| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The causal conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} introduces the reason for divine action. Yahweh {יְ֭הוָה | Yə-hō-wāh} functions as the subject in two parallel verb clauses, first with the Qal imperfect yariv {יָרִיב | yārîḇ} and the construct noun rivam {רִיבָם | rîḇām} forming “will contend for their case.” The vav-consecutive veqava {וְקָבַע | wə-qā-ḇaʿ} plus Qal perfect shifts from advocacy to retribution. The direct object marker et {אֶת־ | ʾet} attaches to the participle koveihem {קֹבְעֵיהֶם | qō-ḇəʿê-hem}, defining the persecutors, with nefesh {נָפֶשׁ | nāp̄eš} as the final object. The structure balances divine advocacy with judgment through tightly linked clauses. |