| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ki {כִּי | kî} ‘for’, introducing the rationale for the prophecy. The verb samti {שַׂמְתִּי | śamtî} together with panai {פָנַי | pā-nay} ‘my face’ forms the idiom ‘set the face’, indicating firm intent. The series leraʿah {לְרָעָה | lə-rāʿāh} ‘for harm’ contrasted with velo letovah {וְלֹא לְטוֹבָה | wə-lōʾ lə-ṭōḇāh} ‘and not for good’ establishes the destructive purpose. Next, neum-Yahweh {נְאֻם־יְהוָה | nə-ʾum Yahweh} ‘utterance of the LORD’ authenticates the decree. The clause be-yad-melekh Bavel tinaten {בְּיַד־מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל תִּנָּתֵן | bə-yad mêleḵ Bāvel tin-nā-ṯēn} uses the Nifal imperfect to express inevitability of the city’s surrender, and u-serafah ba’esh {וּשְׂרָפָהּ בָּאֵשׁ | u-śə-rā-p̄āh bāʾēš} ‘and it will be burned with fire’ employs a Qal perfect to portray definitive destruction. The parallel verb forms and contrasts underscore Yahweh’s sovereign judgment. |