| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with umi-zar‘akha {וּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥ | û-mi-zar-ʻa-kha} ‘and from your offspring’, situating the prohibition in a generational context. The negative particle lo {לֹא־ | lō} with the Qal imperfect titten {תִתֵּ֖ן | ti-ṭēn} ‘you shall give’ marks volitional refusal. The Hiphil infinitive le-ha‘avir {לְהַעֲבִ֣יר | lə-ha-‘a-wîr} ‘to cause to pass over’ expresses a deliberate cultic action, specified as passing through the fire. La-molekh {לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ | la-mō-leḳ} ‘to Molech’ identifies the forbidden recipient, while the vav-conjunctive prohibition ve-lo te-kha-lel {וְלֹא תְחַלֵּ֛ל | wə-lō tə-kha-lêl} ‘and not you shall profane’ introduces a parallel injunction. The particle et {אֶת־ | ’et} precedes the direct object shem {שֵׁ֥ם | šēm} ‘name’, and eloheikha {אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ | ’ĕ-lō-hê-ḵā} ‘your God’ anchors the command in personal divine relationship. The final clause ani Yahweh {אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה | ’ă-nî Yəhōwāh} ‘I am the LORD’ asserts covenantal authority, framing the prohibitions within divine command. |