| 39. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with vehayah {וְהָיָ֣ה | wə-hā-yāh} ‘and it shall be’, a vav consecutive construction introducing a covenant stipulation. The construct le-tsitsit {לְצִיצִת | lə-ṣî-ṣit} ‘for a tassel’ highlights tzitzit as a tangible reminder. The verbs ure’item {וּרְאִיתֶ֣ם | û-rə-’î-them} ‘and you shall see’ and uzekhar-tem {וּזְכַרְתֶּם֙ | û-zə-ḵar-them} ‘and you shall remember’ form a perfect sequential chain emphasizing visual perception followed by cognitive recall. The direct object marker et preceding kol mitsvot Yahweh ‘all the commandments of the LORD’ underscores the scope of divine instruction. The verb va’asitem otam {וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם | va-‘ă-śî-them ’ō-ṭām} ‘and you shall do them’ continues the perfect series, stressing obedience. The prohibition wə-lō tatru {וְלֹֽא־תָתֻרוּ | wə-lō ṯā-tu-rû} ‘and not follow’ uses the imperfect to denote ongoing avoidance of covetous pursuit. The merism aḥarei levavkhem wə-aḥarei eineikhem {אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם | ’a-ḥă-rē-y lə-ḇaḇ-khem wə-’a-ḥă-rē-y ’ê-nêy-khem} ‘after your hearts and after your eyes’ expresses inner desires and external temptations. The participle zonim aḥareihem {זוֹנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם | zō-nîm ’a-ḥă-rē-hêm} ‘prostituting after them’ forms a relative clause that graphically depicts covenant unfaithfulness, linking ritual symbol to ethical behavior. |