Tag Archives: Exodus 5:2

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה מִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶשְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלֹ֔ו לְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֹ֤א יָדַ֨עְתִּי֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וְגַ֥ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֥א אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃ And Parʿo said, “Who is YHWH that I should listen to His voice to send Yisraʾel? I do not know YHWH, and also I will not send Yisraʾel.” Explanation of Feature This verse from Exodus 5:2 showcases several important grammatical structures in Biblical Hebrew: The interrogative pronoun מִי (“Who?”) introduces a rhetorical question. A relative clause follows, introduced by אֲשֶׁר, modifying יְהוָה. The verse also uses double negation (לֹא יָדַעְתִּי, לֹא אֲשַׁלֵּחַ) to emphasize rejection of both YHWH’s authority and the command.… Learn Hebrew