| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the verb vehizzah {וְהִזָּ֨ה | wə-hiz-zāh} ‘and he shall sprinkle’, a Hiphil imperfect with vav consecutive indicating a forthcoming ritual act. The marker alav {עָלָ֧יו | ʿā-lāw} ‘on it’ identifies the altar as the direct object. Min-haddam {מִן־הַדָּ֛ם | min-ha-dām} ‘from the blood’ specifies the sacrificial element, while beetsbao {בְּאֶצְבָּע֖וֹ | bə-ʾeṣ-bā-ʿō} ‘with his finger’ denotes the instrument. The numeric pair sheva peamim {שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים | še-vāʿ pe-ʿā-mim} ‘seven times’ expresses ritual completeness. The Piel perfect verbs vetiharo {וְטִהֲר֣וֹ | wə-tih-ar-ō} ‘and he shall purify it’ and vekiddesho {וְקִדְּשׁ֔וֹ | wə-qid-de-shō} ‘and he shall consecrate it’ function in parallel, reinforcing dual aspects of cleansing and sanctification. The construct phrase mitumot benei yisrael {מִטֻּמְאֹ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל | mit-tum-ʾōt bə-nei yis-ra-ʾel} ‘from the uncleannesses of the sons of Israel’ grammatically binds communal defilement to the people, underscoring substitutionary atonement theology. The English follows Hebrew word order to preserve ritual logic and emphasis. |