| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The construct ed sheqarim {עֵד שְׁקָרִים | ʿêd še-qā-rîm} serves as the subject, linking “witness” with “lies.” The negation lo {לֹא | lōʾ} plus the Nifal imperfect yinnakeh {יִנָּקֶה | yin-na-qēh} conveys passive legal consequence. A parallel clause introduced by the conjunction veyaphiach {וְיָפִיחַ | wə-yā-p̄î-aḥ} in the Hiphil stem employs breath imagery for active speech, followed by the Qal imperfect yoved {יֹאבֵד | yō-ʼă-ḏ}. This chiastic parallelism highlights the inevitability of judgment for both passive and active perpetrators. |