| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the Niphal imperative hibbādlû {הִבָּ֣דְל֔וּ | hibbādlû} ‘separate yourselves’, issuing an urgent communal command. The prepositional phrase mittôḵ hā-ʿēḏâ haz-zôt {מִתּ֖וֹךְ הָעֵדָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את | mittôḵ hā-ʿēḏâ haz-zôt} ‘from among this assembly’ conveys both spatial removal and corporate identity. The vav-consecutive plus Piel imperfect vaʾakkalleh {וַאַכַלֶּ֥ה | vaʾakkalleh} ‘and I will consume’ introduces divine action as the immediate outcome of disobedience. The object pronoun ʾōṯām {אֹתָ֖ם | ʾōṯām} specifies those targeted. The closing term kerāgaʿ {כְּרָֽגַע | kerāgaʿ} ‘as a moment’ uses a temporal simile to stress suddenness and totality. The juxtaposition of imperative and instant judgment underscores the seriousness and rapid execution of divine justice. |