1
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר
And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,
The standard prose-frame formula (וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר) introduces a fresh unit of divine instruction, identical to the openings of the surrounding chapters of the holiness legislation. It supplies no content itself but marks the speech that follows as authoritative, relayed through Moses alone.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spokeconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative frame)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance introducing the divine speechדָּבַר (H1696), Piel 'to speak'; the standard verb of formal divine address, here opening a fresh unit of legislation with the fixed prose formula.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיְדַבֵּריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God, from the root היה 'to be'; traditionally read with the vowels of אֲדֹנָי and rendered 'the LORD'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; introduces the recipient of divine speech.
מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of the preposition אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872), mediator of the Sinai legislation; the sole addressee, who relays YHWH's words to Israel.
לֵּאמֹֽרsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitival complement introducing direct speech→ Infinitive construct: marks the transition into direct quotationאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the formulaic לֵאמֹר regularly introduces the content of divine speech that follows.
2
דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם
Speak to the Israelites and say to them: I am YHWH your God.
The double command 'speak... and say' is the standard commissioning formula for prophetic-legal address. The self-identification 'I am YHWH your God' — repeated at vv. 4, 5, 6, 21, 30 and echoed in the chapter's close — establishes covenant authority as the ground of everything that follows, before any content is given.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
דַּבֵּר֙speakPiel impv 2ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause)→ Volitional: imperative command to Mosesדָּבַר (H1696), Piel 'to speak'; the imperative opens Moses' commission to relay YHWH's words to Israel.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to'; introduces the ultimate addressees, the Israelites.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (head)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct בְּנֵי + יִשְׂרָאֵל is the standard idiom 'Israelites, the sons of Israel'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive of the construct chainיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the covenant name of Jacob and his descendants; here the nation addressed.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖and you shall sayconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (weqatal continuing the imperative)→ Weqatal: consequent volitional — the required follow-up act of speakingאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the weqatal continues the imperative force of דַּבֵּר, introducing the words to be spoken.
אֲלֵהֶ֑םto themprep אֶל + 3mp sfx · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (indirect object)אֶל (H413) with pronominal suffix, resuming בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל as the audience of the speech.
אֲנִ֖יIindep pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the verbless self-identification clauseאֲנִי (H589), first-person independent pronoun; opens the self-identification formula that punctuates the chapter (cf. vv. 4, 5, 6, 21, 30).
יְהוָ֥הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominative (in apposition to אֲנִי)יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; the formula אֲנִי יְהוָה grounds the commands in YHWH's own authority.
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽםyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Predicate nominative (in apposition, second element)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; the extended formula אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם recalls the Exodus relationship, opening the paraenetic frame.
3
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֧ה אֶֽרֶץ מִצְרַ֛יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְשַׁבְתֶּם בָּ֖הּ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֑וּ וּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֶֽרֶץ כְּנַ֡עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אֶתְכֶ֥ם שָׁ֨מָּה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א תֵלֵֽכוּ
You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you dwelt; and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you; and you shall not walk in their statutes.
A tightly parallel structure (כְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֶרֶץ... לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ, repeated for Egypt and Canaan) frames Israel between its past, already left, and its future, not yet entered, forbidding imitation of either. The summarizing third clause, 'you shall not walk in their statutes', broadens the ban from isolated deeds (מַעֲשֶׂה) to an entire way of life (חֻקּוֹת), setting up the positive counterpart of v. 4.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֧הlike the practice ofprep כְּ + N m sg constr · מַעֲשֶׂה (H4639)Comparative prepositional phrase (fronted)מַעֲשֶׂה (H4639) 'deed, practice', from עָשָׂה 'to do'; here the customary religious/sexual practice of a land's inhabitants.
אֶֽרֶץthe land ofN f sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Genitive of the construct chain (head of second construct)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; construct with מִצְרַיִם specifies Egypt as the practice's locale.
מִצְרַ֛יִםEgyptN proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Genitive of the construct chainמִצְרַיִם (H4714), Egypt; Israel's land of former sojourn, the first pole of the comparison.
אֲשֶׁ֥רin whichrel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִםאֲשֶׁר (H834), indeclinable relative particle; resumed by the pronominal suffix בָּהּ.
יְשַׁבְתֶּםyou dweltQal perf 2mp · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed period of past residenceיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to sit, dwell'; recalls Israel's sojourn in Egypt prior to the exodus.
בָּ֖הּin itprep בְּ + 3fs sfx · בְּResumptive prepositional phrase completing the relative clauseבְּ with 3fs suffix referring back to אֶרֶץ (fem.), 'in it'.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תַעֲשׂוּלֹא (H3808), the standard negative for indicative statements; here forming a durative prohibition with the imperfect.
תַעֲשׂ֑וּyou shall doQal impf 2mp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibition — an ongoing practice forbiddenעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; the general verb of action, here forbidding imitation of Egyptian custom.
וּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֣הand like the practice ofconj וְ + prep כְּ + N m sg constr · מַעֲשֶׂה (H4639)Comparative prepositional phrase (second, parallel member)מַעֲשֶׂה (H4639); the parallel clause pairs Canaan with Egypt as the two poles Israel must avoid imitating.
אֶֽרֶץthe land ofN f sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Genitive of the construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776); construct with כְּנַעַן, the second pole of the comparison.
כְּנַ֡עַןCanaanN proper · כְּנַעַן (H3667)Genitive of the construct chainכְּנַעַן (H3667), the land of promise, whose inhabitants' practices Israel must equally avoid.
אֲשֶׁ֣רto whichrel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַןאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the participial clause of imminent divine action.
אֲנִי֩Iindep pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the participial clauseאֲנִי (H589); subject of the participle מֵבִיא, God as the one bringing Israel into the land.
מֵבִ֨יאam bringingHiphil ptc m sg abs · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate participle (relative clause, present/imminent)→ Participial: imminent/ongoing — YHWH's present act of leading Israel toward the landבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'; Hiphil 'bring, cause to enter' — YHWH as the one conducting Israel to Canaan.
אֶתְכֶ֥םyouobj marker + 2mp sfx · אֵת (H853)Direct object of מֵבִיאאֵת (H853) with pronominal suffix, object pronoun 'you (pl.)'.
שָׁ֨מָּה֙thereadv + directional הָ · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial accusative of direction (locative הָ)שָׁם (H8033) 'there' + directional ending -ָה, 'thither'; refers back to אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תַעֲשׂוּלֹא (H3808); repeats the prohibition formula for the Canaanite parallel.
תַעֲשׂ֔וּyou shall doQal impf 2mp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibition, parallel to the Egypt clauseעָשָׂה (H6213); the repeated verb closes the second half of the a-b // a′-b′ parallelism.
וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶ֖םand in their statutesconj וְ + prep בְּ + N f pl constr + 3mp sfx · חֻקָּה (H2708)Prepositional phrase (adverbial, object of תֵלֵכוּ)חֻקָּה (H2708) 'statute, prescribed custom', from חָקַק 'to inscribe, decree'; here the customary norms of Egypt/Canaan, sharply distinguished from YHWH's own חֻקִּים in v. 4.
לֹ֥אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תֵלֵכוּלֹא (H3808); introduces the third, summarizing prohibition.
תֵלֵֽכוּshall you walkQal impf 2mp · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause, summarizing)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibition — a whole way of life forbiddenהָלַךְ (H1980) 'to walk, go'; idiomatic for conduct — 'walking in statutes' means living by them; this verb generalizes the two preceding prohibitions into a total ban on the nations' way of life.
4
אֶת מִשְׁפָּטַ֧י תַּעֲשׂ֛וּ וְאֶת חֻקֹּתַ֥י תִּשְׁמְר֖וּ לָלֶ֣כֶת בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם
You shall do my rules, and you shall keep my statutes, to walk in them; I am YHWH your God.
Where v. 3 forbade the nations' מַעֲשֶׂה and חֻקּוֹת, v. 4 substitutes YHWH's own מִשְׁפָּטִים and חֻקּוֹת as the object of Israel's 'walk' — the identical verb הָלַךְ recast positively. The verse is bracketed by the fronted objects מִשְׁפָּטַי / חֻקֹּתַי and closed, as in v. 2, by the self-identification formula.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (fronted definite object)
מִשְׁפָּטַ֧יmy rulesN m pl constr + 1cs sfx · מִשְׁפָּט (H4941)Direct object (fronted for emphasis)מִשְׁפָּט (H4941) 'judgment, rule, ordinance', from שָׁפַט 'to judge'; YHWH's case-law rulings, paired with חֻקָּה as the two categories of his instruction.
תַּעֲשׂ֛וּyou shall doQal impf 2mp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (main clause, prescriptive)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — the positive counterpart to v. 3's prohibitionsעָשָׂה (H6213); performing YHWH's מִשְׁפָּטִים replaces doing as Egypt/Canaan do (v. 3).
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (second fronted object)וְ coordinates the second object; אֵת marks חֻקֹּתַי as definite.
חֻקֹּתַ֥יmy statutesN f pl constr + 1cs sfx · חֻקָּה (H2708)Direct object (fronted for emphasis)חֻקָּה (H2708); YHWH's own statutes, deliberately echoing and displacing the חֻקֹּת of the nations in v. 3.
תִּשְׁמְר֖וּyou shall keepQal impf 2mp · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (main clause, prescriptive)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — ongoing careful observance requiredשָׁמַר (H8104) 'to keep, guard, observe'; the standard verb for covenantal fidelity to YHWH's law.
לָלֶ֣כֶתto walkprep לְ + Qal inf constr · הָלַךְ (H3212)Infinitival purpose/result clause→ Infinitive construct: expresses the purpose of keeping the statutesהָלַךְ (H1980) 'to walk'; the same verb used negatively in v. 3 (תֵלֵכוּ) now positively — Israel's 'walk' is to be in YHWH's statutes, not the nations'.
בָּהֶ֑םin themprep בְּ + 3mp sfx · בְּPrepositional phrase completing לָלֶכֶתבְּ with 3mp suffix referring to מִשְׁפָּטַי/חֻקֹּתַי, YHWH's ordinances.
אֲנִ֖יIindep pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the self-identification clauseאֲנִי (H589); repeats the formula of v. 2, now sealing the positive command.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominativeיְהוָה (H3068); the covenant name grounding obedience.
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽםyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Predicate nominative (second element, in apposition)אֱלֹהִים (H430); closes the verse with the full self-identification formula.
5
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם הָאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה
And you shall keep my statutes and my rules; the person who does them shall live by them. I am YHWH.
The frame's final and most quoted line: doing YHWH's statutes and rules is the way to 'life' (וָחַי בָּהֶם), a formula generalized to הָאָדָם, 'the person', rather than restricted to Israel. This closes the introductory exhortation before the case-by-case prohibitions of the עֲרָיוֹת begin at v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤םand you shall keepconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (weqatal, main clause)→ Weqatal: consequent prescriptive — the standing requirement now generalizedשָׁמַר (H8104); resumes v. 4's charge as the topic sentence for the whole chapter's case law.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (fronted object)
חֻקֹּתַי֙my statutesN f pl constr + 1cs sfx · חֻקָּה (H2708)Direct objectחֻקָּה (H2708); repeated from v. 4 as the object of שְׁמַרְתֶּם.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object markerוְ coordinates the second object; אֵת marks מִשְׁפָּטַי.
מִשְׁפָּטַ֔יmy rulesN m pl constr + 1cs sfx · מִשְׁפָּט (H4941)Direct object (second, coordinate)מִשְׁפָּט (H4941); paired with חֻקָּה as in v. 4, in reversed order here.
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhichrel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying חֻקֹּתַי/מִשְׁפָּטַיאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the famous life-clause.
יַעֲשֶׂ֥הdoesQal impf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Yiqtol: generic/gnomic — a timeless statement of consequenceעָשָׂה (H6213); the doing of the statutes is the condition for the life that follows.
אֹתָ֛םthemobj marker + 3mp sfx · אֵת (H853)Direct object of יַעֲשֶׂהאֵת (H853) with suffix, resuming חֻקֹּתַי וּמִשְׁפָּטַי.
הָאָדָ֖םthe personart + N m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Subject of יַעֲשֶׂהאָדָם (H120) 'human being, person'; deliberately generic — the principle applies to any person, not Israel alone, a datum much debated in later Jewish and Christian ethics.
וָחַ֣יand shall liveconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · חָיָה (H2421)Predicate verb (weqatal, result clause)→ Weqatal: consequent result — life as the guaranteed outcome of obedienceחָיָה (H2421) 'to live'; the celebrated formula וָחַי בָּהֶם ('and shall live by them') is quoted in Ezek 20:11, 13, 21 and becomes central to later halakhic and Pauline argument (Gal 3:12; Rom 10:5) about the relation of law and life.
בָּהֶ֑םby themprep בְּ + 3mp sfx · בְּPrepositional phrase of means/sphere completing וָחַיבְּ, instrumental/locative 'by, in'; the statutes are both the sphere and the means of the life promised.
אֲנִ֖יIindep pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the self-identification clauseאֲנִי (H589); the formula recurs a third time, closing the paraenetic frame before the legal core begins at v. 6.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominativeיְהוָה (H3068); here without אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, the shortest form of the formula.
6
אִ֥ישׁ אִישׁ֙ אֶל כָּל שְׁאֵ֣ר בְּשָׂר֔וֹ לֹ֥א תִקְרְב֖וּ לְגַלּ֣וֹת עֶרְוָ֑ה אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה
None of you shall approach any close relative of his to uncover nakedness. I am YHWH.
This verse functions as the topic sentence for the whole list that follows: the general principle (no approach to a שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר, 'close relative') stated once here is then applied case by case in vv. 7-18 and, for non-kin, in vv. 19-23. The idiom לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָה, 'to uncover nakedness', is introduced here and repeated with variation as the chapter's technical euphemism for sexual intercourse.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
אִ֥ישׁany manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject (distributive reduplication, first element)אִישׁ (H376) 'man'; the doubled אִישׁ אִישׁ is a distributive idiom, 'each and every man, anyone'.
אִישׁ֙manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject (distributive reduplication, second element)Repetition of אִישׁ intensifies the universality of the prohibition — no exception is permitted.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase governing כָּל שְׁאֵר בְּשָׂרוֹאֶל (H413), here 'toward, against' — the direction of the forbidden approach.
כָּלanyN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier in construct with שְׁאֵרכֹּל (H3605) 'all, any'; distributive, extending the ban to every degree of kinship named below.
שְׁאֵ֣רclose relative ofN m sg constr · שְׁאֵר (H7607)Genitive of the construct chain (head)שְׁאֵר (H7607) 'flesh, kin, near relative'; paired with בָּשָׂר in the idiom שְׁאֵר בְּשָׂרוֹ, 'his own flesh', i.e. blood relative — the heading rubric for the whole list of vv. 7-18.
בְּשָׂר֔וֹhis fleshN m sg constr + 3ms sfx · בָּשָׂר (H1320)Genitive completing the idiom שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂרבָּשָׂר (H1320) 'flesh, body'; with שְׁאֵר forms the technical term for a close blood relation.
לֹ֥אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִקְרְבוּלֹא (H3808); introduces the chapter's core prohibition formula, repeated with variation throughout vv. 6-23.
תִקְרְב֖וּshall you approachQal impf 2mp · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibition — the governing verb of the heading verseקָרַב (H7126) 'to approach, draw near'; here a euphemism for sexual approach, governing the purpose infinitive לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָה.
לְגַלּ֣וֹתto uncoverprep לְ + Piel inf constr · גָּלָה (H1540)Infinitival purpose clause→ Infinitive construct: purpose — the intended act of the forbidden approachגָּלָה (H1540) Piel 'to uncover, expose'; the idiom גִּלָּה עֶרְוָה ('uncover nakedness') is the chapter's euphemism for sexual intercourse, used some twenty times in vv. 6-19.
עֶרְוָ֑הnakednessN f sg abs · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of לְגַלּוֹתעֶרְוָה (H6172) 'nakedness, shame', from עָרָה 'to be bare'; the chapter's key euphemistic term for sexual relations, specified in each following verse by a construct phrase or suffix identifying whose nakedness.
אֲנִ֖יIindep pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the self-identification clauseאֲנִי (H589); the formula אֲנִי יְהוָה closes the heading verse and recurs at vv. 21, 30 to bracket the legal core.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominativeיְהוָה (H3068); grounds the prohibition in divine authority before the specific cases begin.
7
עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֛יךָ וְעֶרְוַ֥ת אִמְּךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אִמְּךָ֣ הִ֔וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ
The nakedness of your father, that is, the nakedness of your mother, you shall not uncover; she is your mother — you shall not uncover her nakedness.
This opening case establishes the list's recurring pattern: fronted object(s), prohibition, an identifying verbless clause ('she is your X'), then a resumptive restatement of the prohibition. The pairing 'nakedness of your father... nakedness of your mother' is a genuine crux: since a wife's body belongs to her husband, uncovering the mother's nakedness simultaneously violates the father's exclusive right — the verse does not envision two different women.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens with תְגַלֵּה)עֶרְוָה (H6172); the first of the specific cases, construct with אָבִיךָ.
אָבִ֛יךָyour fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive of the construct chainאָב (H1) 'father'; the following clause clarifies that 'your father's nakedness' here denotes your mother — since a wife's body belongs to her husband, sex with her violates his exclusive right too.
וְעֶרְוַ֥תand the nakedness ofconj וְ + N f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (coordinate, casus pendens continued)עֶרְוָה (H6172); the explanatory second term identifying whose 'nakedness' the father's clause denotes.
אִמְּךָ֖your motherN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · אֵם (H517)Genitive of the construct chainאֵם (H517) 'mother'; the clarifying term shows that 'your father's nakedness' denotes the mother's.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֵּהלֹא (H3808); negates the first, fronted-object prohibition.
תְגַלֵּ֑הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540) Piel; governs both fronted objects, 'the nakedness of your father and of your mother'.
אִמְּךָ֣your motherN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · אֵם (H517)Subject of the verbless identification clauseאֵם (H517); the noun clause אִמְּךָ הִוא restates and confirms the referent before the prohibition is repeated.
הִ֔ואshe (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Predicate of the verbless clauseהִיא (H1931), 3fs independent pronoun; the formula 'she is your X' recurs after most cases in vv. 9-17, confirming the kinship term just used.
לֹ֥אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֶּהלֹא (H3808); reiterates the prohibition, now with the explicit possessive suffix עֶרְוָתָהּ.
תְגַלֶּ֖הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause, restated)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibition, resumptive restatementגָּלָה (H1540); the restatement with a pronominal object (עֶרְוָתָהּ) becomes the standard closing formula for each case in vv. 9-17.
עֶרְוָתָֽהּher nakednessN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of תְגַלֶּהעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 3fs suffix; the resumptive object confirms 'her' = the mother just identified.
8
עֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא
The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; it is your father's nakedness.
This case extends v. 7 to any wife of the father, presupposing polygamy or remarriage; the closing formula again treats her nakedness as belonging to the father, echoing v. 7's logic rather than repeating its 'she is your mother' pattern.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); construct with אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ, the father's wife (stepmother) — distinct from v. 7's own mother.
אֵֽשֶׁתthe wife ofN f sg constr · אִשָּׁה (H802)Genitive of the construct chainאִשָּׁה (H802) 'woman, wife'; construct אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ specifies a stepmother, a wife of the father other than one's own mother — polygamy or remarriage presupposed.
אָבִ֖יךָyour fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive of the construct chainאָב (H1); this case extends v. 7 to any wife of the father, not the birth mother alone (cf. Reuben's act, Gen 35:22; 49:4).
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֵּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֵּ֑הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540); governs the fronted object עֶרְוַת אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ.
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Predicate nominative (restating the case)עֶרְוָה (H6172); the identifying clause restates the case in terms of the father's own nakedness.
אָבִ֖יךָyour fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive of the construct chainאָב (H1); the closing formula treats the stepmother's nakedness as identical with 'your father's nakedness' — the logic of v. 7 repeated.
הִֽואit (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Predicate of the verbless identification clauseהִיא (H1931); closes the case — 'it is your father's nakedness', his exclusive prerogative.
9
עֶרְוַ֨ת אֲחֽוֹתְךָ֤ בַת אָבִ֨יךָ֙ א֣וֹ בַת אִמֶּ֔ךָ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת בַּ֔יִת א֖וֹ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת ח֑וּץ לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽן
The nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether born in the household or born outside — you shall not uncover their nakedness.
The case is deliberately exhaustive: it covers a full sister and both kinds of half-sister, and further closes any loophole based on whether she was raised in the same household or not (מוֹלֶדֶת בַּיִת... מוֹלֶדֶת חוּץ). The plural suffix עֶרְוָתָן, 'their nakedness', reflects agreement with the several alternatives just listed rather than a single referent.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
עֶרְוַ֨תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads the construct chain identifying a full or half sister.
אֲחֽוֹתְךָ֤your sisterN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָחוֹת (H269)Genitive of the construct chainאָחוֹת (H269) 'sister'; qualified by the two בַּת clauses that follow as either paternal or maternal half-sister.
בַתthe daughter ofN f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Genitive in apposition, first alternativeבַּת (H1323) 'daughter'; construct with אָבִיךָ, defining a paternal half-sister.
אָבִ֨יךָ֙your fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive of the construct chainאָב (H1); a sister sharing the same father.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; joins the two alternative kinds of half-sister.
בַתthe daughter ofN f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Genitive in apposition, second alternativeבַּת (H1323); construct with אִמֶּךָ, defining a maternal half-sister.
אִמֶּ֔ךָyour motherN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · אֵם (H517)Genitive of the construct chainאֵם (H517); a sister sharing the same mother.
מוֹלֶ֣דֶתborn ofN f sg constr · מוֹלֶדֶת (H4138)Appositional phrase specifying birth-circumstanceמוֹלֶדֶת (H4138) 'birth, offspring, kindred', from יָלַד 'to bear'; here 'born of/in the household', closing a possible loophole around a half-sister raised within vs. outside the family.
בַּ֔יִתthe houseN m sg abs · בַּיִת (H1004)Complement of מוֹלֶדֶתבַּיִת (H1004) 'house, household'; 'born of the house' = born within the family unit.
א֖וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176); joins the second pair of birth-circumstance.
מוֹלֶ֣דֶתbornN f sg constr · מוֹלֶדֶת (H4138)Appositional phrase specifying birth-circumstanceמוֹלֶדֶת (H4138); repeated in construct with חוּץ.
ח֑וּץoutsideN m sg abs · חוּץ (H2351)Complement of מוֹלֶדֶתחוּץ (H2351) 'outside, street'; 'born outside' closes the loophole so that a half-sister not raised in the household is included too.
לֹ֥אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֶּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֶּ֖הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540); governs עֶרְוָתָן, resuming the whole fronted description.
עֶרְוָתָֽןtheir nakednessN f sg constr + 3fp sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of תְגַלֶּהעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 3fp suffix ('their', referring to either category of sister just described); resumes the fronted casus pendens.
10
עֶרְוַ֤ת בַּת בִּנְךָ֙ א֣וֹ בַֽת בִּתְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָ֑ן כִּ֥י עֶרְוָתְךָ֖ הֵֽנָּה
The nakedness of your son's daughter, or of your daughter's daughter — you shall not uncover their nakedness, for they are your own nakedness.
Unlike the preceding cases, the closing clause does not identify the woman by an outside relationship ('she is your X') but grounds the prohibition causally (כִּי): a granddaughter's nakedness IS the addressee's own, since she is his direct bodily descendant — the most immediate application of the שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר principle of v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
עֶרְוַ֤תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads the construct chain naming a granddaughter.
בַּתthe daughter ofN f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Genitive of the construct chain, first alternativeבַּת (H1323); construct with בִּנְךָ, defining a son's daughter.
בִּנְךָ֙your sonN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of the construct chainבֵּן (H1121); a granddaughter through a son.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176); joins the alternative line of descent.
בַֽתthe daughter ofN f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Genitive of the construct chain, second alternativeבַּת (H1323); construct with בִּתְּךָ, defining a daughter's daughter.
בִּתְּךָ֔your daughterN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · בַּת (H1323)Genitive of the construct chainבַּת (H1323); a granddaughter through a daughter.
לֹ֥אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֶּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֶּ֖הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540); governs עֶרְוָתָן.
עֶרְוָתָ֑ןtheir nakednessN f sg constr + 3fp sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of תְגַלֶּהעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 3fp suffix, resuming both alternatives.
כִּ֥יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the ground clauseכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; grounds the prohibition causally rather than by the identifying 'she is your X' formula used elsewhere.
עֶרְוָתְךָ֖your own nakednessN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Predicate nominativeעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 2ms suffix; the granddaughter's nakedness is reckoned as one's own, since she descends directly from the addressee's own body.
הֵֽנָּהthey (are)indep pron 3fp · הֵנָּה (H2007)Subject of the verbless causal clauseהֵנָּה (H2007), 3fp independent pronoun; plural because it refers back to both alternative granddaughters.
11
עֶרְוַ֨ת בַּת אֵ֤שֶׁת אָבִ֨יךָ֙ מוֹלֶ֣דֶת אָבִ֔יךָ אֲחוֹתְךָ֖ הִ֑וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ
The nakedness of the daughter of your father's wife, fathered by your father — she is your sister — you shall not uncover her nakedness.
This case makes explicit what v. 9's general half-sister rule implies: a daughter of the father's other wife, though not sharing your mother, still counts as 'your sister' and falls under the ban. The precision מוֹלֶדֶת אָבִיךָ, 'fathered by your father', forecloses any argument that a stepmother's daughter by the same father might be exempt.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
עֶרְוַ֨תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads the chain naming a half-sister born of the father's other wife.
בַּתthe daughter ofN f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Genitive of the construct chainבַּת (H1323); construct with אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ.
אֵ֤שֶׁתthe wife ofN f sg constr · אִשָּׁה (H802)Genitive of the construct chainאִשָּׁה (H802); a stepmother distinct from one's own mother, as in v. 8.
אָבִ֨יךָ֙your fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive of the construct chainאָב (H1).
מוֹלֶ֣דֶתborn ofN f sg constr · מוֹלֶדֶת (H4138)Appositional phrase specifying descentמוֹלֶדֶת (H4138); specifies she is fathered by אָבִיךָ — a paternal half-sister through the stepmother, distinguishing this from v. 9's sister-by-blood case.
אָבִ֔יךָyour fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive completing מוֹלֶדֶתאָב (H1); repeated to specify paternity.
אֲחוֹתְךָ֖your sisterN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָחוֹת (H269)Predicate nominativeאָחוֹת (H269); the identifying clause confirms she counts fully as 'your sister' though born of a stepmother.
הִ֑ואshe (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject of the verbless identification clauseהִיא (H1931).
לֹ֥אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֶּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֶּ֖הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540).
עֶרְוָתָֽהּher nakednessN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of תְגַלֶּהעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 3fs suffix.
12
עֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחוֹת אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה שְׁאֵ֥ר אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא
The nakedness of your father's sister you shall not uncover; she is your father's close relative.
The closing formula shifts from שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר language applied to the addressee (v. 6) to the aunt's relation to the FATHER (שְׁאֵר אָבִיךָ) — she is one flesh with him, and the prohibition protects the father's generation as a class, paralleling v. 13's maternal aunt.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads the chain naming a paternal aunt.
אֲחוֹתthe sister ofN f sg constr · אָחוֹת (H269)Genitive of the construct chainאָחוֹת (H269); construct with אָבִיךָ, defining the father's sister — a paternal aunt.
אָבִ֖יךָyour fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive of the construct chainאָב (H1).
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֵּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֵּ֑הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540).
שְׁאֵ֥רthe close relative ofN m sg constr · שְׁאֵר (H7607)Predicate nominativeשְׁאֵר (H7607); the closing formula returns to the heading term of v. 6, marking a paternal aunt as her brother's own flesh.
אָבִ֖יךָyour fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive of the construct chainאָב (H1); the aunt's tie to the father, not to the addressee directly, grounds the ban.
הִֽואshe (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject of the verbless identification clauseהִיא (H1931).
13
עֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחֽוֹת אִמְּךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה כִּֽי שְׁאֵ֥ר אִמְּךָ֖ הִֽוא
The nakedness of your mother's sister you shall not uncover, for she is your mother's close relative.
Pairs symmetrically with v. 12: paternal and maternal aunts receive identical treatment, both protected as שְׁאֵר of the parent rather than of the addressee directly — the prohibition shields the parents' own generation as blood relatives.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads the chain naming a maternal aunt.
אֲחֽוֹתthe sister ofN f sg constr · אָחוֹת (H269)Genitive of the construct chainאָחוֹת (H269); construct with אִמְּךָ, defining the mother's sister — a maternal aunt, paired with v. 12's paternal aunt.
אִמְּךָ֖your motherN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · אֵם (H517)Genitive of the construct chainאֵם (H517).
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֵּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֵּ֑הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540).
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the ground clauseכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'.
שְׁאֵ֥רthe close relative ofN m sg constr · שְׁאֵר (H7607)Predicate nominativeשְׁאֵר (H7607); parallels v. 12, now applied to the mother's own flesh.
אִמְּךָ֖your motherN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · אֵם (H517)Genitive of the construct chainאֵם (H517).
הִֽואshe (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject of the verbless causal clauseהִיא (H1931).
14
עֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחִֽי אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א תִקְרָ֔ב דֹּדָֽתְךָ֖ הִֽוא
The nakedness of your father's brother you shall not uncover; you shall not approach his wife — she is your aunt.
This case runs the same logic as v. 7 (a man's 'nakedness' is his wife's) but restates the prohibition with the heading verb תִקְרָב, 'approach' (from v. 6), rather than repeating גָּלָה, and names her by the specific title דֹּדָה, 'aunt', instead of a periphrasis.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads the chain naming a paternal uncle, parallel to vv. 7-8's father/mother pairing.
אֲחִֽיthe brother ofN m sg constr · אָח (H251)Genitive of the construct chainאָח (H251) 'brother'; construct with אָבִיךָ, defining a paternal uncle.
אָבִ֖יךָyour fatherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָב (H1)Genitive of the construct chainאָב (H1).
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֵּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֵּ֑הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540); as with the father's nakedness (v. 7), the uncle's 'nakedness' is his wife.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase governing אִשְׁתּוֹאֶל (H413), 'to, toward' — direction of the forbidden approach, echoing v. 6's תִקְרְבוּ.
אִשְׁתּוֹ֙his wifeN f sg constr + 3ms sfx · אִשָּׁה (H802)Object of the preposition אֶלאִשָּׁה (H802); the uncle's wife, an aunt by marriage — explicitly named rather than left implicit, unlike v. 7.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִקְרָבלֹא (H3808).
תִקְרָ֔בshall you approachQal impf 2ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause, restated)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibition, resumptive restatementקָרַב (H7126); repeats the heading verb of v. 6, making explicit that the ban targets the uncle's wife herself.
דֹּדָֽתְךָ֖your auntN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · דּוֹדָה (H1733)Predicate nominativeדּוֹדָה (H1733) 'aunt (by marriage)', from דּוֹד 'uncle, beloved'; names her explicitly by title, unlike the periphrastic treatment of vv. 12-13.
הִֽואshe (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject of the verbless identification clauseהִיא (H1931).
15
עֶרְוַ֥ת כַּלָּֽתְךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֵ֤שֶׁת בִּנְךָ֙ הִ֔וא לֹ֥א תְגַלֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתָֽהּ
The nakedness of your daughter-in-law you shall not uncover; she is your son's wife — you shall not uncover her nakedness.
The pattern of vv. 7-11 resumes: fronted object, prohibition, identification, resumptive restatement. A daughter-in-law's nakedness belongs to the son, structurally parallel to how a mother's or aunt's nakedness belongs to the father — sexual access is exclusively the husband's.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads the chain naming a daughter-in-law.
כַּלָּֽתְךָ֖your daughter-in-lawN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · כַּלָּה (H3618)Genitive of the construct chainכַּלָּה (H3618) 'daughter-in-law, bride'; the wife of a son.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֵּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֵּ֑הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540).
אֵ֤שֶׁתthe wife ofN f sg constr · אִשָּׁה (H802)Predicate nominative (head of construct chain)אִשָּׁה (H802); the identifying clause defines a כַּלָּה as a son's wife.
בִּנְךָ֙your sonN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of the construct chainבֵּן (H1121).
הִ֔ואshe (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject of the verbless identification clauseהִיא (H1931).
לֹ֥אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֶּהלֹא (H3808); introduces the resumptive restatement.
תְגַלֶּ֖הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause, restated)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibition, resumptive restatementגָּלָה (H1540).
עֶרְוָתָֽהּher nakednessN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of תְגַלֶּהעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 3fs suffix.
16
עֶרְוַ֥ת אֵֽשֶׁת אָחִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֖יךָ הִֽוא
The nakedness of your brother's wife you shall not uncover; it is your brother's nakedness.
Structurally identical to v. 8's father's-wife case. The ordinary prohibition here stands in tension with the levirate obligation of Deut 25:5-10, which requires a surviving brother to marry his deceased brother's childless widow — a genuine crux resolved differently across interpretive traditions (limiting Leviticus to a living brother, or treating levirate marriage as a narrow exception).
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads the chain naming a brother's wife (sister-in-law).
אֵֽשֶׁתthe wife ofN f sg constr · אִשָּׁה (H802)Genitive of the construct chainאִשָּׁה (H802).
אָחִ֖יךָyour brotherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָח (H251)Genitive of the construct chainאָח (H251); this ban is famously qualified elsewhere by the levirate exception (Deut 25:5-10) when a brother dies childless — a tension much discussed by interpreters.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֵּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֵּ֑הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540).
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Predicate nominativeעֶרְוָה (H6172); the closing formula treats the brother's wife as his own nakedness, as with the father in vv. 7-8.
אָחִ֖יךָyour brotherN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · אָח (H251)Genitive of the construct chainאָח (H251).
הִֽואit (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Predicate of the verbless identification clauseהִיא (H1931).
17
עֶרְוַ֥ת אִשָּׁ֛ה וּבִתָּ֖הּ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה אֶֽת בַּת בְּנָ֞הּ וְאֶת בַּת בִּתָּ֗הּ לֹ֤א תִקַּח֙ לְגַלּ֣וֹת עֶרְוָתָ֔הּ שַׁאֲרָ֥ה הֵ֖נָּה זִמָּ֥ה הִֽוא
The nakedness of a woman and her daughter you shall not uncover; you shall not take the daughter of her son or the daughter of her daughter to uncover her nakedness — they are her close relatives; it is depravity.
This case shifts from the standard formula to the marital verb לָקַח, 'take (a wife)', showing that lawful marriage itself is forbidden here, not merely intercourse. The prohibition covers a wife's daughter and both her granddaughters, closing with the chapter's strongest double condemnation: שְׁאֵרָה הֵנָּה, 'they are her kin', and זִמָּה הִוא, 'it is depravity' — the only explicit moral epithet attached to a specific kinship case before the summarizing תּוֹעֵבָה of v. 22 and תֶּבֶל of v. 23.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
עֶרְוַ֥תthe nakedness ofN f sg constr · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)עֶרְוָה (H6172); heads a compound case forbidding marriage to both a woman and her daughter or granddaughter.
אִשָּׁ֛הa womanN f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Genitive of the construct chainאִשָּׁה (H802); here indefinite, any woman one has married.
וּבִתָּ֖הּand her daughterconj וְ + N f sg constr + 3fs sfx · בַּת (H1323)Genitive of the construct chain (coordinate)בַּת (H1323); forbids marrying a wife's daughter (stepdaughter) in addition to the wife herself.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְגַלֵּהלֹא (H3808).
תְגַלֵּ֑הshall you uncoverPiel impf 2ms · גָּלָה (H1540)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionגָּלָה (H1540).
אֶֽת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (fronted definite object)
בַּתthe daughter ofN f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Direct object (fronted, first alternative)בַּת (H1323); extends the ban to a granddaughter of the wife through her son.
בְּנָ֞הּher sonN m sg constr + 3fs sfx · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of the construct chainבֵּן (H1121).
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (second alternative)וְ coordinates the second alternative; אֵת marks it as a further definite object.
בַּתthe daughter ofN f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Direct object (second alternative)בַּת (H1323); a granddaughter of the wife through her daughter.
בִּתָּ֗הּher daughterN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · בַּת (H1323)Genitive of the construct chainבַּת (H1323).
לֹ֤אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִקַּחלֹא (H3808).
תִקַּח֙shall you takeQal impf 2ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionלָקַח (H3947) 'to take'; the marital idiom 'take a wife' (cf. Gen 4:19) — even lawful marriage is forbidden here, not casual relations alone.
לְגַלּ֣וֹתto uncoverprep לְ + Piel inf constr · גָּלָה (H1540)Infinitival purpose clause→ Infinitive construct: purposeגָּלָה (H1540); states the forbidden purpose of such a marriage.
עֶרְוָתָ֔הּher nakednessN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of לְגַלּוֹתעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 3fs suffix, referring to the granddaughter just named.
שַׁאֲרָ֥הher close relativesN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · שְׁאֵרָה (H7608)Predicate nominativeשְׁאֵרָה (H7608), a variant of שְׁאֵר (H7607) 'kin, flesh'; the granddaughters are 'her (the wife's) close relatives' — blood kin of a woman one has already married.
הֵ֖נָּהthey (are)indep pron 3fp · הֵנָּה (H2007)Subject of the verbless clauseהֵנָּה (H2007); plural, referring to both granddaughters named.
זִמָּ֥הdepravityN f sg abs · זִמָּה (H2154)Predicate nominative (second verbless clause)זִמָּה (H2154) 'infamy, depraved plan, lewdness'; a strong term of moral condemnation (cf. Job 31:11) — one of the few evaluative labels attached to a specific case in this chapter.
הִֽואit (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject of the verbless clauseהִיא (H1931); closes the case with a double evaluative formula — 'her kin' and 'depravity'.
18
וְאִשָּׁ֥ה אֶל אֲחֹתָ֖הּ לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח לִצְרֹ֗ר לְגַלּ֧וֹת עֶרְוָתָ֛הּ עָלֶ֖יהָ בְּחַיֶּֽיהָ
And you shall not take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness, alongside her, during her life.
This case forbids simultaneous marriage to two sisters, framed by צָרַר, 'to be a rival [wife]' — the patriarchal precedent of Leah and Rachel (Gen 29:15-30) stands in evident tension with the rule. The qualifier בְּחַיֶּיהָ, 'during her life', is a genuine crux, taken by many interpreters to imply that marrying a deceased wife's sister is not forbidden.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְאִשָּׁ֥הand a womanconj וְ + N f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Direct object (fronted, casus pendens)אִשָּׁה (H802); introduces the case of marrying two sisters simultaneously (polygynous rivalry).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (in addition to)אֶל (H413), here 'in addition to, alongside' — 'a woman to [in addition to] her sister', i.e. as a rival wife.
אֲחֹתָ֖הּher sisterN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · אָחוֹת (H269)Object of the preposition אֶלאָחוֹת (H269); the existing wife, whose sister would become a rival.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִקָּחלֹא (H3808).
תִקָּ֑חshall you takeQal impf 2ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionלָקַח (H3947); again the marital verb, as in v. 17 — this forbids marrying two sisters as co-wives, a case distinct from v. 16's sister-in-law.
לִצְרֹ֗רto be a rivalprep לְ + Qal inf constr · צָרַר (H6887)Infinitival purpose/result clause→ Infinitive construct: purpose/resultצָרַר (H6887) 'to be hostile, rival, vex'; here the co-wife relationship of rivalry (cf. צָרָה 'rival wife', 1 Sam 1:6), the harm such a marriage would cause.
לְגַלּ֧וֹתto uncoverprep לְ + Piel inf constr · גָּלָה (H1540)Infinitival purpose clause (coordinate)→ Infinitive construct: purposeגָּלָה (H1540); the second, coordinate purpose infinitive.
עֶרְוָתָ֛הּher nakednessN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of לְגַלּוֹתעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 3fs suffix, referring to the sister.
עָלֶ֖יהָalongside herprep עַל + 3fs sfx · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (accompaniment, modifying the marriage)עַל (H5921), 'alongside, in addition to'; specifies that the sister would be taken while the first wife remains married to the same man.
בְּחַיֶּֽיהָduring her lifeprep בְּ + N m pl constr + 3fs sfx · חַיִּים (H2416)Temporal prepositional phraseחַיִּים (H2416) 'life'; this qualifier implies the ban applies while the first wife lives — later interpreters debated whether it permits marrying a deceased wife's sister.
19
וְאֶל אִשָּׁ֖ה בְּנִדַּ֣ת טֻמְאָתָ֑הּ לֹ֣א תִקְרַ֔ב לְגַלּ֖וֹת עֶרְוָתָֽהּ
And you shall not approach a woman in her menstrual impurity, to uncover her nakedness.
The chapter pivots from kinship-based cases (vv. 6-18) to prohibitions defined by purity status, another man's marriage, cultic misuse, and species — the same idiom לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָה binds this new set stylistically to what precedes. This rule presupposes and summarizes the fuller purity legislation of ch. 15.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (fronted, marks a new case)אֶל (H413); introduces a new topic, the menstruating woman, shifting from kinship-based cases to purity-based ones.
אִשָּׁ֖הa womanN f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Object of the preposition אֶלאִשָּׁה (H802); indefinite — any woman, without regard to kinship.
בְּנִדַּ֣תin the impurity ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · נִדָּה (H5079)Prepositional phrase (state), modifying אִשָּׁהנִדָּה (H5079) 'impurity, menstrual separation'; the technical term for the ritual uncleanness of menstruation (cf. ch. 15).
טֻמְאָתָ֑הּher uncleannessN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · טֻמְאָה (H2932)Genitive of the construct chainטֻמְאָה (H2932) 'uncleanness', from טָמֵא 'to be unclean'; paired with נִדָּה for emphasis on ritual impurity specifically.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִקְרַבלֹא (H3808).
תִקְרַ֔בshall you approachQal impf 2ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionקָרַב (H7126); repeats the heading verb of v. 6, now applied to a non-kinship case.
לְגַלּ֖וֹתto uncoverprep לְ + Piel inf constr · גָּלָה (H1540)Infinitival purpose clause→ Infinitive construct: purposeגָּלָה (H1540); the standard euphemism recurs even for this non-kin case, uniting it stylistically with vv. 6-18.
עֶרְוָתָֽהּher nakednessN f sg constr + 3fs sfx · עֶרְוָה (H6172)Direct object of לְגַלּוֹתעֶרְוָה (H6172) with 3fs suffix.
20
וְאֶל אֵ֨שֶׁת֙ עֲמִֽיתְךָ֔ לֹא תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖ לְזָ֑רַע לְטָמְאָה בָֽהּ
And you shall not have sexual relations with your neighbor's wife, to be defiled by it.
Unlike the euphemistic גִּלָּה עֶרְוָה formula, this case uses the blunt idiom נָתַן שְׁכָבְתְּךָ לְזָרַע, 'give your emission for seed' — perhaps chosen because עֶרְוָה language is reserved for the addressee's own household and kin; adultery with another man's wife is instead described as a defiling act against a fellow member of the covenant community (עֲמִית).
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (fronted, marks a new case)אֶל (H413); introduces the adultery prohibition.
אֵ֨שֶׁת֙the wife ofN f sg constr · אִשָּׁה (H802)Object of the preposition אֶל (head of construct chain)אִשָּׁה (H802); construct with עֲמִיתְךָ, another man's wife.
עֲמִֽיתְךָ֔your fellowN m sg constr + 2ms sfx · עָמִית (H5997)Genitive of the construct chainעָמִית (H5997) 'fellow, associate, kinsman'; a rare, formal term for a member of the covenant community (cf. 19:11, 15, 17), broadening the prohibition to covenantal solidarity.
לֹאnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִתֵּןלֹא (H3808).
תִתֵּ֥ןshall you giveQal impf 2ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; here idiomatic for sexual emission — a distinctive formula not used elsewhere in the chapter.
שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖your emissionN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · שְׁכֹבֶת (H7903)Direct object of תִתֵּןשְׁכָבְתְּךָ (H7903) 'lying, semen', from שָׁכַב 'to lie down'; the idiom נָתַן שְׁכָבְתּוֹ לְ- means 'have sexual intercourse with', a plain physiological expression rather than the chapter's usual euphemism.
לְזָ֑רַעfor seedprep לְ + N m sg abs · זֶרַע (H2233)Prepositional phrase (purpose/result)זֶרַע (H2233) 'seed, offspring'; 'to seed her', i.e. so as to impregnate — the concrete physical/genealogical stake of the prohibited union.
לְטָמְאָהto be defiledprep לְ + Qal inf constr · טָמֵא (H2930)Infinitival result clause→ Infinitive construct: resultטָמֵא (H2930) 'to be/become unclean'; the illicit union produces ritual defilement, a purity idiom echoed again in vv. 23-24.
בָֽהּby itprep בְּ + 3fs sfx · בְּPrepositional phrase completing לְטָמְאָהבְּ with 3fs suffix, referring back to the union just described.
21
וּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥ לֹא תִתֵּ֖ן לְהַעֲבִ֣יר לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֧א תְחַלֵּ֛ל אֶת שֵׁ֥ם אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה
And you shall not give any of your offspring to be passed over to Molech, and you shall not profane the name of your God. I am YHWH.
This verse's placement is a genuine interpretive crux: it interrupts the run of sexual prohibitions with a cultic offense, child-dedication to Molech. Proposed explanations include a shared concern for improperly disposed 'seed' (זֶרַע, echoing v. 20), an editorial seam, or thematic association with illicit unions that might produce children later so dedicated. The self-identification formula אֲנִי יְהוָה, echoing v. 6, may mark this as closing a sub-unit before the remaining prohibitions of vv. 22-23.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥and from your seedconj וְ + prep מִן + N m sg constr + 2ms sfx · זֶרַע (H2233)Partitive prepositional phrase (fronted object)זֶרַע (H2233) 'seed, offspring'; here one's own child, the object of Molech-dedication — מִן is partitive, 'some of your offspring'.
לֹאnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִתֵּןלֹא (H3808).
תִתֵּ֖ןshall you giveQal impf 2ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionנָתַן (H5414); governs the infinitive לְהַעֲבִיר, 'give [a child] over for passing [through fire]'.
לְהַעֲבִ֣ירto make pass overprep לְ + Hiphil inf constr · עָבַר (H5674)Infinitival purpose/result clause→ Infinitive construct: purposeעָבַר (H5674), Hiphil 'cause to pass over/through'; the technical verb for the Molech rite, generally understood as a fire ritual (cf. 20:2-5; 2 Kgs 23:10) — whether sacrificial immolation or a purificatory ordeal remains debated.
לַמֹּ֑לֶךְto Molechprep לְ + N proper · מֹלֶךְ (H4432)Prepositional phrase (recipient)מֹלֶךְ (H4432), a deity (or the technical name of the rite itself) associated with child-dedication/sacrifice, possibly vocalized on the pattern of בֹּשֶׁת 'shame' to mock the name; its precise nature — a Canaanite/Ammonite god, or an offering-technical term — remains contested.
וְלֹ֧אand notconj וְ + neg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תְחַלֵּללֹא (H3808); introduces a second, related prohibition.
תְחַלֵּ֛לshall you profanePiel impf 2ms · חָלַל (H2490)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionחָלַל (H2490), Piel 'to profane, defile, treat as common'; Molech-dedication is explicitly named as an act that profanes YHWH's own name — the placement of this prohibition amid the sexual laws is a noted crux, variously explained by a common concern for improper 'seed' or by loose thematic association.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
שֵׁ֥םthe name ofN m sg constr · שֵׁם (H8034)Direct object (head of construct chain)שֵׁם (H8034) 'name'; YHWH's name embodies his reputation and presence — child sacrifice to another god defames it.
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָyour GodN m pl constr + 2ms sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430).
אֲנִ֥יIindep pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the self-identification clauseאֲנִי (H589); the formula recurs here, the second of three occurrences bracketing the legal core (vv. 6, 21, 30).
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominativeיְהוָה (H3068).
22
וְאֶ֨ת זָכָ֔ר לֹ֥א תִשְׁכַּ֖ב מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֑ה תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה הִֽוא
And you shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
The idiom מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה, 'the lyings of a woman' (repeated at 20:13), frames the prohibited act by comparison to heterosexual intercourse rather than by an independent term. Its evaluation as תּוֹעֵבָה, 'abomination', places it in the same category as idolatrous practice elsewhere in the Torah (cf. Deut 7:25-26), and the exact scope of the prohibition — all male-male intercourse, or a culturally specific practice — remains debated.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְאֶ֨תand withconj וְ + prep · אֵת (H854)Prepositional phrase (fronted, marking the forbidden partner)אֵת (H854) 'with' (distinct from the object-marker אֵת H853, though spelled identically); introduces the male partner of the forbidden act.
זָכָ֔רa maleadj m sg abs (substantival) · זָכָר (H2145)Object of the preposition אֵתזָכָר (H2145) 'male'; used substantively, as in 27:3 and elsewhere for sex-classification.
לֹ֥אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִשְׁכַּבלֹא (H3808).
תִשְׁכַּ֖בshall you lieQal impf 2ms · שָׁכַב (H7901)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionשָׁכַב (H7901) 'to lie down'; the plain verb for sexual intercourse, here governing the idiom מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה.
מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣יthe lyings ofN m pl constr · מִשְׁכָּב (H4904)Adverbial accusative (manner), object of תִשְׁכַּבמִשְׁכָּב (H4904) 'bed, act of lying'; the plural construct idiom מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה, 'the lyings of a woman', denotes the female sexual role — repeated verbatim at 20:13.
אִשָּׁ֑הa womanN f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Genitive of the construct chainאִשָּׁה (H802); the idiom likens male-with-male intercourse to intercourse with a woman.
תּוֹעֵבָ֖הan abominationN f sg abs · תּוֹעֵבָה (H8441)Predicate nominativeתּוֹעֵבָה (H8441) 'abomination, detestable thing', from a root meaning 'to abhor'; a strong cultic-ethical category applied elsewhere to idolatry and other offenses (cf. Deut 7:25-26, 18:9-12) — the chapter's principal evaluative label besides v. 17's זִמָּה.
הִֽואit (is)indep pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject of the verbless clauseהִיא (H1931).
23
וּבְכָל בְּהֵמָ֛ה לֹא תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖ לְטָמְאָה בָ֑הּ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה לֹֽא תַעֲמֹ֞ד לִפְנֵ֧י בְהֵמָ֛ה לְרִבְעָ֖הּ תֶּ֥בֶל הֽוּא
And you shall not have sexual relations with any animal, to be defiled by it; and a woman shall not stand before an animal to mate with it — it is perversion.
Uniquely in the chapter, the second clause addresses a woman directly (וְאִשָּׁה... תַעֲמֹד), using the distinct verb עָמַד, 'stand', and the technical mating-verb רָבַע rather than the male-directed idioms used elsewhere. The closing label תֶּבֶל, 'confusion, perversion' (elsewhere only 20:12), frames bestiality as a violation of the created order's basic categories, closing the list of individual prohibitions before the summary warning of vv. 24-30.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וּבְכָלand with anyconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase (fronted, marks a new case)כֹּל (H3605); distributive, 'any animal whatsoever'.
בְּהֵמָ֛הanimalN f sg abs · בְּהֵמָה (H929)Genitive completing the constructבְּהֵמָה (H929) 'beast, animal'; the general term for a domestic quadruped, introducing the prohibition of bestiality.
לֹאnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִתֵּןלֹא (H3808).
תִתֵּ֥ןshall you giveQal impf 2ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionנָתַן (H5414); the same idiom as v. 20, now applied to bestiality.
שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖your emissionN f sg constr + 2ms sfx · שְׁכֹבֶת (H7903)Direct object of תִתֵּןשְׁכָבְתְּךָ (H7903); repeats the plain physiological idiom of v. 20.
לְטָמְאָהto be defiledprep לְ + Qal inf constr · טָמֵא (H2930)Infinitival result clause→ Infinitive construct: resultטָמֵא (H2930); as in v. 20, the union produces ritual defilement.
בָ֑הּby itprep בְּ + 3fs sfx · בְּPrepositional phrase completing לְטָמְאָהבְּ with 3fs suffix, referring to the animal.
וְאִשָּׁ֗הand a womanconj וְ + N f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Subject (fronted, new clause addressed to women)אִשָּׁה (H802); the law shifts to address a woman directly, the only such case in the chapter (the addressee elsewhere is consistently masculine).
לֹֽאnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תַעֲמֹדלֹא (H3808).
תַעֲמֹ֞דshall she standQal impf 3fs · עָמַד (H5975)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionעָמַד (H5975) 'to stand'; a distinct verb from the male-directed cases, describing the woman's posture before the animal in the act.
לִפְנֵ֧יbeforeprep לְ + N c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase governing בְהֵמָהפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי 'before, in front of', locating the woman in relation to the animal.
בְהֵמָ֛הan animalN f sg abs · בְּהֵמָה (H929)Object of the preposition לִפְנֵיבְּהֵמָה (H929).
לְרִבְעָ֖הּto mate with herprep לְ + Qal inf constr + 3fs sfx · רָבַע (H7250)Infinitival purpose clause (of the animal's action)→ Infinitive construct: purpose — the animal's copulation with herרָבַע (H7250) 'to copulate, mate' (used specifically of animal mating); the infinitive with 3fs suffix indicates the animal's action toward her — a rare technical verb marking this offense as a distinct category.
תֶּ֥בֶלa perversionN m sg abs · תֶּבֶל (H8397)Predicate nominativeתֶּבֶל (H8397) 'confusion, perversion', from בָּלַל 'to mix, confound'; occurs elsewhere only at 20:12 (of incest) — the term denotes a violation of the created order's proper categories.
הֽוּאit (is)indep pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the verbless clauseהוּא (H1931), masculine here (referring to the abstract act), unlike the feminine הִיא used elsewhere in the chapter.
24
אַל תִּֽטַּמְּא֖וּ בְּכָל אֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֤י בְכָל אֵ֨לֶּה֙ נִטְמְא֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִ֥י מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם
Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these the nations that I am driving out before you became defiled.
The shift to the jussive negative אַל (rather than the indicative לֹא used throughout vv. 6-23) marks a new rhetorical register — urgent, direct exhortation rather than case law. This verse pivots the chapter from prohibition to consequence: the nations' practice of these very acts is what defiled them, providing the theological rationale for their coming dispossession.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
אַלdo notneg particle (jussive) · אַל (H408)Negative particle negating תִּטַּמְּאוּאַל (H408), the negative used with jussive/volitional forms, distinct from indicative לֹא — marks this as an urgent, direct exhortation summing up the chapter.
תִּֽטַּמְּא֖וּdefile yourselvesHitpael jussive 2mp · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Jussive (negated): urgent volitional prohibitionטָמֵא (H2930), Hitpael (reflexive) 'defile oneself'; summarizes all the preceding acts under a single verb of self-defilement.
בְּכָלby any ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase (means), modifying תִּטַּמְּאוּכֹּל (H3605); totalizing, 'by any of these things'.
אֵ֑לֶּהthesedem pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Genitive completing the construct, referring back to vv. 6-23אֵלֶּה (H428), plural demonstrative summarizing the whole list of prohibited acts just given.
כִּ֤יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the ground clauseכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; grounds the prohibition in the fate of the previous inhabitants.
בְכָלby all ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase (means), modifying נִטְמְאוּכֹּל (H3605).
אֵ֨לֶּה֙thesedem pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Genitive completing the constructאֵלֶּה (H428); repeats the demonstrative for emphasis.
נִטְמְא֣וּbecame defiledNiphal perf 3cp · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (ground clause, main verb)→ Perfective (Niphal): a completed state of defilement, historical factטָמֵא (H2930), Niphal (passive/reflexive) 'became unclean'; the nations' own practice of these acts is what defiled them and, by extension, the land (cf. v. 25).
הַגּוֹיִ֔םthe nationsart + N m pl abs · גּוֹי (H1471)Subject of נִטְמְאוּגּוֹי (H1471) 'nation, people'; the former Canaanite inhabitants, generalized as 'the nations' whose practices are now being displaced.
אֲשֶׁרwhomrel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying הַגּוֹיִםאֲשֶׁר (H834).
אֲנִ֥יIindep pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the participial clauseאֲנִי (H589); subject of the participle מְשַׁלֵּחַ, God as the active agent of dispossession.
מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַam driving outPiel ptc m sg abs · שָׁלַח (H7971)Predicate participle (relative clause, present/imminent)→ Participial: imminent/ongoing — YHWH's present act of dispossessionשָׁלַח (H7971), Piel 'send away, drive out, expel'; the participle presents the conquest as already underway from the narrative's vantage point.
מִפְּנֵיכֶֽםfrom before youprep מִן + N c pl constr + 2mp sfx · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase (source/separation)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; מִפְּנֵי, 'from before, out of the presence of' — idiomatic for expulsion ahead of Israel's advance.
25
וַתִּטְמָ֣א הָאָ֔רֶץ וָאֶפְקֹ֥ד עֲוֺנָ֖הּ עָלֶ֑יהָ וַתָּקִ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ אֶת יֹשְׁבֶֽיהָ
And the land became defiled, and I visited its iniquity upon it, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
The wayyiqtol chain (וַתִּטְמָא... וָאֶפְקֹד... וַתָּקִא) narrates, almost as history, the fate that befell the Canaanites — a warning template for Israel's own future should it repeat their offenses (vv. 26-28). The verb קִיא, 'to vomit', personifies the land as a body that cannot tolerate the moral pollution accumulated within it.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וַתִּטְמָ֣אand became defiledconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3fs · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the consequence follows directlyטָמֵא (H2930), Qal 'to be/become unclean'; marks a shift from the exhortation of v. 24 to a narrative-style declaration of consequence — the land itself, not just its inhabitants, becomes defiled.
הָאָ֔רֶץthe landart + N f sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Subject of וַתִּטְמָאאֶרֶץ (H776); the land is personified as a moral agent capable of defilement and, in v. 25b, of vomiting out its inhabitants.
וָאֶפְקֹ֥דand I visitedconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 1cs · פָּקַד (H6485)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — YHWH's response to the land's defilementפָּקַד (H6485) 'to visit, attend to, punish'; here in its punitive sense, 'to reckon with, call to account'.
עֲוֺנָ֖הּits iniquityN c sg constr + 3fs sfx · עָוֺן (H5771)Direct object of וָאֶפְקֹדעָוֺן (H5771) 'iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity'; the land's guilt, incurred through its inhabitants' acts, becomes the object of YHWH's reckoning.
עָלֶ֑יהָupon itprep עַל + 3fs sfx · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase completing וָאֶפְקֹדעַל (H5921); the idiom פָּקַד עָוֺן עַל, 'to visit iniquity upon', marks the land as the recipient of judgment.
וַתָּקִ֥אand vomited outconj וַ + Hiphil wayyiqtol 3fs · קִיא (H6958)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the culminating consequenceקִיא (H6958), Hiphil 'to vomit out'; a vivid, visceral image — the land expels its defiling inhabitants as a body rejects what sickens it, echoed as a warning to Israel in v. 28.
הָאָ֖רֶץthe landart + N f sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Subject of וַתָּקִאאֶרֶץ (H776); resumed as subject for the climactic verb.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
יֹשְׁבֶֽיהָits inhabitantsQal ptc m pl constr + 3fs sfx · יָשַׁב (H3427)Direct object of וַתָּקִא→ Substantival participle: durative — those characteristically dwelling thereיָשַׁב (H3427), Qal participle 'those dwelling, inhabitants'; substantival, referring to the Canaanite population expelled by the land's own revulsion.
26
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם אַתֶּ֗ם אֶת חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י וְלֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ מִכֹּ֥ל הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑לֶּה הָֽאֶזְרָ֔ח וְהַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם
But you shall keep my statutes and my rules, and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native nor the sojourner who sojourns among you.
Emphatic אַתֶּם, 'you', contrasts Israel with the dispossessed nations of vv. 24-25: unlike them, Israel must keep the statutes. The law's scope is then explicitly universalized to include the גֵּר, the resident non-Israelite — moral accountability belongs to the land's whole population, not to ethnic Israelites alone.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣םand you shall keepconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (weqatal, main clause)→ Weqatal: consequent prescriptive — the positive obligation resumedשָׁמַר (H8104); resumes the charge of vv. 4-5 after the warning of vv. 24-25, now with emphatic אַתֶּם.
אַתֶּ֗םyouindep pron 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Emphatic resumptive subjectאַתֶּם (H859), independent pronoun; emphatic, contrasting Israel ('you') with the expelled nations just described.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (fronted definite object)
חֻקֹּתַי֙my statutesN f pl constr + 1cs sfx · חֻקָּה (H2708)Direct objectחֻקָּה (H2708); repeats the terminology of vv. 4-5.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object markerוְ coordinates the second object; אֵת marks מִשְׁפָּטַי.
מִשְׁפָּטַ֔יmy rulesN m pl constr + 1cs sfx · מִשְׁפָּט (H4941)Direct object (second, coordinate)מִשְׁפָּט (H4941).
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + neg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תַעֲשׂוּלֹא (H3808); adds a negative prohibition alongside the positive charge.
תַעֲשׂ֔וּshall you doQal impf 2mp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): durative prohibitionעָשָׂה (H6213).
מִכֹּ֥לfrom any ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase (partitive), modifying תַעֲשׂוּכֹּל (H3605); partitive, 'from among any of these abominations'.
הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֖תthe abominationsart + N f pl abs · תּוֹעֵבָה (H8441)Genitive completing the constructתּוֹעֵבָה (H8441); the plural now sums up the whole preceding list under the label first applied specifically at v. 22.
הָאֵ֑לֶּהtheseart + dem pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַתּוֹעֵבֹתאֵלֶּה (H428); points back to vv. 6-23.
הָֽאֶזְרָ֔חthe nativeart + N m sg abs · אֶזְרָח (H249)Subject (casus pendens)אֶזְרָח (H249) 'native, citizen', from a root meaning 'to rise, spring up'; the native-born Israelite, in contrast with the resident alien.
וְהַגֵּ֖רor the sojournerconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · גֵּר (H1616)Subject (coordinate)גֵּר (H1616) 'sojourner, resident alien'; the law binds non-Israelites living among Israel equally — the moral order of the land applies to all its residents, not merely its citizens.
הַגָּ֥רwho sojournsart + Qal ptc m sg abs · גּוּר (H1481)Attributive participle modifying הַגֵּר→ Participial: characterizing — ongoing residenceגּוּר (H1481) 'to sojourn, dwell as an alien'; the articular participle from the same root as גֵּר, an emphatic paronomasia.
בְּתוֹכְכֶֽםamong youprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 2mp sfx · תָּוֶךְ (H8432)Prepositional phrase completing הַגָּרתָּוֶךְ (H8432) 'midst'; locates the resident alien within the Israelite community itself.
27
כִּ֚י אֶת כָּל הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֣ת הָאֵ֔ל עָשׂ֥וּ אַנְשֵֽׁי הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וַתִּטְמָ֖א הָאָֽרֶץ
For the men of the land who were before you did all these abominations, and the land became defiled.
This verse restates and grounds vv. 24-25 as a historical fact, closing the causal argument: the previous inhabitants' practice of these very acts is what defiled the land and triggered their expulsion — the pattern Israel must not repeat.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
כִּ֚יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the ground clauseכִּי (H3588); grounds the whole preceding warning in historical precedent.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (fronted definite object)
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Quantifier in construct with הַתּוֹעֵבֹתכֹּל (H3605); totalizing, 'all these abominations, every one'.
הַתּוֹעֵבֹ֣תthe abominations ofart + N f pl constr · תּוֹעֵבָה (H8441)Direct objectתּוֹעֵבָה (H8441).
הָאֵ֔לtheseart + dem pron c pl · אֵל (H411)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַתּוֹעֵבֹתאֵל (H411), an older/poetic form of the plural demonstrative אֵלֶּה used elsewhere in this chapter; a variant spelling with no difference in meaning.
עָשׂ֥וּdidQal perf 3cp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (ground clause, main verb)→ Perfective: a completed, historical actעָשָׂה (H6213); the perfect looks back on the prior inhabitants' completed practice.
אַנְשֵֽׁיthe men ofN m pl constr · אִישׁ (H376)Subject of עָשׂוּ (head of construct chain)אִישׁ (H376); construct plural, 'the men/people of the land'.
הָאָ֖רֶץthe landart + N f sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Genitive of the construct chainאֶרֶץ (H776); the land's former inhabitants, referred to here as its 'men' rather than 'nations' (v. 24) or 'people' (v. 29).
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhorel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying אַנְשֵׁי הָאָרֶץאֲשֶׁר (H834).
לִפְנֵיכֶ֑םwere before youprep לְ + N c pl constr + 2mp sfx · פָּנִים (H6440)Predicate of the verbless relative clause (temporal/locative)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵיכֶם 'before you' — temporally prior, occupying the land ahead of Israel's arrival.
וַתִּטְמָ֖אand became defiledconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3fs · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the resulting consequenceטָמֵא (H2930); repeats v. 25's verb, closing the ring around the historical exemplum.
הָאָֽרֶץthe landart + N f sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Subject of וַתִּטְמָאאֶרֶץ (H776).
28
וְלֹֽא תָקִ֤יא הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם בְּטַֽמַּאֲכֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר קָאָ֛ה אֶת הַגּ֖וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִפְנֵיכֶֽם
So that the land will not vomit you out for defiling it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
This verse makes explicit what vv. 25-27 only illustrated by precedent: the same fate — the land's expulsion of its inhabitants — awaits Israel if it defiles the land as the prior nation did. The verb קִיא appears in both the Hiphil (Israel's potential future, תָקִיא) and the Qal (the nation's past, קָאָה), reinforcing the analogy grammatically.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְלֹֽאso that notconj וְ + neg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תָקִיאלֹא (H3808); continues the warning begun in v. 26, now stating the consequence for Israel if it defiles the land as the nations did.
תָקִ֤יאvomit outHiphil impf 3fs · קִיא (H6958)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (negated): prescriptive/warning — a future consequence to be avertedקִיא (H6958); repeats v. 25's verb as an explicit warning applied to Israel itself, not merely the prior nations.
הָאָ֨רֶץ֙the landart + N f sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Subject of תָקִיאאֶרֶץ (H776).
אֶתְכֶ֔םyouobj marker + 2mp sfx · אֵת (H853)Direct object of תָקִיאאֵת (H853) with suffix; Israel itself is now the potential object of the land's rejection, exactly as the Canaanites were.
בְּטַֽמַּאֲכֶ֖םwhen you defileprep בְּ + Piel inf constr + 2mp sfx · טָמֵא (H2930)Temporal/causal infinitival clause→ Infinitive construct: temporal/causal — the condition under which expulsion followsטָמֵא (H2930), Piel 'to defile'; the condition explicitly stated — if Israel defiles the land as the nations did, the same fate follows.
אֹתָ֑הּitobj marker + 3fs sfx · אֵת (H853)Direct object of בְּטַמַּאֲכֶםאֵת (H853) with 3fs suffix, referring to the land.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רjust asprep כְּ + rel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834) with כְּ, 'just as, in the same way that' — draws the explicit parallel to the fate of the prior nation.
קָאָ֛הit vomited outQal perf 3fs · קִיא (H6958)Predicate verb (comparative clause)→ Perfective: the completed, historical precedentקִיא (H6958), Qal (base stem, vs. the causative Hiphil of תָקִיא); the precedent event, stated as historical fact rather than warning.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הַגּ֖וֹיthe nationart + N m sg abs · גּוֹי (H1471)Direct object of קָאָהגּוֹי (H1471); singular here, generalizing the prior population as a single collective.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthat (was)rel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying הַגּוֹיאֲשֶׁר (H834).
לִפְנֵיכֶֽםbefore youprep לְ + N c pl constr + 2mp sfx · פָּנִים (H6440)Predicate of the verbless relative clauseפָּנִים (H6440); repeats the phrase of v. 27, closing the historical analogy.
29
כִּ֚י כָּל אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה מִכֹּ֥ל הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְנִכְרְת֛וּ הַנְּפָשׁ֥וֹת הָעֹשֹׂ֖ת מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם
For whoever does any of these abominations — the persons who do them shall be cut off from the midst of their people.
This closing sanction generalizes across every prohibition of the chapter (מִכֹּל הַתּוֹעֵבוֹת הָאֵלֶּה) rather than naming a specific case. The כָּרֵת formula is a genuine crux across the Torah — whether it denotes excommunication, divinely-inflicted premature death, or the extinction of the offender's lineage remains debated, and the formula's very indeterminacy may itself be part of its rhetorical force.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
כִּ֚יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the concluding clauseכִּי (H3588); introduces the chapter's final sanction clause.
כָּלeveryoneN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Subject in construct with the relative clause (casus pendens)כֹּל (H3605); distributive, 'anyone who...'.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhorel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying כָּלאֲשֶׁר (H834).
יַעֲשֶׂ֔הdoesQal impf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Yiqtol: generic/gnomic — any future instanceעָשָׂה (H6213).
מִכֹּ֥לany ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase (partitive), object of יַעֲשֶׂהכֹּל (H3605); partitive, 'any of these abominations'.
הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹתthe abominationsart + N f pl abs · תּוֹעֵבָה (H8441)Genitive completing the constructתּוֹעֵבָה (H8441); the final occurrence of the term, summarizing the whole chapter's prohibitions.
הָאֵ֑לֶּהtheseart + dem pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַתּוֹעֵבוֹתאֵלֶּה (H428).
וְנִכְרְת֛וּshall be cut offconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3cp · כָּרַת (H3772)Predicate verb (weqatal, main clause, passive)→ Weqatal (Niphal): consequent prescriptive passive — a binding penal sanctionכָּרַת (H3772), Niphal 'be cut off'; the כָּרֵת formula, the Torah's most severe non-capital sanction, whose precise referent (excommunication, premature death, extirpation of one's line) is debated across the tradition (cf. Lev 7:20-21, 25, 27).
הַנְּפָשׁ֥וֹתthe personsart + N c pl abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of וְנִכְרְתוּנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, person, self'; the plural picks up כָּל...אֲשֶׁר as its formal subject, referring to whoever commits any of the acts.
הָעֹשֹׂ֖תwho doart + Qal ptc f pl abs · עָשָׂה (H6213)Attributive participle modifying הַנְּפָשׁוֹת→ Participial: characterizing — those who commit the actעָשָׂה (H6213); feminine plural agreeing grammatically with נְפָשׁוֹת (a feminine noun), though referring to persons of either sex.
מִקֶּ֥רֶבfrom the midst ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · קֶרֶב (H7130)Prepositional phrase (source/separation), completing וְנִכְרְתוּקֶרֶב (H7130) 'midst, inward part'; מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּם, 'from the midst of their people' — the standard locution for the כָּרֵת penalty.
עַמָּֽםtheir peopleN m sg constr + 3mp sfx · עַם (H5971)Genitive of the construct chainעַם (H5971) 'people'; the offender is severed from the very community to which he belongs.
30
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֶת מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗י לְבִלְתִּ֨י עֲשׂ֜וֹת מֵחֻקּ֤וֹת הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשׂ֣וּ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִֽטַּמְּא֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם
And you shall keep my charge, not to practice any of the abominable statutes that were practiced before you, and you shall not defile yourselves by them. I am YHWH your God.
The final verse returns to the vocabulary and rhetoric of the opening frame (מִשְׁמֶרֶת echoes שְׁמַרְתֶּם of vv. 4-5, and the closing formula 'I am YHWH your God' matches v. 4 exactly), closing the chapter as an inclusio. The phrase חֻקּוֹת הַתּוֹעֵבֹת, 'abomination-statutes', pointedly recasts the nations' חֻקּוֹת of v. 3 in the moral language introduced across vv. 17-23, binding the chapter's paraenetic and legal halves into a single argument.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣םand you shall keepconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · שָׁמַר (H8104)Predicate verb (weqatal, main clause)→ Weqatal: consequent prescriptive — the final, summarizing chargeשָׁמַר (H8104); the chapter's closing exhortation, echoing vv. 4-5 and 26.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗יmy chargeN f sg constr + 1cs sfx · מִשְׁמֶרֶת (H4931)Direct objectמִשְׁמֶרֶת (H4931) 'charge, obligation, guard-duty', from שָׁמַר 'to keep, watch'; a broader term than חֻקָּה/מִשְׁפָּט, denoting the whole responsibility just laid out — a cognate pairing with וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם.
לְבִלְתִּ֨יso as notprep לְ + neg particle · בִּלְתִּי (H1115)Negative purpose particle governing עֲשׂוֹתבִּלְתִּי (H1115) 'not, except'; with לְ forms a negative purpose clause, 'in order not to do'.
עֲשׂ֜וֹתto doQal inf constr · עָשָׂה (H6213)Infinitival purpose clause (negative)→ Infinitive construct: negative purposeעָשָׂה (H6213).
מֵחֻקּ֤וֹתany of the statutes ofprep מִן + N f pl constr · חֻקָּה (H2708)Prepositional phrase (partitive), object of עֲשׂוֹתחֻקָּה (H2708); here ironically applied to the nations' 'statutes' — the same term used for YHWH's own חֻקִּים in vv. 4-5, sharpening the contrast between the two ways of life.
הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת֙the abominableart + N f pl abs · תּוֹעֵבָה (H8441)Genitive completing the construct (attributive)תּוֹעֵבָה (H8441); in appositional force, 'the abomination-statutes' — the statutes that constitute abominations.
אֲשֶׁ֣רthatrel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause modifying הַתּוֹעֵבֹתאֲשֶׁר (H834).
נַעֲשׂ֣וּwere doneNiphal perf 3cp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (relative clause, passive)→ Perfective (Niphal): a completed historical stateעָשָׂה (H6213), Niphal 'be done, be practiced'; the passive leaves the doer generalized, referring back to the prior inhabitants' practice.
לִפְנֵיכֶ֔םbefore youprep לְ + N c pl constr + 2mp sfx · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase (temporal/locative), completing נַעֲשׂוּפָּנִים (H6440); the fourth occurrence of this phrase in the chapter's closing section (vv. 24, 27, 28, 30).
וְלֹ֥אand notconj וְ + neg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle negating תִטַּמְּאוּלֹא (H3808).
תִֽטַּמְּא֖וּshall you defile yourselvesHitpael impf 2mp · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol (Hitpael, negated): durative prohibition — the chapter's final, general commandטָמֵא (H2930), Hitpael 'defile oneself'; echoes the jussive of v. 24 in the ordinary indicative, closing the chapter with the same root that opened its warning.
בָּהֶ֑םby themprep בְּ + 3mp sfx · בְּPrepositional phrase completing תִטַּמְּאוּבְּ with 3mp suffix, referring to the abomination-statutes just named.
אֲנִ֖יIindep pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the self-identification clauseאֲנִי (H589); the third and final occurrence of this formula (vv. 6, 21, 30), closing the chapter exactly as it framed the paraenetic introduction (vv. 2, 4).
יְהוָ֥הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominativeיְהוָה (H3068).
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽםyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp sfx · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Predicate nominative (second element, in apposition)אֱלֹהִים (H430); the full formula, matching v. 4, brings the chapter full circle.