The original beside the translation.

Ḥai is the name for that which grows and senses: 'every creeping thing that lives' (Gen 9:3). And it is the name for one who recovers from very severe illness: 'and he recovered from his sickness' (2 Kgs 8:8); 'in the camp until they recovered' (Josh 5:8); and likewise 'living flesh' (Lev 13:10).

Likewise, mawt is the name for death. And it is the name for severe illness: 'and his heart died within him, and he became as stone' (1 Sam 25:37) — meaning: the severity of his sickness. And for this reason it was made explicit regarding the son of the Zarephathite woman: 'and his illness was very severe, until no breath remained in him' (1 Kgs 17:17) — because if it had said 'and he died,' it would be possible to understand it as a severe illness approaching death, like Nabal when he heard the news.

Some of the Andalusian scholars have said that his vital spirit became dormant, so that no breath could be detected at all — as happens with some who faint, and with suffocation of the womb, until it is not known whether the person is dead or alive, and this uncertainty can last a day or two.

And the use of this name in the sense of the acquisition of knowledge has become very frequent: 'and they shall be life to your soul' (Prov 3:22); 'for whoever finds me has found life' (Prov 8:35); 'for they are life to those who find them' (Prov 4:22) — and this is frequent. According to this, correct opinions are called ḥayyim and false opinions are called mawt. He, exalted be He, said: 'See, I have set before you today life and the good...' etc. (Deut 30:15) — He has made clear that the good is life and the evil is death, and what is between them. Accordingly I also interpret His saying, exalted be He, 'that you may live' (Deut 4:1) — as in the transmitted interpretation of His saying, 'that it may be well with you' (Deut 4:40) etc. And because this metaphor is well established in the language, they said: 'the righteous are called living even in death; the wicked are called dead even in their lives' (Berakhot 18a). Know this.