| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vav consecutive conjunction and the Qal perfect velaqach {וְלָקַח֙ | və-lā-qaḥ} ‘and he shall take,’ signaling sequence in the ritual narrative. This is followed by the prepositional phrase middam {מִדַּ֣ם | mî-dam} ‘from the blood’ and the definite noun happar {הַפָּ֔ר | hap-pār} ‘the bull,’ specifying the source of the sacrificial substance. The Hifil perfect vehizzah {וְהִזָּ֧ה | wə-ḥiz-zā(h)} ‘and he shall sprinkle’ introduces intentional priestly action, with the instrumental phrase beetsbaʿo {בְאֶצְבָּע֛וֹ | bə-ʾet͡s-bā-ʿô} ‘with his finger’ highlighting his bodily role. The directional expression al-penei {עַל־פְּנֵ֥י | ʿal-pə-nê} ‘upon the face of’ and the noun hakapporet {הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת | hak-kap-pō-rēt} ‘the atonement cover’ locate the act precisely on the mercy seat, while the adverb qedmah {קֵ֑דְמָה | qēd-māh} ‘eastward’ orients the gesture toward the sanctuary entrance. In the second clause, the conjunction and preposition velifnei {וְלִפְנֵ֣י | wə-lif-nê} ‘and before’ introduces repeated action via the Hifil imperfect yazzeh {יַזֶּ֧ה | ya-zē(h)} ‘he shall sprinkle.’ The numeral sheva-peʿamim {שֶֽׁבַע־פְּעָמִ֛ים | šē-vā-pə-ʿā-mîm} ‘seven times’ underscores covenantal fullness, and the final phrases minhaddam {מִן־הַדָּ֖ם | min-had-dām} ‘from the blood’ and beetsbaʿo {בְּאֶצְבָּעֽוֹ | bə-ʾet͡s-bā-ʿô} ‘with his finger’ mirror the earlier structure, framing the priest’s precise ritual work with inclusio. |