| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the imperative verb dabber {דַּבֵּר֙ | da-ber} ‘speak’, directing the audience. The construct phrase benei yisrael {בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | bə-nei yi-sra-ʾel} ‘sons of Israel’ establishes the national audience. The vav-consecutive form ve-amarta {וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ | wə-ʾā-mar-tā} ‘and you shall say’ introduces divine speech following the command. The prepositional phrase alehem {אֲלֵהֶ֑ם | ʾa-le-hem} ‘to them’ clarifies the recipients. The independent pronoun ani {אֲנִ֖י | ʾa-nî} ‘I’ immediately precedes the covenant name, emphasizing God’s self-identification. The compound designation Yahweh Eloheichem {יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם | Yə-hō-wāh ʾĕ-lō-hê-chem} ‘LORD your God’ combines divine covenant name and title to assert authority and relationship. English rendering adapts Hebrew verb–subject–object order into natural imperative discourse followed by quoted divine declaration. |