| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The Hebrew text begins with nega` {נֶגַע | nə·gaˈʕ} ‘plague’, immediately followed by tsara`at {צָרַעַת | tsā·raˈʕat} ‘leprosy’ in construct, signaling a compound noun describing a ritual affliction. The conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} ‘when, if’ plus the Qal imperfect verb tihyeh {תִהְיֶה | ti·hyē̆h} ‘it will be’ forms a protasis, establishing the condition under which the law applies. The locative be-adam {בְּאָדָם | bə·’ā·ḏām} ‘in a man’ orients the protasis to a human subject. The vav consecutive we-huva {וְהוּבָא | wə·hū·vāˈʾ} plus Hofal perfect ‘then he shall be brought’ serves as the apodosis, mandating priestly intervention. The prepositional phrase el–ha-kohen {אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן | ʾel–ha·kō·hēn} specifies the functionary responsible for examination. This protasis–apodosis structure is characteristic of priestly legislation within the Priestly Code, emphasizing both the conditional nature of impurity and the communal responsibility for ritual purity. |