| 30. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative wayyiqtol form vayomer {וַיֹּאמֶר | way-yōʾmer} ‘and he said’ introduces direct speech and advances the dialogue. The conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} functions causally (‘because’) in the opening clause. The phrase ʾet-ševaʿ kə-ḇā-śōṯ {אֶת־שֶׁבַע כְּבָשֹׂת | ʾeṯ še-ḇaʿ kə-ḇā-śōṯ} ‘the seven ewe-lambs’ is marked by the direct object particle ʾet and a feminine cardinal number in construct. The imperfect verb tikkach {תִּקַּח | tiqqāḥ} ‘you shall take’ expresses a binding instruction in the covenant context, while the idiom miyadi {מִיָּדִי | mi-yā-ḏî} ‘from my hand’ underscores personal transfer of property. The preposition baavur {בַּעֲבוּר | ba-ʿă-vûr} (‘so that’) introduces a purpose/result clause with tihyeh-li leʿedah {תִּֽהְיֶה־לִּי לְעֵדָה | tih-yeh-lî lə-ʿê-ḏāh} ‘it shall be for me as a witness.’ The second conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} shifts to a content function (‘that’), linking to the perfected action chafarti {חָפַרְתִּי | ḥā-par-tî} ‘I have dug.’ The clause concludes with the definite phrase ʾet-habbeʾer hazot {אֶת־הַבְּאֵר הַזֹּאת | ʾeṯ hab-bə-ʾêr haz-zōʾṯ} ‘this well.’ In English, the first ki is rendered as “Because” (formal) or “so” (dynamic) to capture causal nuance, and the second ki as “that” to reflect content introduction. The purpose-result baavur clause becomes “it will serve as” (formal) and “so they may” (dynamic) to convey legal stipulation. |