| 26. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the wayyiqtol form vayyomer {וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way-yō-mer} “and He said,” advancing the narrative and introducing direct speech by Yahweh {יְהוָ֔ה | Yə-hō-wāh}. The protasis uses the conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} governing the first person imperfect emtsa {אֶמְצָ֥א | ʾem-ṣāʾ} “I find,” establishing the search criterion. The quantified noun phrase khamishim tsaddikim {חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם | ḥă-miš-šîm ṣad-dî-qîm} functions as the object of that search. The locative bisdom betokh ha-ir {בִסְדֹ֛ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר | bis-dōm bə-tôḵ hā-ʿîr} narrows the setting to “in Sodom, in the midst of the city.” The apodosis begins with the wayyiqtol venasati {וְנָשָׂ֥אתִי | wə-nā-śā-ṯî} “and I will spare,” shifting the basic sense “lift” to “withhold judgment.” This verb governs lekol-hamaqom {לְכָל־הַמָּק֖וֹם | lə-ḵol-ham-mā-qōm}, indicating the comprehensive scope of reprieve, with baavuram {בַּעֲבוּרָֽם | ba-ʿă-vūr-ām} “for their sake” introducing the causal motivation. The syntax highlights how representative righteousness can determine corporate fate. |