חֲבֹ֨ל יָשִׁ֤יב רָשָׁע֙ גְּזֵלָ֣ה יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם בְּחֻקֹּ֤ות הַֽחַיִּים֙ הָלַ֔ךְ לְבִלְתִּ֖י עֲשֹׂ֣ות עָ֑וֶל חָיֹ֥ו יִֽחְיֶ֖ה לֹ֥א יָמֽוּת׃
If the wicked restores the pledge, repays what he has stolen, walks in the statutes of life without committing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
Morphology
- חֲבֹל (ḥavol) – Root: חבל (ḥaval); Form: Qal infinitive absolute; Translation: “a pledge”; Notes: Refers to collateral or a security item given in a debt or loan agreement.
- יָשִׁיב (yashiv) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he restores / he returns”; Notes: Causative stem meaning “to cause to return,” emphasizing restitution.
- רָשָׁע (rashaʿ) – Root: רשע (rashaʿ); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “the wicked”; Notes: Subject of the sentence—one previously condemned for wrongdoing.
- גְּזֵלָה (gezela) – Root: גזל (gazal); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “stolen thing / theft”; Notes: Refers to what was unlawfully taken by force or deceit.
- יְשַׁלֵּם (yeshallem) – Root: שׁלם (shalam); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he repays”; Notes: Intensive stem indicating full or proper restitution of what was taken.
- בְּחֻקֹּות (be-ḥuqqot) – Root: חקק (ḥaqaq); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “in the statutes”; Notes: Refers to divine decrees or laws governing moral and covenantal life.
- הַחַיִּים (ha-ḥayyim) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “of life”; Notes: Indicates ordinances that preserve and promote life according to YHWH’s will.
- הָלַךְ (halakh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he walked”; Notes: Denotes habitual conduct or way of life consistent with divine law.
- לְבִלְתִּי (le-vilti) – Root: בלי (beli); Form: Preposition לְ + negative particle בִּלְתִּי; Translation: “so as not to / without”; Notes: Functions as a negative purpose clause marker.
- עֲשֹׂות (ʿasot) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to do / to commit”; Notes: Linked with the negative particle to express moral avoidance.
- עָוֶל (ʿawel) – Root: עול (ʿawal); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “injustice / wrong”; Notes: Refers to moral corruption or violation of fairness and justice.
- חָיֹו (ḥayoh) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Infinitive absolute; Translation: “surely live”; Notes: Infinitive absolute used for emphasis—guaranteed life as divine reward.
- יִחְיֶה (yiḥyeh) – Root: חיה (ḥayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he shall live”; Notes: Completes the infinitive absolute construction expressing assurance of life.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: לא (lo); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb—emphasizing exemption from death.
- יָמוּת (yamuth) – Root: מות (mut); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he shall die”; Notes: Expresses negated outcome—divine preservation from death for the repentant.