| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive form vetsivah {וְצִוָּה֙ | wə-ṣî-wāh} ‘and he shall command’ to initiate the ritual procedure, followed by the noun hakohen {הַכֹּהֵ֔ן | ha-kō-hên} ‘the priest’ as agent. The next vav-consecutive weshachat {וְשָׁחַ֖ט | wə-ša-ḥaṭ} ‘and he shall slaughter’ links the subsequent sacrificial act. The particle et {אֶת־ | ʾet} marks hatsippor {הַצִּפּ֣וֹר | ha-ṣîp-pôr} ‘the bird’ as the definite object, with haechat {הָאֶחָ֑ת | hā-ʾe-ḥāṯ} ‘the one’ specifying the chosen bird. The preposition el {אֶל־ | ʾel} directs into keliheres {כְּלִי־חֶ֖רֶשׂ | kə-lî-ḥe-res} ‘earthenware vessel’, while al mayim hayyim {עַל־מַ֥יִם חַיִּֽים | ʿal mā-yim ḥay-yim} ‘over living water’ designates the purifying medium. This orderly syntax reflects formal priestly commands and clarifies each material and action. |