without lam, or with an intention of immediate effect, or an indication that it is to be deferred; but with lam, they take immediate effect—unless there is neither an intention of immediate effect nor any contextual indication.

His statement, “without lam, or with an intention of immediate effect, or an indication that it is to be deferred”: do these particles indicate immediate effect or deferment? We say: it depends on his intention. If he intends immediate effect, then they indicate immediate effect; and if he intends deferment, then they indicate deferment. Thus, if he says, “If you rise, you are divorced,” does he mean, “If you rise now,” or “If you rise at any time”? That depends on his intention. If he means, “If you rise now,” then, should she rise later, she is not divorced. But if he means, “If you rise at any time,” then she is divorced whenever she rises.

Likewise, if there is a contextual indication that what is intended is now or in the present circumstance, it is acted upon. For example, he may be told, “There is a wedding at so-and-so’s house, but there are cameras there,” and he then says to her, “If you go to so-and-so’s house, you are divorced.” The context indicates that this applies if she goes in the present circumstance, and thus it takes immediate effect. As for later on, she may still go to her neighbors or relatives, and he says nothing.

But if there is neither a contextual indication nor an intention, the author says:

“but with lam, they take immediate effect.” Thus, when there is no intention and no contextual indication, these particles, when used with lam, take immediate effect; without lam, they indicate deferment.