| 26. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with velo {וְלֹֽא | wə-lōʾ} ‘and not’ linking this prohibition to the preceding commands. The Qal imperfect taaleh {תַעֲלֶ֥ה | ta-ʿă-leh} ‘you shall go up’ takes bemaalot {בְּמַעֲלֹ֖ת | bə-ma-ʿă-lōṯ} ‘on steps’ to specify the manner of ascent, and the prepositional phrase al mizbechi {עַֽל־מִזְבְּחִ֑י | ʿal-miz-bē-aḥ-î} ‘upon my altar’ marks the sacred goal. The relative clause introduced by asher {אֲשֶׁ֛ר | ʾă-šer} contains the negative lo + Niphal imperfect tigalleh {תִּגָּלֶ֥ה | tig-gā-leh}, ‘that it not be uncovered,’ with ervatkha {עֶרְוָתְךָ֖ | ʿer-wāṯ-kā} ‘your nakedness’ as the subject in a passive construction. The final phrase alav {עָלָֽיו | ʿā-lāw} emphasizes the location upon the altar. Hebrew syntax thus creates a prohibitive main clause followed by a purposive consequence clause, linking bodily modesty to reverence for the altar. |