| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The verse is built as two coordinated verbless clauses, linked by the conjunction u- {וּֽ | û-} ‘and’, with the second clause reinforcing the first. The opening prepositional phrase al {עַ֭ל | ʿal} ‘on account of’ functions as a discourse marker giving grounds for Job’s complaint: despite his suffering, he asserts innocence. The negated unit lo-khamas {לֹא־חָמָ֣ס | lō-ḥāmās} ‘not violence’ denies culpable action, and the following prepositional phrase be-kappay {בְּכַפָּ֑י | bə-kappāy} ‘in my palms’ uses “hands” metonymically for deeds. The second clause shifts from outward conduct to inward devotion: tefillati {וּֽתְפִלָּתִ֥י | û-tepillātî} ‘and my prayer’ is the subject, and zakkah {זַכָּֽה | zakkāh} ‘pure’ is the predicate. English supplies “there is” and “is” to represent the implied copula while keeping the parallel movement from actions to worship. |