| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the prefixed verb vehitqaddishtem {וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם | hithqaḏdîštêm} ‘and you shall consecrate yourselves’, using the Hithpael stem to convey reflexive sanctification. It links with the result clause vihyitem {וִהְיִיתֶם | wihyîtêm} ‘and you shall be’, which predicates the state of being qedoshim {קְדֹשִׁים | qᵊdôšîm} ‘holy’ upon the community. The conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} ‘because’ introduces the causal basis in the divine declaration: ani {אֲנִי | ʼănî} ‘I’ is emphatic before Yahweh {יְהוָה | Yəhōwāh} ‘LORD’, followed by eloheikhem {אֱלֹהֵיכֶם | ʼĕ-lō-hê-ḵem} ‘your God’, expressing the covenantal authority underpinning the mandate. The vav-consecutive forms create a seamless imperative sequence, while the parallel structure “consecrate yourselves … and you shall be holy” stresses both intentional action and intended identity. |