| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs the vav-consecutive vehizzah {וְהִזָּה | wə-hiz-zāh} to introduce the ritual action, followed by the Piel participle hammitaher {הַמִּטַּהֵר | ham-miṭ-tah-hēr} as the recipient. The construct min-hazzaraʻat {מִן־הַצָּרַעַת | min-hat-ṣā-ra-ʻat} expresses the cause of purification. The numeral phrase sheva peamim {שֶׁבַע | še-ḇaʻ, פְּעָמִים} marks ritual completeness. The Piel perfect vetihharo {וְטִהֲר֔וֹ | wə-ti-hă-rō} functions as the priestly pronouncement. The subsequent Piel perfect veshillach {וְשִׁלַּח | wə-šil-laḥ} takes et {אֶת־ | ʾet} as the direct object marker with hatsippor {הַצִּפֹּר | ha-ṣip-pōr} and the modifier hachayyah {הַֽחַיָּה | ha-ḥay-yāh} al penei hasadeh {עַל־פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה | ʿal-pə-nê ha-sā-deh} to describe the bird’s release. The fixed vav sequence underscores the stepwise procedure, while the construct chain penei hasadeh integrates the action into the land context. |