| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with a condition introduced by birtzot {בִּרְצ֣וֹת | bir-ṣō-ṯ} ‘in taking pleasure’, establishing the basis of divine favor. The subject Yahweh {יְ֭הוָה | Yə-hō-wāh} follows, marking divine agency. The construct phrase darkhei-ish {דַּרְכֵי־אִ֑ישׁ | darkê ʾîš} ‘ways of a man’ specifies the human behavior under consideration. The compound gam-oyvav {גַּם־אֹיְבָ֗יו | gam-ʾoy-ḇāyw} ‘even his enemies’ introduces a stark reversal, highlighting the surprising outcome. The verb yashlim {יַשְׁלִ֥ם | yaš-lîm} in the Hiphil imperfect expresses causative action, God actively effecting peace, while itto {אִתּוֹ | ʾit-tô} ‘with him’ completes the relational frame. English reorders the conditional antecedent before the result to foreground divine initiative in reconciliation. |