20:7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed14 he is a prophet15 and he will pray for you; thus you will live.16 But if you don’t give her back,17 know that you will surely die18 along with all who belong to you.”
tn Or “for,” if the particle is understood as causal (as many English translations do) rather than asseverative.
15
sn For a discussion of the term prophet see N. Walker, “What is a Nabhi?” ZAW 73 (1961): 99–100.
16
tn After the preceding jussive (or imperfect), the imperative with vav conjunctive here indicates result.
snHe will pray for you that you may live. Abraham was known as a man of God whose prayer would be effectual. Ironically and sadly, he was also known as a liar.
17
tnHeb “if there is not you returning.” The suffix on the particle becomes the subject of the negated clause.
18
tn The imperfect is preceded by the infinitive absolute to make the warning emphatic.