| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the Qal perfect verb yadanu {יָדַ֧עְנוּ | yā-daʿ-nū} ‘we have acknowledged’, which functions as a confession. The vocative address to Yahweh {יְהוָ֛ה | Yə-hō-wāh} ‘the LORD’ establishes a prayerful tone. The parallel construct rishenu {רִשְׁעֵ֖נוּ | riš-ʿê-nū} ‘our wickedness’ and the appositional noun phrase avon avoteinu {עֲוֺן אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ | ʿā-ḇōn ʾă-ḇō-ṯê-nū} ‘iniquity of our fathers’ highlight collective guilt. The conjunction ki {כִּ֥י | kî} ‘for’ introduces a causal clause, and the phrase chatanu lakh {חָטָ֖אנוּ לָֽךְ | ḥā-ṭā-nū lāḵ} ‘we have sinned against you’ uses the prepositional suffix to indicate offense toward the addressee. The Hebrew word order places personal confession and direct address before stating the grounds of guilt, emphasizing responsibility and relational breach. |