| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs a jussive prohibition with velo {וְלֹא־ | wə-lōʾ} ‘and not’ prefixed to the Qal imperfect yizbekhu {יִזְבְּח֥וּ | yiz-bə-ḥû} ‘they will sacrifice,’ creating strong forbiddance. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet} specifies zivcheihem {זִבְחֵיהֶם | ziv-ḥê-hēm} ‘their sacrifices.’ The phrase laseirim {לַשְּׂעִירִ֕ם | la-se-ʿî-rîm} ‘to the goat idols’ is modified by a relative clause introduced by asher {אֲשֶׁ֛ר | ʾă-šer} ‘which’ and the participle zonim {זֹנִים | zō-nîm} ‘prostituting themselves,’ with achareihem {אַחֲרֵיהֶם | ʾa-ḥă-rê-hem} ‘after them’ showing pursuit. The nominal construct chukat olam {חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֛ם | ḥu-qqat ʿô-lām} ‘everlasting statute’ links to tiheye-zot {תִּֽהְיֶה־זֹּ֥את | ti-hyê-zôt} ‘this shall be,’ establishing enduring obligation, followed by lahem ledorotam {לָהֶם לְדֹרֹתָֽם | lā-hēm le-ḏō-rō-tām} ‘for them and for their generations.’ |