| 27. Linguistic Exegesis The construct chain yirat {יִרְאַ֣ת | yirʾāt} Yahweh {יְ֭הוָה | Yəhōwāh} renders the possessive relation ‘fear of the LORD’. The construct meqor {מְקוֹר | mə-qôr} ḥay-yîm {חַיִּ֑ים | ḥay-yîm} yields the metaphor ‘fountain of life’, combining source imagery with life. The infinitive construct lā-sûr {לָ֝ס֗וּר | lā-sûr} functions as a purpose clause introducing the result ‘to turn aside’. This links to the construct chain mimmôqšê {מִמֹּ֥קְשֵׁי | mimmôqšê} mā-wet {מָֽוֶת׃ | mā-wet} ‘from the snares of death’. The Hebrew word order places the life metaphor before the purpose clause to emphasize that true reverence both grants vitality and redirects one away from danger. |