| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | way-yōmer} ‘and he said’, the Qal imperfect with waw consecutive that introduces divine direct speech. This is followed by the subject Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yə-hō-wāh} ‘LORD’, signaling the speaker’s identity. The first causal clause is marked by ki-rabbah {כִּי־רָבָּה | kî-rab-bāh} ‘because it is great’, qualifying the noun za‘akat {זַעֲקַת | za-ʿă-qāṯ} ‘outcry-of’, which stands in construct relation with the coordinated names Sodom and Gomorrah. 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. |