| 39. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav-consecutive verb veraa {וְרָאָ֣ה | wə-rā-’āh} ‘and he shall see’, framing the direct diagnostic action. The noun phrase ha-kohen {הַכֹּהֵ֗ן | ha-kkôhēn} ‘the priest’ identifies the authorized ritual examiner. The interjection vehineh {וְהִנֵּ֧ה | wə-hinnēh} ‘and behold’ signals evidential focus on the ensuing descriptive clause. The construct chain ve-or-besarām {בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂרָ֛ם | bə-ʿōr bə-sā-rām} ‘in the skin of their flesh’ provides the locative domain. The nominal clause beharot kehot levanot {בֶּהָרֹ֖ת כֵּה֣וֹת לְבָנֹ֑ת | bə-hā-rōt kē-hōt lə-vā-nōt} ‘spots dull white’ establishes the diagnostic criteria. The predicate nominal bohaq hu {בֹּ֥הַק ה֛וּא | bō-ḥaq hū} ‘it is a discoloration’ classifies the condition, and the verb parakh {פָּרַ֥ח | pā-raḥ} confirms its outbreak. The concluding nominal clause tahor hu {טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא | ṭā-ḥôr hū} ‘it is clean’ delivers the ritual purity verdict, preserving the Hebrew copulative structure in English. |