Tag Archives: Leviticus 5:23

וְהָיָה֮ כִּֽי־יֶחֱטָ֣א וְאָשֵׁם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֨יב אֶת־הַגְּזֵלָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּזָ֗ל אֹ֤ו אֶת־הָעֹ֨שֶׁק֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׁ֔ק אֹ֚ו אֶת־הַפִּקָּדֹ֔ון אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָפְקַ֖ד אִתֹּ֑ו אֹ֥ו אֶת־הָאֲבֵדָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָצָֽא׃ (Leviticus 5:23) Legal Syntax, Moral Structure Leviticus 5:23 (Eng. 6:4) operates at the intersection of confession and reparation. Its syntax reveals a legal formula designed to enumerate the possibilities of theft or dishonesty while directing the offender to restitution. The verse’s layered clause structure and repetitive patterns convey both comprehensive legal coverage and didactic emphasis. Syntax here serves jurisprudence. Clause Structure: Conditional Framework with Coordinated Restitution The verse begins with a conditional introductory formula: – וְהָיָה כִּי־יֶחֱטָא וְאָשֵׁם (“And it shall be when he sins and becomes guilty”) This is a type of conditional clause using כִּי + yiqtol (יִחֱטָא), followed by a vav-conjoined perfect וְאָשֵׁם (“and he bears guilt”)—a slightly unusual yet common legal idiom in priestly texts.… Learn Hebrew