| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the inclusive prohibitive conjunction uvechol {וּבְכָל־ | ūbəḵāl} ‘and with every’, linking two parallel commands. In the first clause, the negative particle lo and the Qal imperfect titten {תִּתֵּן | tîttēn} ‘you shall give’ govern shekhavtekha {שְׁכָבְתְּךָ | shekhaḇtəḵā} ‘lying’, followed by the infinitive construct letame’ah with bah {לְטָמְאָה־בָּהּ | ləṭāmāʾāh bāh} ‘to defile in it’, indicating ritual pollution. The second prohibition shifts to the feminine with ve'ishah lo ta'amod {וְאִשָּׁה לֹא תַעֲמֹד | vəʾīšāh lō taʿāmōḏ}, maintaining parallel syntax. The prepositional phrases lifnei behemah {לִפְנֵי בְּהֵמָ֛ה | lipnê bəhemāh} ‘before an animal’ and lerivah {לְרִבְעָהּ | ləriḇʿāh} ‘for copulation’ specify the illicit act. The final nominal clause tevel hu {תֶּבֶל הוּא | teḇeḷ hû} ‘it is perversion’ functions as a categorical verdict, marking moral condemnation. |