| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} ‘if’, establishing the protasis of a legal stipulation. This is followed by the Qal imperfect yakum {יָקוּם | yāqûm} ‘he rises’ and the Hitpael imperfect vehithallelēk {וְהִתְהַלֵּךְ | vehithallelēk} ‘and he walks’, where the Hitpael stem conveys regained agency. The prepositional phrase bachuts {בַּחוּץ | bachuts} ‘outside’ specifies a public venue, and al-mishanto {עַל־מִשְׁעַנְתוֹ | ʿal-mišʿānātô} ‘upon his staff’ highlights partial dependence. The apodosis opens with the Nifal perfect venikkā {וְנִקָּה | venikkā} ‘is acquitted’, marking legal exoneration. The restrictive particle raq {רַק | raq} ‘only’ narrows the obligation to the noun shivto {שִׁבְתּוֹ | šibâṯô} ‘his sitting’, defining the compensable period. The Qal imperfect yittēn {יִתֵּן | yittēn} ‘he shall give’ introduces the monetary restitution, while the Piel infinitive absolute verappo {וְרַפֹּא | verappōʾ} ‘and healing’ plus the Piel imperfect yerappe {יְרַפֵּא | yerappe} ‘he shall cause to heal’ underscores the binding imperative of full medical restoration. This protasis–apodosis pattern with an infinitive absolute is characteristic of Hebrew legal clauses and emphasizes enforceable and comprehensive obligation. |