| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ve’ish {וְאִ֗ישׁ | vǝ-ʾîš}, introducing the subject in a legal formula. The relative pronoun asher {אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ă-šer} introduces the subordinate clause. The verb yikkakh {יִקַּ֛ח | yiqqāḥ} in the Qal imperfect presents a generic action “takes,” with et {אֶת־ | ʾeṯ} marking the direct object phrase eshet achiv {אֵ֥שֶׁת אָחִ֖יו | ʾēšet ʾaḥîw} “his brother’s wife.” The predicate niddah hi {נִדָּ֣ה הִ֑וא | niddâh hî} assigns legal status “it is impurity.” The construct ervat achiv gillah {עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֛יו גִּלָּ֖ה | ʿerwāṯ ʾaḥîw gillāh} employs a construct chain plus perfect verb to euphemistically state “he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness.” The final clause aririm yihyu {עֲרִירִ֥ים יִהְיֽוּ | ʿărîrîm yiḥyû} presents the consequence “they will be childless” with the imperfect indicating ongoing state. The structure moves from case introduction through offense description to prescribed outcome, reflecting Hebrew legal parallelism. |