| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ve’im {וְאִם | wə-ʾim} ‘and if’, introducing a conditional protasis. The noun phrase baheret {בַּהֶרֶת | baḥeret} ‘shiny spot’ is qualified by levanah {לְבָנָה | lə-vā-nāh} ‘white’. A coordinated comparative clause be‘or besaro and ve’amok ein mar’ehā min-ha‘or {בְּעוֹר בְּשָׂרוֹ וְעָמֹק אֵין־מַרְאֶהָ מִן־הָעוֹר | bə-ʿôr bə-sā-rō wə-ʿā-môq ʾên marʾē(h)-āh min-hā-ʿôr} limits depth. The parallel clause use‘arah lo hafakh lavan {וּשְׂעָרָה לֹא־הָפַךְ לָבָן | ū-se-ʿā-rāh lōʾ hā-phaḥ lā-vān} confirms hair color. The apodosis ve-hisgir ha-kohen ʾet-hannegaʿ šivʿāṯ yā-mîm {וְהִסְגִּיר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּגַע שִׁבְעַת יָמִים | wə-hisgîr ha-kō-hên ʾet-hannegaʿ šivʿāṯ yā-mîm} uses a Hifil imperfect with vav-consecutive to express obligation. This conditional structure underscores the priest’s authority in diagnosing and containing skin disease. |