| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the jussive verb yihyu {יִהְיוּ | yiḥyû} ‘let them be’, expressing a wish or command typical of wisdom sayings. The prepositional phrase lekha {לְךָ | ləḵā} ‘for you’ is connected by maqqef to the verb, marking the beneficiary. The attached phrase levadekha {לְבַדֶּךָ | ləḇaddeḵā} ‘apart for yourself’ intensifies the idea of exclusivity. The conjunction ve {וְ | wə} prefixed to ein {אֵין | wəʾên} ‘there is not’ links a negative clause, reinforcing the prohibition. The phrases lezarim {לְזָרִים | ləzārîm} ‘to strangers’ and ittakh {אִתָּךְ | ʾittāḵ} ‘with you’ demarcate the boundary of exclusion. This chiastic positive–negative structure underscores the exclusivity of possession in an intimate covenant context. |