| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with venigshu {וְנִגְּשׁ֣וּ | wə-niggāšû} ‘and they shall approach,’ introducing the ritual act. The subject phrase hakohanim bnei Levi {הַכֹּהֲנִים֮ בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִי֒ | ha-ḵōhănîm bə-nê lêwî} specifies the priestly group. The conjunction ki {כִּ֣י | kî} plus the suffix in bam {בָּ֗ם | bām} forms an explanatory clause (‘for in them’), leading to the perfect bachar {בָּחַ֞ר | bāḥar}, where Yahweh eloheikha {יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ | Yəhōwāh ʾĕlōhêykā} is the actor. The infinitives lesharto and ulevarekh outline the dual priestly duties of ministry and blessing, anchored by beshem Yahweh {בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה | bə-šêm Yəhōwāh} authorizing action in the divine name. The legal clause ve-al-pihem yihyeh kol-riv ve-kol-naga {וְעַל־פִּיהֶ֥ם יִהְיֶ֖ה כָּל־רִ֥יב וְכָל־נָֽגַע | wə-ʿal-pîhêm yiḥyê ḵāl-rîḇ wə-ḵāl-nā-ḡā} shifts focus to adjudication, making the priests’ utterance determinative for disputes and assaults. English renderings preserve Hebrew infinitive chains and the passive nuance of yihyeh by employing active phrasing for clarity. |