| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The translation preserves the Hebrew clause order, beginning with ukratem {וּקְרָאתֶם | wə-qə-rā́ʾ-tem} ‘and you shall proclaim’ followed by be‘etsem hayom hazeh {בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה | bə-‘e-ṣem ha-yōm ha-zēh} ‘on this very day’ using the vav-consecutive for imperative force and the preposition בְּ to emphasize exact timing. Mikra-kodesh {מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ | mik-rāʾ qō-ḏeš} ‘holy convocation’ functions as the object marking a communal sacred assembly. The prohibition is framed by kol-mlechet avodah {כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה | kol mə-lēʾ-ḵeṯ ʿă-vo-dāh} ‘all work of labor’ followed by lo ta‘asu {לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ | lōʾ ṯa-’ă-sū} ‘you shall not do’ to form a categorical negative imperative. Chukat olam {חֻקַּת עוֹלָם | ḥu-qa-ṯ ʿō-lām} ‘statute forever’ establishes temporal permanence through a construct chain indicating an enduring ordinance. The domains of application are extended by b‘khol-moshvoteichem {בְּכָל־מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם | bə-ḵōl mōš-ḇō-ṯê-ḵem} ‘in all your dwelling places’ and ledoroteichem {לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם | lə-dō-rō-ṯê-ḵem} ‘for your generations,’ yielding comprehensive spatial and temporal scope. The English rendering adjusts Hebrew syntax and legal emphasis for modern clarity. |