| 22. Linguistic Exegesis The verse is structured as two coordinated parallel clauses with the conjunction ve {וְ | wə} marking continuity. In clause one, the relative particle asher {אֲשֶׁר | ʾă-šer} and the Qal imperfect yiga {יִגַּע | yiggāʿ} introduce the condition under which impurity follows, and the Qal imperfect yitma {יִטְמָא | yit-tāmāʾ} states the resultant state. Clause two mirrors this with the definite participle ha-no-ga-at {הַנֹּגַעַת | han·nō·ġa·ʿāṯ} and imperfect titma {תִּטְמָא | tit-tāmāʾ}, forming a chiastic parallelism between object and subject of the ritual defilement. The prepositional phrase ad ha-arev {עַד־הָעָֽרֶב | ʿad hā-ʿā-rev} establishes a temporal boundary. Phonological unity of dependent elements is reflected in the maqqef-bound pronunciations. |