| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb vera'ah {וְרָאָ֧ה | wə-rā-ʾāh} ‘and he will see’, initiating the priest’s inspection. The noun–adjective sequence ha-basar ha-chai {הַבָּשָׂר הַחַי | ha-bā-ṣār ha-ḥāy} ‘the living flesh’ underscores the fresh condition under scrutiny. The Piel perfect ve-timmeo {וְטִמְּא֑וֹ | wə-ṭim-me-ʼō} ‘and he will declare him unclean’ with a third-person suffix conveys an authoritative ritual pronouncement. Repetition of ha-basar ha-chai frames the object before stating tamei {טָמֵא | ṭā-mēʼ} ‘unclean’, which hu {ה֖וּא | hūʼ} then reinforces. The noun tsara'at {צָרַעַת | ṣā-rā-ʿāṯ} ‘leprosy’ specifies the condition, followed by a final hu {הֽוּא | hūʼ} to conclude the diagnostic verdict. This parallel clause structure and ordered verb sequence mirror the formal tone and juridical rhythm of cultic declarations. |