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Grammar Analysis: Leviticus 16:14-16

Text

Hebrew (v.14): וְלָקַח֙ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֔ר וְהִזָּ֧ה בְאֶצְבָּעֹ֛ו עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת קֵ֑דְמָה וְלִפְנֵ֣י הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת יַזֶּ֧ה שֶֽׁבַע־פְּעָמִ֛ים מִן־הַדָּ֖ם בְּאֶצְבָּעֹֽו׃

Hebrew (v.15): וְשָׁחַ֞ט אֶת־שְׂעִ֤יר הַֽחַטָּאת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָעָ֔ם וְהֵבִיא֙ אֶת־דָּמֹ֔ו אֶל־מִבֵּ֖ית לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת וְעָשָׂ֣ה אֶת־דָּמֹ֗ו כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ לְדַ֣ם הַפָּ֔ר וְהִזָּ֥ה אֹתֹ֛ו עַל־הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת וְלִפְנֵ֥י הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃

Hebrew (v.16): וְכִפֶּ֣ר עַל־הַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָ֑ם וְכֵ֤ן יַעֲשֶׂה֙ לְאֹ֣הֶל מֹועֵ֔ד הַשֹּׁכֵ֣ן אִתָּ֔ם בְּתֹ֖וךְ טֻמְאֹתָֽם׃

KJV (v.14): And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

KJV (v.15): Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that [is] for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

KJV (v.16): And he shall make an atonement for the holy [place], because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Word-by-Word Parsing

Leviticus 16:14

# Hebrew Lemma Parsing Gloss
1 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
2 לָקַח לקח Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms take
3 מִ מן Prep from
4 דַּם דם Noun.ms.Cst blood
5 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
6 פָּר פר Noun.ms.Abs young bull
7 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
8 הִזָּה נזה Verb.Hiphil.Perf.3ms spatter
9 בְ ב Prep with
10 אֶצְבָּעוֹ אצבע Noun.fs.Abs.+3ms his finger
11 עַל על Prep upon
12 פְּנֵי פנה Noun.mp.Cst face of
13 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
14 כַּפֹּרֶת כפרת Noun.fs.Abs cover (mercy seat)
15 קֵדְמָה קדם Noun.ms.Abs eastward/frontward
16 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
17 לִ ל Prep to/before
18 פְנֵי פנה Noun.mp.Cst face of
19 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
20 כַּפֹּרֶת כפרת Noun.fs.Abs cover (mercy seat)
21 יַזֶּה נזה Verb.Hiphil.Impf.3ms spatter
22 שֶׁבַע שׁבע Noun.s.Abs seven
23 פְּעָמִים פעם Noun.fp.Abs times
24 מִן מן Prep from
25 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
26 דָּם דם Noun.ms.Abs blood
27 בְּ ב Prep with
28 אֶצְבָּעוֹ אצבע Noun.fs.Abs.+3ms his finger

Leviticus 16:15

# Hebrew Lemma Parsing Gloss
1 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
2 שָׁחַט שׁחט Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms slaughter
3 אֶת את Prep object marker
4 שְׂעִיר שׂעיר Noun.ms.Cst he-goat of
5 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
6 חַטָּאת חטאת Noun.fs.Abs sin (offering)
7 אֲשֶׁר אשׁר Conj.+NAN which
8 לָ ל+ה Prep+Art for the
9 עָם עם Noun.ms.Abs people
10 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
11 הֵבִיא בוא Verb.Hiphil.Perf.3ms bring
12 אֶת את Prep object marker
13 דָּמוֹ דם Noun.ms.Abs.+3ms his blood
14 אֶל אל Prep to/into
15 מִ מן Prep from
16 בֵּית בית Noun.ms.Cst house of
17 לַ ל+ה Prep+Art to the
18 פָּרֹכֶת פרכת Noun.fs.Abs curtain (veil)
19 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
20 עָשָׂה עשׂה Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms do
21 אֶת את Prep object marker
22 דָּמוֹ דם Noun.ms.Abs.+3ms his blood
23 כַּ כ Prep as/like
24 אֲשֶׁר אשׁר Conj.+NAN that which
25 עָשָׂה עשׂה Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms he did
26 לְ ל Prep to/with
27 דַם דם Noun.ms.Cst blood of
28 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
29 פָּר פר Noun.ms.Abs young bull
30 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
31 הִזָּה נזה Verb.Hiphil.Perf.3ms spatter
32 אֹתוֹ את Prep.+3ms it
33 עַל על Prep upon
34 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
35 כַּפֹּרֶת כפרת Noun.fs.Abs cover (mercy seat)
36 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
37 לִ ל Prep to/before
38 פְנֵי פנה Noun.mp.Cst face of
39 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
40 כַּפֹּרֶת כפרת Noun.fs.Abs cover (mercy seat)

Leviticus 16:16

# Hebrew Lemma Parsing Gloss
1 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
2 כִפֶּר כפר Verb.Piel.Perf.3ms make atonement / cover
3 עַל על Prep upon/for
4 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
5 קֹּדֶשׁ קדשׁ Noun.ms.Abs holy (place)
6 מִ מן Prep from/because of
7 טֻּמְאֹת טמאה Noun.fp.Cst uncleannesses of
8 בְּנֵי בן Noun.mp.Cst sons of
9 יִשְׂרָאֵל ישׂראל PropN.s.Abs.+NAN Israel
10 וּ ו Conj.+NAN and
11 מִ מן Prep from/because of
12 פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם פשׁע Noun.mp.Abs.+3mp their transgressions
13 לְ ל Prep to/with respect to
14 כָל כל Noun.ms.Cst all/whole
15 חַטֹּאתָם חטאת Noun.fp.Abs.+3mp their sins
16 וְ ו Conj.+NAN and
17 כֵן כן Adv.+NAN thus/so
18 יַעֲשֶׂה עשׂה Verb.Qal.Impf.3ms he shall do
19 לְ ל Prep to/for
20 אֹהֶל אהל Noun.ms.Cst tent of
21 מֹועֵד מועד Noun.ms.Abs meeting/appointment
22 הַ ה Art.+NAN the
23 שֹּׁכֵן שׁכן Verb.Qal.Ptcp.ms.Abs dwelling
24 אִתָּם את Prep.+3mp with them
25 בְּ ב Prep in
26 תוֹךְ תוך Noun.ms.Cst midst of
27 טֻמְאֹתָם טמאה Noun.fp.Abs.+3mp their uncleannesses

Clause Structure

Verse 14 — Three Clauses

Clause 1 (WQt0):  וְ לָקַח מִ דַּם הַ פָּר
  [Conj] וְ  [Pred] לָקַח  [Cmpl] מִ דַּם הַ פָּר

Clause 2 (WQt0):  וְ הִזָּה בְ אֶצְבָּעוֹ עַל פְּנֵי הַ כַּפֹּרֶת קֵדְמָה
  [Conj] וְ  [Pred] הִזָּה  [Adju] בְ אֶצְבָּעוֹ  [Cmpl] עַל פְּנֵי הַ כַּפֹּרֶת  [Loca] קֵדְמָה

Clause 3 (WxY0):  וְ לִ פְנֵי הַ כַּפֹּרֶת יַזֶּה שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים מִן הַ דָּם בְּ אֶצְבָּעוֹ
  [Conj] וְ  [Cmpl] לִ פְנֵי הַ כַּפֹּרֶת  [Pred] יַזֶּה  [Modi] שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים
  [Cmpl] מִן הַ דָּם  [Adju] בְּ אֶצְבָּעוֹ

Verse 15 — Seven Clauses

Clause 1 (WQt0):  וְ שָׁחַט אֶת שְׂעִיר הַ חַטָּאת
  [Conj] וְ  [Pred] שָׁחַט  [Objc] אֶת שְׂעִיר הַ חַטָּאת

Clause 2 (NmCl):  אֲשֶׁר לָ עָם
  [Rela] אֲשֶׁר  [PreC] לָ עָם

Clause 3 (WQt0):  וְ הֵבִיא אֶת דָּמוֹ אֶל מִ בֵּית לַ פָּרֹכֶת
  [Conj] וְ  [Pred] הֵבִיא  [Objc] אֶת דָּמוֹ  [Cmpl] אֶל מִ בֵּית לַ פָּרֹכֶת

Clause 4 (WQt0):  וְ עָשָׂה אֶת דָּמוֹ
  [Conj] וְ  [Pred] עָשָׂה  [Objc] אֶת דָּמוֹ

Clause 5 (xQt0):  כַּ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְ דַם הַ פָּר
  [Conj] כַּ אֲשֶׁר  [Pred] עָשָׂה  [Cmpl] לְ דַם הַ פָּר

Clause 6 (WQt0):  וְ הִזָּה אֹתוֹ עַל הַ כַּפֹּרֶת
  [Conj] וְ  [Pred] הִזָּה  [Objc] אֹתוֹ  [Cmpl] עַל הַ כַּפֹּרֶת

Clause 7 (Ellp):  וְ לִ פְנֵי הַ כַּפֹּרֶת
  [Conj] וְ  [Cmpl] לִ פְנֵי הַ כַּפֹּרֶת

Verse 16 — Three Clauses

Clause 1 (WQt0):  וְ כִפֶּר עַל הַ קֹּדֶשׁ מִ טֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
                    וּ מִ פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם לְ כָל חַטֹּאתָם
  [Conj] וְ  [Pred] כִפֶּר  [Cmpl] עַל הַ קֹּדֶשׁ
  [Adju] מִ טֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּ מִ פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם לְ כָל חַטֹּאתָם

Clause 2 (WxY0):  וְ כֵן יַעֲשֶׂה לְ אֹהֶל מֹועֵד
  [Conj] וְ  [Modi] כֵן  [Pred] יַעֲשֶׂה  [Cmpl] לְ אֹהֶל מֹועֵד

Clause 3 (Ptcp):  הַ שֹּׁכֵן אִתָּם בְּ תוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם
  [Rela] הַ  [PreC] שֹּׁכֵן  [Cmpl] אִתָּם  [Cmpl] בְּ תוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם

Key Grammatical Features

1. הִזָּה / יַזֶּה (nazah) — Hiphil of נזה: Two-Phase Blood Application

  • Form: Two Hiphil forms of נזה in v.14: (a) הִזָּה (Hiphil perfect 3ms) in clause 2, and (b) יַזֶּה (Hiphil imperfect 3ms) in clause 3. These describe two distinct sprinkling actions.
  • Distribution: The verb נזה occurs 24 times in the OT (parser-verified). 20 of those are Hiphil; 3 are Qal (Lev 6:20 x2, 2 Kgs 9:33, Isa 63:3); 1 Hiphil imperfect in Isa 52:15. In Leviticus 16, it appears 4 times (vv.14 x2, 15, 19).
  • Two-phase sequence in v.14:
  • Phase 1: וְהִזָּה בְאֶצְבָּעוֹ עַל־פְּנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת קֵדְמָה — spatter with his finger upon the face/surface of the kapporeth, eastward. Preposition עַל marks contact with the surface itself.
  • Phase 2: וְלִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת יַזֶּה שֶׁבַע־פְּעָמִים מִן־הַדָּם — before the face of the kapporeth he shall spatter seven times from the blood. Preposition ל + פְנֵי marks a position in front of the object, not on its surface.
  • Tense-form shift: The perfect הִזָּה (clause 2) shifts to the imperfect יַזֶּה (clause 3). The clause-type also changes from WQt0 (waw+qatal sequential) to WxY0 (waw + non-verbal constituent + yiqtol). The fronted complement לִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת before the verb signals a new focus/emphasis on the changed location.
  • Comparison with Lev 4:6: In Lev 4:6, the same verb הִזָּה appears with sprinkling לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֶת־פְּנֵי פָּרֹכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ — "before YHWH, toward the face of the curtain of the holy place." The location in Lev 4:6 is the holy place, before the veil. In Lev 16:14, the location has moved deeper: past the veil, onto and before the kapporeth itself. The verb and the ritual gesture (finger-sprinkling, seven times) are identical; only the spatial depth changes from the first compartment to the innermost.
  • Grammar reference: stem-hiphil

2. עַל־פְּנֵי vs. לִפְנֵי — Spatial Prepositions Distinguishing Two Sprinkling Locations

  • Form: Both use the construct פְּנֵי (Noun.mp.Cst, "face of") from the lemma פנה, but with different governing prepositions.
  • עַל־פְּנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת (v.14a): עַל ("upon") + פְּנֵי + הַכַּפֹּרֶת. This marks contact with the upper surface. The blood is applied directly onto the kapporeth. The directional adverb קֵדְמָה ("eastward/frontward") further specifies which part of the surface.
  • לִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת (v.14b, v.15): ל ("to/before") + פְנֵי + הַכַּפֹּרֶת. This marks spatial position in front of the object. The blood is sprinkled in the area before the kapporeth — i.e., on the ground in front of the ark.
  • v.15 ellipsis: Clause 7 of v.15 is classified as Ellp (elliptical) by the clause parser. It reads וְלִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת with no verb — the verb הִזָּה from clause 6 is gapped/elided. This compressed syntax depends on the established pattern from v.14: "and [he shall spatter it] before the kapporeth."
  • Grammar reference: construct-state

3. כִפֶּר עַל־הַקֹּדֶשׁ (v.16) — Piel of כפר with Locative Object

  • Form: Piel perfect 3ms of כפר, with the complement עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ ("upon/for the holy place").
  • Significance: The Piel of כפר is the dominant atonement verb (92 of 102 occurrences of the root — parser-verified). Here the direct complement is not a person but a place: הַקֹּדֶשׁ, "the holy (place)." The preposition עַל introduces the entity that is the target of the purging/atoning action. The text states that the holy place itself requires atonement — it has been contaminated by Israel's impurities and must be ritually cleansed.
  • Parallel in v.16b: וְכֵן יַעֲשֶׂה לְאֹהֶל מֹועֵד — "and thus he shall do for the tent of meeting." The adverb כֵן ("thus/so") back-references the entire blood application sequence of vv.14-15, and the imperfect יַעֲשֶׂה indicates this same procedure applies to the outer compartment. The construct chain אֹהֶל מֹועֵד ("tent of meeting/appointment") designates the tabernacle as a whole or its outer compartment.
  • Grammar reference: stem-piel; word studies: H3722-kaphar, H6944-qodesh, WG-atonement

4. Three מִן-Prepositions in v.16: מִטֻּמְאֹת / וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶם / לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָם

  • Form: The clause-analysis tags the entire phrase מִטֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶם לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָם as the [Adju] (adjunct) of the verb כִפֶּר. It contains three prepositional elements specifying the cause/source of the contamination requiring atonement:

  • מִטֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל — מִן + טֻּמְאֹת (fp.Cst, "uncleannesses of") + בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. The preposition מִן here has a causal/separative sense: "because of / away from the uncleannesses of the sons of Israel." The noun טֻמְאָה appears in the feminine plural construct (טֻּמְאֹת), indicating multiple or various kinds of ritual impurity.

  • וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶם — וּ + מִן + פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם (mp.Abs + 3mp suffix, "their transgressions/rebellions"). The coordinating waw + repeated מִן creates a parallel causal phrase. The noun פֶּשַׁע (H6588) denotes willful rebellion or breaking away from authority, distinct from ritual impurity.

  • לְכָל־חַטֹּאתָם — ל + כָל (Noun.ms.Cst) + חַטֹּאתָם (fp.Abs + 3mp suffix, "their sins"). The switch from מִן to ל marks a syntactic shift. The preposition ל here functions as a specification/respect preposition: "with respect to all their sins." The noun חַטָּאת (H2403) is the broadest term for sin/missing the mark.

  • Three-term sin taxonomy: The same three categories appear in v.21 in the confession formula (see lev-16-21-sin-terms). In v.16, the three terms are arranged as the cause from which the holy place must be purged:

  • טֻמְאֹת — ritual/ceremonial uncleannesses (broadest category of defilement)
  • פְּשָׁעִים — deliberate rebellions/transgressions (willful covenant violations)

  • חַטֹּאת — sins (the comprehensive catch-all term, governed by כָל "all")

  • Prepositional logic: The two מִן-phrases identify the source/cause of contamination (causal מִן: "because of uncleannesses ... and because of rebellions"), while the ל-phrase identifies the comprehensive scope ("with respect to all their sins"). The structure moves from specific categories to a totalizing summary.

  • Word studies: H6588-pesha, WG-transgressions

5. הַשֹּׁכֵן אִתָּם בְּתוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם — Participle as Circumstantial-Causal Relative Clause

  • Form: הַ + שֹּׁכֵן (Qal active participle ms.Abs of שׁכן, "dwell") + אִתָּם (Prep + 3mp suffix, "with them") + בְּתוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם (Prep + Noun.ms.Cst "midst of" + Noun.fp.Abs + 3mp suffix "their uncleannesses").
  • Significance: The article הַ preceding the participle signals a relative clause modifying אֹהֶל מֹועֵד: "the tent of meeting, the one dwelling with them in the midst of their uncleannesses." The participle שֹׁכֵן is durative/stative — it describes God's ongoing habitation among them. The double locative complement (אִתָּם + בְּתוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם) reinforces the paradox: the divine dwelling persists in the midst of the very uncleannesses that require purging.
  • Construct chain: תוֹךְ (Noun.ms.Cst) + טֻמְאֹתָם (Noun.fp.Abs + 3mp) — "the midst of their uncleannesses." This is a construct chain expressing the spatial relationship of the tabernacle (and the divine presence) to Israel's impurities.
  • Inclusio with v.16a: The verse opens with atonement being made because of Israel's uncleannesses (מִטֻּמְאֹת) and closes with God dwelling in the midst of their uncleannesses (בְּתוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם). The same root טמאה frames the verse, providing the ground for both the necessity and the purpose of the blood ritual.
  • Grammar reference: construct-state

Construct Chains

Verse 14

Chain Components Meaning
דַּם הַפָּר דַּם (Cst) + הַפָּר (Abs) blood of the bull
פְּנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת פְּנֵי (Cst) + הַכַּפֹּרֶת (Abs) face/surface of the mercy seat
פְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת פְנֵי (Cst) + הַכַּפֹּרֶת (Abs) face/front of the mercy seat

Verse 15

Chain Components Meaning
שְׂעִיר הַחַטָּאת שְׂעִיר (Cst) + הַחַטָּאת (Abs) he-goat of the sin offering
דַם הַפָּר דַם (Cst) + הַפָּר (Abs) blood of the bull
פְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת פְנֵי (Cst) + הַכַּפֹּרֶת (Abs) face/front of the mercy seat

Verse 16

Chain Components Meaning
טֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל טֻּמְאֹת (fp.Cst) + בְּנֵי (mp.Cst) + יִשְׂרָאֵל (Abs) uncleannesses of the sons of Israel
כָל חַטֹּאתָם כָל (ms.Cst) + חַטֹּאתָם (fp.Abs+3mp) all their sins
אֹהֶל מֹועֵד אֹהֶל (ms.Cst) + מֹועֵד (ms.Abs) tent of meeting
תוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם תוֹךְ (ms.Cst) + טֻמְאֹתָם (fp.Abs+3mp) midst of their uncleannesses

Comparison: Lev 4:6-7 vs. Lev 16:14-16 Blood Application

Feature Lev 4:6 (Holy Place) Lev 16:14 (Most Holy Place)
Verb הִזָּה (Hiphil perf 3ms of נזה) הִזָּה / יַזֶּה (Hiphil perf/impf of נזה)
Instrument finger (אֶצְבָּעוֹ) finger (אֶצְבָּעוֹ)
Repetition seven times (שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים) seven times (שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים)
Source from the blood (מִן הַדָּם) from the blood (מִן הַדָּם)
Location before YHWH (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה), toward the face of the curtain of the holy (אֶת פְּנֵי פָּרֹכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ) upon the face of the kapporeth (עַל פְּנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת) + before the kapporeth (לִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת)
Spatial depth First compartment — outside the veil Second compartment — past the veil, at the ark
Surface contact No (sprinkling before the veil) Yes (first application directly onto the kapporeth)
Additional action Blood on altar-of-incense horns (v.7: וְנָתַן ... עַל קַרְנֹות מִזְבַּח) No altar-of-incense step described here (but cf. Lev 16:18-19 for the outer altar)

The ritual verb, instrument, number of applications, and partitive source construction (מִן הַדָּם) are identical between Lev 4:6 and Lev 16:14. What changes is the location: Lev 4:6 operates in the first compartment before the veil; Lev 16:14 operates in the second compartment at the kapporeth itself. The Day of Atonement moves the same purification gesture into the innermost sacred space.

Cross-References

Grammar Library

Word Studies

Gaps Noted

  • No canonical word study exists for H5137 נזה (nazah, spatter/sprinkle)
  • No canonical word study exists for H3727 כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporeth, mercy seat/cover)
  • No canonical word study exists for H2931/H2930 טמא/טֻמְאָה (tame/tum'ah, unclean/uncleanness)
  • No canonical word study exists for H2403 חַטָּאת (chatta'th, sin/sin offering)
  • No grammar reference entry exists for מִן-preposition (causal/separative/partitive functions)