| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The opening participle omrim {אֹמְרִ֤ים | ʾōmərîm} with infinitive absolute amor {אָמוֹר֙ | ʾā-mōr} forms an intensive construction denoting ongoing speech. The prepositional phrase limnaʾatzai {לִֽמְנַאֲצַ֔י | lĭm-nə-ʾă-ṣāy} introduces the audience “to those who despise Me.” Divine discourse begins with dibber {דִּבֶּ֣ר | dib-bēr}, a Piel perfect marking authoritative speech from Yahweh {יְהוָ֔ה | Yəhōwāh}. The noun shalom {שָׁל֖וֹם | šālôm} in combination with the imperfect yihyeh {יִֽהְיֶ֣ה | yih-yēh} sets forth the promised well-being. The vav-conjunctive clause vechol holekh bishrirut libo {וְ֠כֹל הֹלֵ֞ךְ בִּשְׁרִר֤וּת לִבּוֹ֙ | wə-ḵōl hōleḵ biš-rî-rût lî-bô} extends false assurances to all persisting in self-willed obstinacy. The final phrase amru lo-tavo aleykhem raʿah {אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־תָב֥וֹא עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם רָעָֽה | ʾām-rû lōʾ-tā-vō ʿă-lē-khem rāʿāh} expresses an unfounded guarantee, with lo-tavo applied to raʿah to indicate that no harm will befall the hearers. |