| 44. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb vidatem {וִידַעְתֶּם | wi-da‘-tem} ‘and you will know’, signaling a promised future realization of divine action. The conjunction ki {כִּי־ | kî} introduces an explanatory clause. The expression ani Yahweh {אֲנִי יְהוָה | ʾă-nî Yə-hō-wāh} asserts divine identity. The infinitive construct ba‘asoti ittkhem lema‘an shmi {בַּעֲשׂוֹתִי אִתְּכֶם לְמַעַן שְׁמִי | ba-ʿă-śō-tî ʾit-khem lə-ma-ʿan še-mî} conveys purpose, emphasizing action motivated by divine reputation. The parallel phrases lo kədarkheikhem hara‘im {לֹא כְּדַרְכֵיכֶם הָרָעִים | lōʾ kə-ḏar-khei-khem hā-rā-ʾîm} and weka‘aliloteikhem hanishchatôt {וְכַעֲלִילוֹתֵיכֶם הַנִּשְׁחָתוֹת | wə-ka-ʿă-li-lo-tê-khem ha-niš-ḥā-ṭōt} use synonymous parallelism to contrast divine mercy with human corruption. The concluding formula nəʼum Adonai Yahweh {נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה | nə-’ūm ʾă-dō-nāy Yə-hō-wāh} delivers divine authority. The English order places “you will know” and “I am the LORD” at the forefront, mirroring the Hebrew emphasis. |