| 31. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with a noun pairing shabbat {שַׁבַּת | šabbāt} ‘sabbath’ and its intensifier shabbaton {שַׁבָּת֥וֹן | šabbāṭōn} ‘solemn rest’, creating a merism that emphasizes total cessation. The pronoun hi {הִיא֙ | hîʾ} functions as a nominal predicate. The prepositional phrase lachem {לָכֶ֔ם | lākhem} ‘for you’ marks the beneficiaries. The vav-consecutive Piel verb veinnitem {וְעִנִּיתֶם | wə-ʿinnîttem} ‘and you shall afflict’ governs the construct et-nafshotekhem {אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם | ʾet-nap̄·šō·ṯê-kem} ‘your souls’ as its direct object, implying a ritual self-deprivation. The construct phrase chukat olam {חֻקַּת עוֹלָם | ḥuqqaṯ ʿôlām} ‘statute forever’ expresses an indefinite, ongoing obligation. A semicolon in English preserves the Hebrew’s parallel clauses and highlights the dual requirements of rest and affliction. |