Grammar Analysis: Leviticus 4:5-7¶
Text¶
Hebrew (v.5): וְלָקַ֛ח הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֑ר וְהֵבִ֥יא אֹתֹ֖ו אֶל־אֹ֥הֶל מֹועֵֽד׃ Hebrew (v.6): וְטָבַ֧ל הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־אֶצְבָּעֹ֖ו בַּדָּ֑ם וְהִזָּ֨ה מִן־הַדָּ֜ם שֶׁ֤בַע פְּעָמִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֶת־פְּנֵ֖י פָּרֹ֥כֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ Hebrew (v.7): וְנָתַן֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן מִן־הַדָּ֜ם עַל־קַ֠רְנֹות מִזְבַּ֨ח קְטֹ֤רֶת הַסַּמִּים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֹ֣הֶל מֹועֵ֑ד וְאֵ֣ת׀ כָּל־דַּ֣ם הַפָּ֗ר יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ אֶל־יְסֹ֙וד֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מֹועֵֽד׃
KJV (v.5): And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: KJV (v.6): And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. KJV (v.7): And the priest shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Word-by-Word Parsing¶
Leviticus 4:5¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וְ | ו | Conj | and |
| 2 | לָקַ֛ח | לקח | Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms | take |
| 3 | הַכֹּהֵ֥ן | כהן | Art+Noun.ms.Abs | the priest |
| 4 | הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ | משׁיח | Art+Noun.ms.Abs | the anointed |
| 5 | מִדַּ֣ם | מן + דם | Prep + Noun.ms.Cst | from blood of |
| 6 | הַפָּ֑ר | פר | Art+Noun.ms.Abs | the young bull |
| 7 | וְ | ו | Conj | and |
| 8 | הֵבִ֥יא | בוא | Verb.Hiphil.Perf.3ms | bring (cause to come) |
| 9 | אֹתֹ֖ו | את + 3ms | Prep+3ms | it |
| 10 | אֶל | אל | Prep | to |
| 11 | אֹ֥הֶל מֹועֵֽד | אהל + מועד | Noun.ms.Cst + Noun.ms.Abs | tent of appointment |
Leviticus 4:6¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וְ | ו | Conj | and |
| 2 | טָבַ֧ל | טבל | Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms | dip |
| 3 | הַכֹּהֵ֛ן | כהן | Art+Noun.ms.Abs | the priest |
| 4 | אֶת־אֶצְבָּעֹ֖ו | את + אצבע + 3ms | Obj.marker + Noun.fs.Abs+3ms | his finger |
| 5 | בַּדָּ֑ם | ב + ה + דם | Prep+Art+Noun.ms.Abs | in the blood |
| 6 | וְ | ו | Conj | and |
| 7 | הִזָּ֨ה | נזה | Verb.Hiphil.Perf.3ms | sprinkle |
| 8 | מִן־הַדָּ֜ם | מן + ה + דם | Prep+Art+Noun.ms.Abs | from the blood |
| 9 | שֶׁ֤בַע פְּעָמִים֙ | שׁבע + פעם | Num.Abs + Noun.fp.Abs | seven times |
| 10 | לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה | ל + פנה + יהוה | Prep+Noun.mp.Cst + PropN | before YHWH |
| 11 | אֶת־פְּנֵ֖י | את + פנה | Prep + Noun.mp.Cst | before (the face of) |
| 12 | פָּרֹ֥כֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ | פרכת + ה + קדשׁ | Noun.fs.Cst + Art+Noun.ms.Abs | the curtain of holiness |
Leviticus 4:7¶
| # | Hebrew | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וְ | ו | Conj | and |
| 2 | נָתַן֩ | נתן | Verb.Qal.Perf.3ms | put/give |
| 3 | הַכֹּהֵ֨ן | כהן | Art+Noun.ms.Abs | the priest |
| 4 | מִן־הַדָּ֜ם | מן + ה + דם | Prep+Art+Noun.ms.Abs | from the blood |
| 5 | עַל־קַ֠רְנֹות | על + קרן | Prep + Noun.fp.Cst | upon the horns of |
| 6 | מִזְבַּ֨ח | מזבח | Noun.ms.Cst | the altar of |
| 7 | קְטֹ֤רֶת הַסַּמִּים֙ | קטרת + ה + סם | Noun.fs.Cst + Art+Noun.mp.Abs | the incense of spices |
| 8 | לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה | ל + פנה + יהוה | Prep+Noun.mp.Cst + PropN | before YHWH |
| 9 | אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֹ֣הֶל מֹועֵ֑ד | אשׁר + ב + אהל + מועד | Rel + Prep + Noun.ms.Cst + Noun.ms.Abs | which is in the tent of appointment |
| 10 | וְ | ו | Conj | and |
| 11 | אֵ֣ת כָּל־דַּ֣ם הַפָּ֗ר | את + כל + דם + ה + פר | Obj.marker + Noun.ms.Cst + Noun.ms.Cst + Art+Noun.ms.Abs | all the blood of the young bull |
| 12 | יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ | שׁפך | Verb.Qal.Impf.3ms | he shall pour |
| 13 | אֶל־יְסֹ֙וד֙ | אל + יסוד | Prep + Noun.ms.Cst | to the base of |
| 14 | מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֔ה | מזבח + ה + עלה | Noun.ms.Cst + Art+Noun.fs.Abs | the altar of the burnt offering |
| 15 | אֲשֶׁר־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מֹועֵֽד | אשׁר + פתח + אהל + מועד | Rel + Noun.ms.Cst + Noun.ms.Cst + Noun.ms.Abs | which is at the opening of the tent of appointment |
Key Grammatical Features¶
1. Weqatal Chain in 3rd-Person Priestly Prescription (WQtX Clause Type)¶
- Forms: וְלָקַח (v.5), וְהֵבִיא (v.5), וְטָבַל (v.6), וְהִזָּה (v.6), וְנָתַן (v.7) — all waw + Qal/Hiphil Perfect 3ms
- Clause analysis: ETCBC classifies these as WQtX (waw-qatal-X) — the standard weqatal clause type in legal prescription
- Significance: Leviticus 4 uses 3rd-person weqatal chains ("and the priest shall...") rather than the 2nd-person form characteristic of Deuteronomic law ("and thou shalt..."). The 3ms subject הַכֹּהֵן recurs explicitly in each clause, reinforcing that these are priestly operating instructions, not covenant obligations addressed to Israel. Each weqatal advances the ritual sequence one step: the conjunction וְ carries imperatival force forward from the protasis in Lev 4:3 (the conditional כִּי-clause establishing the sin offering requirement).
- Grammar reference: weqatal-legal-imperatival — though that entry focuses on the 2ms Deuteronomic type, the same underlying form (waw + perfect carrying forward obligatory force) operates here in 3ms priestly register.
2. הִזָּה (hizzah) — Hiphil Perfect 3ms of נזה (H5137): Causative Sprinkling¶
- Form: Hiphil stem — the causative of a root whose Qal means "to spatter/spurt forth." The Hiphil makes the priest the active causer: he causes the blood to sprinkle.
- Significance: Of 24 total occurrences of נזה, 20 are Hiphil — this is almost exclusively a priestly ritual word. The Hiphil form appears in every sanctuary blood-application context (Lev 4:6,17; 5:9; 8:11,30; 14:7,16,27,51; 16:14,15,19; Num 8:7; 19:4,18,19). The 4 Qal occurrences describe involuntary spattering (Lev 6:20; 2 Ki 9:33; Isa 63:3) — blood spraying from violence rather than applied by priestly hand. This stem distinction marks the boundary between controlled ritual action and uncontrolled bloodshed.
- Grammar reference: stem-hiphil
- Word study: H5137-nazah
3. The Verb Tense Shift in v.7b: Weqatal to Yiqtol (WxY0 Clause)¶
- Forms: v.7a uses weqatal: וְנָתַן (Qal.Perf.3ms, "and he shall put"). v.7b shifts to yiqtol with fronted object: וְאֵת כָּל־דַּם הַפָּר יִשְׁפֹּךְ (Qal.Impf.3ms, "and all the blood of the bull he shall pour").
- Clause analysis: ETCBC classifies v.7b as WxY0 — a waw-X-yiqtol clause, where the object (אֵת כָּל־דַּם הַפָּר) is fronted before the verb. This is not the same pattern as the preceding WQtX weqatal clauses.
- Significance: The fronted object (כָּל "all") + imperfect (yiqtol) marks a shift in emphasis. The preceding weqatal chain describes partial applications — some blood on the finger, some sprinkled, some on the horns. The fronted כָּל signals a contrast: all the remaining blood now goes to one location. The imperfect verb form in this context carries the same prescriptive force as the weqatals but the syntax foregrounds the totality of the blood being disposed. The shift from "some of the blood" (מִן הַדָּם) to "all the blood" (כָּל דַּם) is grammatically marked by the clause-type change.
4. The Four-Verb Blood-Path Sequence: טבל → נזה → נתן → שׁפך¶
The passage prescribes four distinct blood-handling verbs in strict sequence. Each verb denotes a physically different action and targets a different location in the sanctuary:
| Step | Hebrew | Lemma (Strong's) | Stem | Action | Target Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וְטָבַל | טבל (H2881) | Qal | dip finger in blood | the blood basin (source) |
| 2 | וְהִזָּה | נזה (H5137) | Hiphil | sprinkle seven times | before YHWH, before the veil of the sanctuary |
| 3 | וְנָתַן | נתן (H5414) | Qal | put/apply blood | upon the horns of the incense altar |
| 4 | יִשְׁפֹּךְ | שׁפך (H8210) | Qal | pour out all remaining | at the base of the burnt-offering altar |
Verb semantics and physical distinction:
-
טבל (tabal, H2881, Qal "dip") — 16 OT occurrences, all meaning physical immersion of an object into a liquid. The priest submerges his finger into the collected blood. This is the point of contact — the priest's body touches the sin-bearing blood. The Qal stem indicates a simple, direct physical act.
-
נזה (nazah, H5137, Hiphil "sprinkle") — Causative: the priest causes the blood to leave his finger in controlled spatters. The modifier שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים ("seven times") and the locative phrases לִפְנֵי יְהוָה ("before YHWH") and אֶת־פְּנֵי פָּרֹכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ ("before the veil of the sanctuary") place this action inside the Holy Place, directed toward the veil separating it from the Most Holy Place. The blood does not pass through the veil — it is sprinkled before it (לִפְנֵי), marking the boundary of God's localized presence.
-
נתן (natan, H5414, Qal "put/give") — The broadest Hebrew transfer verb, here narrowed to physical placement: blood applied to the horns (קַרְנֹות) of the incense altar. The construct chain קַרְנֹות מִזְבַּח קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים ("horns of the altar of the incense of spices") is a four-level chain — horns-of / altar-of / incense-of / the-spices — locating this action precisely at the altar that stands inside the Holy Place before the veil (Exo 30:6).
-
שׁפך (shaphak, H8210, Qal "pour out") — The verb of bulk disposal: all remaining blood is poured at the base (יְסוֹד) of the burnt-offering altar, which stands in the courtyard at the entrance (פֶּתַח) of the tent of appointment. This is the only action in the sequence that takes place outside the Holy Place.
Word studies: H5137-nazah, H5414-nathan, H8210-shaphak, H1818-dam, H3548-kohen
5. Spatial Grammar: The Blood Path as Inward-then-Outward Movement¶
The prepositions and locative phrases map the blood's physical trajectory through the sanctuary:
| Verb | Preposition | Spatial Target | Location in Sanctuary |
|---|---|---|---|
| לָקַח | מִן (from) | דַּם הַפָּר (blood of the bull) | Courtyard — at the place of slaughter |
| הֵבִיא | אֶל (to/into) | אֹהֶל מֹועֵד (tent of appointment) | Crossing from courtyard into the Holy Place |
| טָבַל | בְּ (in) | הַדָּם (the blood) | Inside — priest contacts the blood |
| הִזָּה | לִפְנֵי (before) | יְהוָה / פָּרֹכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ (YHWH / veil of the sanctuary) | Holy Place — directed toward the veil |
| נָתַן | עַל (upon) | קַרְנֹות מִזְבַּח (horns of the altar) | Holy Place — incense altar |
| יִשְׁפֹּךְ | אֶל (to) | יְסוֹד מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה (base of burnt-offering altar) | Courtyard — back outside at the entrance |
The movement is: courtyard (take/bring) → into the Holy Place (dip/sprinkle/apply) → back to the courtyard (pour). The verbs הֵבִיא (Hiphil of בוא, "cause to come in") explicitly marks the inward crossing. The final verb שׁפך at the courtyard altar marks the return outward. The blood path thus penetrates the sanctuary to its deepest accessible point (the veil boundary) and then withdraws.
Clause Structure¶
Verse 5 — Two WQtX Clauses (weqatal chain)¶
Clause 1 (WQtX): וְ לָקַח הַ כֹּהֵן הַ מָּשִׁיחַ מִ דַּם הַ פָּר
[Conj] וְ [Pred] לָקַח [Subj] הַ כֹּהֵן הַ מָּשִׁיחַ [Cmpl] מִ דַּם הַ פָּר
Clause 2 (WQt0): וְ הֵבִיא אֹתֹו אֶל אֹהֶל מֹועֵד
[Conj] וְ [Pred] הֵבִיא [Objc] אֹתֹו [Cmpl] אֶל אֹהֶל מֹועֵד
Verse 6 — Two WQtX Clauses (weqatal chain)¶
Clause 1 (WQtX): וְ טָבַל הַ כֹּהֵן אֶת אֶצְבָּעֹו בַּ דָּם
[Conj] וְ [Pred] טָבַל [Subj] הַ כֹּהֵן [Objc] אֶת אֶצְבָּעֹו [Cmpl] בַּ דָּם
Clause 2 (WQt0): וְ הִזָּה מִן הַ דָּם שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים לִ פְנֵי יְהוָה אֶת פְּנֵי פָּרֹכֶת הַ קֹּדֶשׁ
[Conj] וְ [Pred] הִזָּה [Cmpl] מִן הַ דָּם [Modi] שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים [Adju] לִ פְנֵי יְהוָה [Loca] אֶת פְּנֵי פָּרֹכֶת הַ קֹּדֶשׁ
Verse 7 — Four Clauses (weqatal + relative + fronted-object + relative)¶
Clause 1 (WQtX): וְ נָתַן הַ כֹּהֵן מִן הַ דָּם עַל קַרְנֹות מִזְבַּח קְטֹרֶת הַ סַּמִּים לִ פְנֵי יְהוָה
[Conj] וְ [Pred] נָתַן [Subj] הַ כֹּהֵן [Cmpl] מִן הַ דָּם [Cmpl] עַל קַרְנֹות מִזְבַּח קְטֹרֶת הַ סַּמִּים [Adju] לִ פְנֵי יְהוָה
Clause 2 (NmCl): אֲשֶׁר בְּ אֹהֶל מֹועֵד
[Rela] אֲשֶׁר [PreC] בְּ אֹהֶל מֹועֵד
Clause 3 (WxY0): וְ אֵת כָּל דַּם הַ פָּר יִשְׁפֹּךְ אֶל יְסוֹד מִזְבַּח הָ עֹלָה
[Conj] וְ [Objc] אֵת כָּל דַּם הַ פָּר [Pred] יִשְׁפֹּךְ [Cmpl] אֶל יְסוֹד מִזְבַּח הָ עֹלָה
Clause 4 (NmCl): אֲשֶׁר פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מֹועֵד
[Rela] אֲשֶׁר [PreC] פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מֹועֵד
The two NmCl (nominal/verbless) clauses are relative clauses locating the altars: the incense altar "which is in the tent of appointment" and the burnt-offering altar "which is at the opening of the tent of appointment."
Construct Chains¶
Verse 5¶
- דַּם הַפָּר — "blood of the young bull" (2-level: blood-of → the-bull)
- אֹהֶל מֹועֵד — "tent of appointment" (2-level: tent-of → appointment)
Verse 6¶
- פְנֵי יְהוָה — "face of YHWH" = "before YHWH" (idiomatic spatial; 2-level)
- פְּנֵי פָּרֹכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ — "face of the curtain of holiness" = "before the veil of the sanctuary" (3-level chain: face-of → curtain-of → the-holiness). The double use of פְנֵי (construct of פָּנֶה "face") — once with YHWH, once with the veil — equates the two locatively: the space before the veil is the space before YHWH.
Verse 7¶
- קַרְנֹות מִזְבַּח קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים — "horns of the altar of the incense of the spices" (4-level chain: horns-of → altar-of → incense-of → the-spices). The longest construct chain in these verses, precisely identifying the incense altar by its function and material.
- כָּל דַּם הַפָּר — "all blood of the young bull" (3-level: all-of → blood-of → the-bull). The quantifier כָּל in construct governs the entire following phrase.
- יְסוֹד מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה — "base of the altar of the burnt offering" (3-level: base-of → altar-of → the-burnt-offering).
- פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מֹועֵד — "opening of the tent of appointment" (3-level: opening-of → tent-of → appointment).
Cross-References¶
Grammar Library¶
- weqatal-legal-imperatival — the weqatal chain pattern carrying prescriptive force; this passage uses the 3ms priestly register rather than 2ms Deuteronomic
- stem-hiphil — for the causative function of הִזָּה (Hiphil of נזה) and הֵבִיא (Hiphil of בוא)
- construct-state — for the multi-level construct chains throughout these verses
- qal-imperfect — for the prescriptive yiqtol יִשְׁפֹּךְ in the fronted-object clause
Word Studies¶
- H5137-nazah — sprinkle (Hiphil ritual sprinkling vs. Qal violent spattering)
- H5414-nathan — give/put (broadest Hebrew transfer verb; here = physical application)
- H8210-shaphak — pour out (bulk disposal of sacrificial blood)
- H1818-dam — blood (Leviticus has highest concentration: 66 occurrences)
- H3548-kohen — priest (the sole human agent in the blood-path sequence)
Parallel Passages¶
- Lev 4:16-18 — Identical blood path for the sin offering when the whole congregation sins; same verb sequence (לקח → בוא → טבל → נזה → נתן → שׁפך)
- Lev 4:25,30,34 — Sin offering for ruler/common person: only שׁפך at the burnt-offering altar base; no entry into the Holy Place, no sprinkling before the veil
- Lev 16:14-19 — Day of Atonement: the high priest carries blood past the veil into the Most Holy Place; nazah (Hiphil) is used for sprinkling on and before the mercy seat
Generated from: hebrew_parser.py --verse/--clause/--construct on Lev 4:5, 4:6, 4:7; search_strongs.py --lexicon H2881, H5137, H5414, H8210; KJV text via D:/bible/tools/data/kjv.txt Last updated: 2026-05-11