| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The clause begins with the conditional conjunction ve-im {וְאִם | wə-ʾim} ‘and if,’ introducing a hypothetical scenario. The infinitive construct paroach {פָּר֨וֹחַ | pā-rō-ḥaḥ} ‘spreading’ intensifies the imperfect verb tifrach {תִּפְרַ֤ח | tī-pə-raḥ} ‘breaks out,’ highlighting sudden onset. The repeated noun ha-tsara‘at {הַצָּרַ֙עַת֙ | ha-ṣā-ra-ʿat} ‘the skin disease’ underscores ritual seriousness. The vav consecutive Piel verb ve-kistah {וְכִסְּתָ֣ה | wə-ki-sāh} ‘and it covers’ marks complete enveloping. The direct object marker ’et {אֵ֚ת | ʾēth} introduces kol-‘or ha-nega‘ {כָּל־ע֣וֹר הַנֶּ֔גַע | kol-ʿōr ha-ne-gaʿ} ‘all the skin of the sore,’ referring to the afflicted person’s entire skin. The range expression me-rosho ve-‘ad-raglav {מֵרֹאשׁ֖וֹ וְעַד־רַגְלָ֑יו | mē-rō-šōw wə-ʿad-rag-lāv} ‘from his head to his feet’ defines the extent. The locative le-kol-mar’eh ’ēnei ha-kohen {לְכָל־מַרְאֵ֖ה עֵינֵ֥י הַכֹּהֵֽן | le-kol-mar-ʾēh ʿēnêy ha-kōhēn} frames the diagnostic boundary as visible to the priest. |