| 32. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with velo {וְלֹא | wə-lōʾ} ‘and not,’ forming a prohibition clause with the Piel imperfect techallelu {תְחַלְּלוּ | tə-ḥalləlû} ‘you shall profane’ governing the construct et-shem kodshi {אֶת־שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי | ʾet-šēm qād-šî} ‘the name of my holiness.’ The subsequent vav-consecutive in venikdashti {וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי | wə-niqqadaštî}, a Niphal perfect, expresses the purpose/result ‘so that I may be sanctified,’ underscoring that Israel’s obedience brings honor to God. The prepositional phrase be-tokh benei Yisrael {בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | bə-tôk bə-nê yiś-rā-ʾēl} ‘among the sons of Israel’ localizes the divine response. Finally, the Piel participle mekaddishkhem {מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם | mə-qaddîš-khem} ‘making you holy’ characterizes the continuing sanctification that flows from the divine name’s sanctity. |