כִּ֥י

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 כִּ֥י

   KI

   for
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 כִּ֥י כָבְדָ֖ה

   KI khav-DA

   for it is grave
3. clause🔊 וְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔ם כִּ֥י כָבְדָ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃

   ve-kha-ta-TAM KI khav-DA me-OD

   and their sin for very it is grave
4. sentence🔊 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה זַעֲקַ֛ת סְדֹ֥ם וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה כִּי־רָ֑בָּה וְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔ם כִּ֥י כָבְדָ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃

   va-YO-mer Ye-ho-VAH za-a-KAT se-DOM va-a-mo-RA ki-ra-BA ve-kha-ta-TAM KI khav-DA me-OD

   LORD {And He} said outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah because it is great and their sin for very it is grave

Exegesis

A second ki {כִּי | kî} ‘because’ introduces the parallel clause vechatatam {וְחַטָּאתָם | wə-ḥaṭ-ṭā-ṯām} ‘and their sin’, linked to the predicate kavadah {כָבְדָה | kāv-dəh} ‘is heavy’ modified by me‘od {מְאֹד | mə-ʾōḏ} ‘very’. The repetition of the causal marker kî creates a balanced structure, emphasizing the dual reasons—public plea and moral guilt—for impending divine response.