| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with veamarta {וְאָמַרְתָּ | wə-ʾā-mar-tā} ‘and you shall say’, directing the prophet’s proclamation. The formulaic oracle intro koh amar Adonai Yahweh {כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה | kō ʾā-mar ʾă-dō-nāy Yə-hō-wāh} frames the divine speech. The temporal phrase beyom bachori {בְּיוֹם בָּחֳרִי | bə-yôm ḇā-ḥă-rî}, using a Qal infinitive construct, marks divine election. The repeated ritual idiom vaessa yadi {וָאֶשָּׂא יָדִי | wā-ʾeś-śā yā-ḏî} ‘and I lifted up my hand’ functions as an oath formula to lezera‘ beit Ya‘akov {לְזֶרַע בֵּית יַעֲקֹב | lə-ze-raʿ bêṯ ya-ʿă-qōḇ}, emphasizing covenant lineage. The phrase vaivvada lahem {וָאִוָּדַע לָהֶם | wā-ʾiwwā-ḏaʿ lā-hem} ‘and I was made known to them’, anchored by be’eretz Mitzrayim {בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם | bə-ʾe-reṣ miṣ-rā-yim}, denotes divine revelation. The climax leemor ani Yahweh Eloheikhem {לֵאמֹר אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם | lê-ʾemōr ʾă-nî Yə-hō-wāh ʾe-lō-hê-khem} delivers the covenantal declaration. |