| 34. Linguistic Exegesis The Hebrew opens with the comparative clause introduced by k’ezrach {כְּאֶזְרָח | kəʾəzrāḥ} ‘as a native-born’ followed by mikem {מִכֶּם | mikkem} ‘from among you,’ establishing the protasis of a simile. The verb yihyeh {יִהְיֶה | yiḥyéh} ‘he shall be’ links this standard to hager {הַגֵּר | hagger} ‘the sojourner,’ which is reiterated by the participle hagar {הַגָּר | hagār} ‘one sojourning,’ forming a nominal clause. The vav consecutive in veahavta {וְאָהַבְתָּ | wəʾāhavtā} marks the main imperative ‘and you shall love,’ with kamokha {כָּמוֹךָ | kāmōḵā} ‘as yourself’ serving as the comparative complement. The conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} introduces the causal clause headed by the perfect heyitem {הֱיִיתֶם | hĕyîyitem} ‘you were,’ with beraets mitsrayim {בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם | bəʾereṣ miṣrāyim} as the locative phrase. The final formula ‘I am Yahweh your God’ (ani {אֲנִי | ʾănî} ‘I,’ Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yəhōwāh} ‘LORD,’ Eloheikhem {אֱלֹהֵיכֶם | ʾĕlōhêkhem} ‘your God’) functions as a climactic assertion of divine authority and covenantal relationship. |