Exo 31:14 | NETfull | STEP | So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people.

Exodus 31:14

14 So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it ^{▼▼ This clause is all from one word, a Piel plural participle with a third, feminine suffix: מְחַלְלֶיהָ (m^ekhalleha, “defilers of it”). This form serves as the subject of the sentence. The word חָלַל (khalal) is the antonym of קָדַשׁ (qadash, “to be holy”). It means “common, profane,” and in the Piel stem “make common, profane” or “defile.” Treating the Sabbath like an ordinary day would profane it, make it common.} must surely be put to death; indeed, ^{▼▼ This is the asseverative use of כִּי (ki) meaning “surely, indeed,” for it restates the point just made (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 73, #449).} if anyone does ^{▼▼ Heb “the one who does.”} any ^{▼▼ “any” has been supplied.} work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his ^{▼▼ Literally “her” (a feminine pronoun agreeing with “soul/life,” which is grammatically feminine).} people.