| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the inferential adverb lachen {לָכֵן | lā-ḵēn} ‘therefore’, indicating a conclusion from earlier judgments. It is followed by the interjection hinneh {הִנֵּה־ | hin-nēh} ‘behold’, introducing the prophetic announcement. The noun-participle phrase yamim baim {יָמִים בָּאִים | yā-mîm bā-ʾîm} ‘days are coming’ functions as a temporal indicator for future fulfillment. The construct neum-Yahweh {נְאֻם־יְהוָה | nə-ʾum Yə-hō-wāh} ‘declares the LORD’ marks the speaker’s authority. The joined clause velo yeamer od {וְלֹא־ יֵאָמֵר עוֹד | wə-lō yē-ʾā-mēr ʿō-ḏ} ‘and it will not be said again’ indicates the cessation of a customary oath. The idiom chai-Yahweh {חַי־יְהוָ֔ה | ḥay Yə-hō-wāh} ‘as the LORD lives’ serves as a juridical affirmation. The relative clause asher he’elah et-benei yisrael me-eretz mitzrayim {אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם} ‘who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt’ recalls the historic exodus. In English this is rendered to emphasize that the traditional oath will no longer be invoked. |