| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with al-ken {עַל־כֵּן | ʿal-kēn} ‘therefore,’ marking the logical conclusion of prior laws. The verb amarti {אָמַרְתִּי | ʾāmār-tî} in the Qal perfect first person singular introduces divine speech. The prepositional phrase li-vnei Yisrael {לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | lî-venê Yiś-rāʾ-ēl} specifies the addressees. A universal subject is established by kol-nefesh {כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ | kol-ne-feš} followed by the negation-verb lo-tokhal {לֹא־תֹאכַל | lōʾ tōʾ-khal}, emphasizing the blood ban. The conjunction wə-hag-gēr {וְהַגֵּר | wə-hag-gēr} links a parallel clause introduced by the participle hagar {הַגָּר | hag-gār} ‘sojourner,’ extending the prohibition to resident aliens. The repetition of negation lo-yokhal {לֹא־יֹאכַל | lōʾ yōʾ-khal} and the direct mention of dam {דָּם | dām} underscores the theological importance of blood as life. The English structure maintains the Hebrew verb–negation sequence to preserve legal intensity. |