| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the infinitive construct asoh {עֲשֹׂה | ʿă-sôh} ‘to do’, which forms a construct chain with tsedaqah {צְדָקָה | ṣə-dā-qāh} ‘righteousness’ and mishpat {מִשְׁפָּט | miš-pāṭ} ‘justice’ connected by the conjunction vav {וּ | wə} ‘and’. This chain functions as the subject. The predicate is the Nifal participle nivchar {נִבְחָר | nī-ḇḥār} ‘is chosen’, indicating divine preference. The beneficiary phrase la-Yahweh {לַיהוָה | lə-Yə-hō-wāh} ‘by the LORD’ identifies the agent. The comparative min-prefix in mizbach {מִזָּבַח | mizzā-ḇaḥ} ‘than sacrifice’ marks the standard of comparison. The fronting of moral action over cultic ritual emphasizes the primacy of ethical conduct. The pairing of tsedaqah and mishpat underscores the inseparable nature of covenant faithfulness and social justice. |