| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav consecutive form vetaval {וְטָבַל | wə-ṭā-val} ‘and he dipped’, signaling a sequential ritual action. The subject ha-kohen {הַכֹּהֵן | ha-kôhên} ‘the priest’ precedes the accusative marker et {אֶת | ʾet} and construct phrase etsba’o ha-yemanit {אֶצְבָּעוֹ הַיְמָנִית | ʾeṣbə-’āw ha-yə-mā-nîṯ} ‘his right finger’, specifying the instrument. A source phrase min ha-shemen {מִן הַשָּׁמֶן | min ha-šě-men} ‘from the oil’ is detailed by the relative clause asher al kappo ha-sema’alit {אֲשֶׁר עַל כַּפּוֹ הַשְּׂמָאלִית | ʾă-šer ʿal kăp-pō ha-sə-mā-’ă-lîṯ} ‘which is on his left palm’. A second vav consecutive introduces vehizza {וְהִזָּה | wə-hiz-zāh} ‘and he sprinkled’, followed by min ha-shemen and the instrumental beetsba’o {בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ | bə-’eṣbə-’āw} ‘with his finger’. The adverbial sheva pe’amim {שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים | še-bā‘ pe-‘ā-mîm} ‘seven times’ quantifies the act, and lifnei Yahweh {לִפְנֵי יְהוָה | li-pən-ê Yəhōwāh} ‘before the LORD’ designates the divine audience. English renderings balance literal sequence with idiomatic clarity, preserving emphasis on the priest’s precise gesture and the LORD’s witnessing role. |