| 30. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ken {כֵּן | kên} ‘thus’, linking to the preceding sacrificial instructions. The Qal imperfect ta‘aseh {תַּעֲשֶׂה | ta‘ăsêh} ‘you shall do’ initiates the directive, followed by the construct phrases le-shorkha {לְשׁוֹרְךָ | lə-šôrəḵā} ‘to your ox’ and le-tsonkha {לְצֹאנֶךָ | lə-ṣōʾānəḵā} ‘to your flock’, each marked for ownership by second person suffixes. The temporal marker shiv‘at yamim {שִׁבְעַת יָמִים | šîḇ‘at yāmîm} ‘seven days’ sets a fixed period. The clause yihyeh immo {יִהְיֶה עִם־אִמּוֹ | yi·hîyəh ʿim-’immō} ‘it shall be with its mother’ emphasizes maternal proximity, while the adverbial ba-yom ha-shemini {בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי | bā-yôm haššəmînî} ‘on the eighth day’ introduces the shift to tittenenu li {תִּתְּנֶנּוּ לִי | tittənenû lî} ‘you shall give it to Me’, affirming divine claim. The parallel ox/flock construction and precise temporal framing form an inclusio that underscores the obligation of firstborn dedication. |