| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ve-ki {וְכִי | və-ki} ‘and when’, a conjunction plus particle marking a conditional legal clause. The subject ha-zāḇ {הַזָּב | ha-zāḇ} ‘the one with a discharge’ carries the definite article. The verb yiṯ-har {יִטְהַר | yiṯ-har} ‘is purified’ is qal imperfect, indicating the cleansing process, followed by mi-zô-wô {מִזּוֹבוֹ | mi-zô-wô} ‘from his discharge’, marking the cessation of impurity. Və-sā-par {وְסָפַר | və-sā-par} ‘and he shall count’ uses vav consecutive + qal perfect to sequence the requirement of counting šiḇʿâṯ yā-mîm {שִׁבְעַת יָמִים | šiḇʿâṯ yā-mîm} ‘seven days’, introduced by lə-tā-hô-rā-tô {לְטָהֳרָת֖וֹ | lə-tā-hô-rā-tô} ‘for his purification’. The coordinated commands (və-kib-bes bə-ḡā-dāw {וְכִבֶּס בְּגָדָיו | və-kib-bes bə-ḡā-dāw} and və-rā-ḥaṣ bə-sā-rō {וְרָחַץ בְּשָׂרוֹ | və-rā-ḥaṣ bə-sā-rō}) present parallel ritual acts—washing garments versus bathing flesh—in bema-yim ḥay-yim {בְּמַיִם חַיִּים | bə-ma-yim ḥay-yim} ‘in living water’, emphasizing flowing water. The final vav consecutive ve-ṭā-hēr {וְטָהֵר | və-ṭā-hēr} ‘and he shall be clean’ functions as a result clause. The sequence of vav consecutive forms underscores the precise, ordered nature of priestly legislation. |