| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive perfect vera’ah {וְרָאָה֙ | və-rā-’āh} marking priestly action (subject: hakohen {הַכֹּהֵ֔ן | ha-kô-hên}). The interjection vehinneh {וְהִנֵּ֛ה | wə-hinnêh} “and-behold” introduces the diagnostic result. The verb pashtah {פָּשְׂתָ֥ה | pās̆tāh} in Qal perfect describes the completed spreading of hamispachat {הַמִּסְפַּחַת | hamispachaṯ} “the-rash” within baor {בָּע֑וֹר | bä-ʿôr} “in-the-skin.” Vetimme’o {וְטִמְּא֥וֹ | wəṭimmə’ô} in Piel perfect denotes the priest’s authoritative declaration of impurity. The formulaic clause tsara’at hi {צָרַ֥עַת הִֽוא׃ | ṣārā‘aṯ hîʾ} “it-is a defiling skin disease” serves as legal confirmation. English rendering preserves Hebrew sequence—observation, declaration, and diagnosis—while smoothing repetition for readability. |