| 27. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conjunction waw and noun phrase ish or ishshah {וְאִ֣ישׁ אִשָּׁה | wə-ʾîš ʾiššāh} ‘a man or a woman,’ indicating inclusive subject. The conditional clause kî yiḥyēh bāhēm {כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֨ה בָהֶ֥ם | kî yiḥyēh bāhēm} introduces a hypothetical presence. The parallel terms ʾôb and yidʿōnî {אוֹב יִדְּעֹנִי | ʾôb yidʿōnî} specify forbidden spirit practices in synonymous legal parallelism. The infinitive-predicate sequence mōṯ yūmātû {מוֹת יוּמָתוּ | mōṯ yūmātû} conveys certain capital punishment. The instrumental clause bā·’eḇen yirgemû {בָּאֶ֛בֶן יִרְגְּמוּ | bā·’eḇen yirgemû} prescribes execution by stoning. The locative dəmēhēm bām {דְּמֵיהֶם בָּם | dəmēhēm bām} assigns legal liability to the offender. The Hebrew verb–subject–object order and parallel legal phrasing reinforce the solemn tone of the statute. |