The Mark of Mercy: Legal Syntax and Divine Protection in Genesis 4:15
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר לֹ֣ו יְהוָ֗ה לָכֵן֙ כָּל־הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקָּ֑ם וַיָּ֨שֶׂם יְהוָ֤ה לְקַ֨יִן֙ אֹ֔ות לְבִלְתִּ֥י הַכֹּות־אֹתֹ֖ו כָּל־מֹצְאֹֽו׃ (Genesis 4:15) And YHWH said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Qayin, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And YHWH placed a sign for Qayin, so that no one who found him would strike him. Justice, Restraint, and the Grammar…