| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with a definite noun phrase haam haze haraa {הָעָם֩ הַזֶּ֨ה הָרָ֜ע | haam haze ha-ra‘} “this evil people,” establishing the collective subject. A chain of participles (hameanim {הַמֵּאֲנִים | ha-me-ʼa-nim} “refusing,” haholkhim {הַהֹלְכִים | ha-hol-ki-m} “walking”) and infinitives (lishmoa {לִשְׁמוֹעַ | li-sh-mo-a‘} “to hear,” leovdam {לְעָבְדָם | le-av-dam} “to serve,” ulehishtachavot {וּלְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת | u-le-his-ta-cha-vot} “to bow down”) portrays persistent idolatrous conduct. The prepositional phrase bishrirut libam {בִּשְׁרִרוּת לִבָּם | bish-ri-rut lib-bam} “in the stubbornness of their heart” locates the source of disobedience internally. The wayyiqtol clause vayelakhu acharei {וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרֵי | va-ye-le-khu a-cha-rei} “and they went after” advances the narrative action. The comparative construction vihi kaezor hazzeh {וִיהִי כָּאֵז֣וֹר הַזֶּה | vi-hi ka-e-zor ha-zeh} “and it shall be like this sash,” with the relative asher loyitzlach lakol {אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יִצְלַח לַכֹּל | a-sher lo-yit-zlach la-kol} “which does not succeed for anything,” completes the metaphor illustrating nationwide futility. The layered syntax of participles, infinitives, wayyiqtol, and comparative clauses conveys sustained condemnation, rendered in English through coordinated and relative structures to preserve clarity and emphasis. |