| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The prohibitive construction begins with lo {לֹא | lō} ‘not’ + the Qal imperfect yittama {יִטַּמָּ֖א | yiṭṭammā} ‘become unclean’, forming a clear prohibition. The circumstantial status clause is expressed by baal {בַּעַל | baʿāl} ‘husband’ and beammav {בְּעַמָּ֑יו | bəʿammāyw} ‘among his people’, specifying the social role and community context of the restriction. The Hiphil infinitive construct lechallo {לְהֵ֖חַלּֽוֹ | ləheḥallō} ‘to profane himself’, introduced by lamed, functions as a purpose/result clause indicating the negative outcome the law aims to prevent. This structure highlights the legal emphasis on a priest’s ritual purity in marital relations. |