| 29. Linguistic Exegesis Zakhrah {זָכְרָ֥ה | zā-kə-rāʾ} ‘remember!’ carries imperative force in direct address to Elohai {אֱלֹהָ֑י | ʾĕ-lō-hāy}. The prepositional phrase lahem {לָהֶ֖ם | lā-hem} identifies those to be remembered. The particle al {עַ֚ל | ʿal} introduces the reason clause headed by ga’olei {גָּאֳלֵ֣י | gā-’ō-lêy} ‘defilers,’ which enumerates hakkehunnah {הַכְּהֻנָּ֔ה | ha-ḵə-hûn-nāh} ‘the priesthood,’ berit {בְּרִית | bə-rît} ‘the covenant,’ and halleviyim {הַלְוִיִּֽם | hal-le-vî-yim} ‘the Levites.’ The repeated conjunction vav links these items in a cumulative series that heightens the sense of violation. English preserves this parallel structure and imperative tone to reflect the original emphasis. |