| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with selach-na {סְלַֽח־נָ֗א | sə-lā-ḥ-nā} ‘forgive now’, using the Piel imperative with the entreaty particle nā to intensify the petition. The object la'avon {לַעֲוֺן | lă-ă-vōn} ‘iniquity’ is connected to the demonstrative phrase ha'am hazzeh {הָעָם הַזֶּה | hā-ʿām haz-zeh} ‘this people’. The construct kegodel chasdecha {כְּגֹדֶל חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ | kə-gō-ḏel ḥas-de-ḵā} ‘according to the greatness of Your mercy’ forms a qualitative measure of divine compassion. The clause veka'asher nasata {וְכַאֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתָה֙ | wə-ka-ʾă-šer nā-śāʾ-tā} ‘and just as You have borne’ employs a Qal perfect to recall God’s historical forgiveness. The frame mimitzrayim veadhennah {מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם וְעַד־הֵֽנָּה | mî-miṣ-rā-yim wə-ʿad-hen-nā(h)} ‘from Egypt until now’ highlights the continuity of divine pardon. The Hebrew vav-coordinated structures link the plea with the precedent of past forgiveness, creating a balanced appeal grounded in Israel’s history. |