh {וָאֶעֱשֶׂה | wāʾəʿē-seh} is a Qal wayyiqtol of ʿasah {עָשָׂה | ʿā-sāh} ‘to do’, shifting to positive divine initiative. The preposition lə-maʿ-an {לְמַעַן | lə-maʿ-an} introduces the purpose phrase with šə-mî {שְׁמִי | šə-mî} ‘my name’, highlighting divine reputation as motive. The Hiphil infinitive construct hē-ḥēl {הֵחֵל | hē-ḥēl} ‘to be profaned’ combines with the infinitive of avoidance lə-ḇil-tî {לְבִלְתִּי | lə-ḇil-tî}, forming the negative purpose. The phrase lə-ʿê-ney ha-gô-yîm {לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם | lə-ʿê-ney ha-gô-yîm} ‘before the eyes of the nations’ underscores public witness. The relative clause ʾă-šer hō-ṣē-ʾê-tî ʾô-tām lə-ʿê-ney-hem {אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אוֹתָם לְעֵינֵיהֶם | ʾă-šer hō-ṣē-ʾê-tî ʾô-tām lə-ʿê-ney-hem} situates the action in the exodus narrative. |