| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ki {כִּי־ | kî} ‘for,’ linking to the preceding oracle. The noun vochan {בֹחַן | ḇō-ḥan} ‘testing’ sets the theme of divine examination. The particle u-ma {וּמַה | û-ma} ‘and what’ combined with im {אִם־ | ʾim} ‘if’ and intensifier gam {גַּם־ | gam} ‘even’ introduces a rhetorical question. The Qal perfect verb moasah {מֹאֲסָה | mō-ʾā-sā} ‘you despise’ takes an implied second person subject, expressing the people’s rejection of the shevet {שֵׁבֶט | šē-ḇeṭ} ‘rod’ of authority. The negation lo {לֹא | lōʾ} with the imperfect tihyeh {תִהְיֶה | ti-hyēh} conveys a decisive denial of continuance. The declaration neum Adonai Yahweh {נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוָה | nə-ʾum ʾă-dō-nāy Yə-hô-wāh} seals the authoritative divine pronouncement. |