וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ מִדָּמֹ֗ו וְנָ֨תַתָּ֜ה עַל־אַרְבַּ֤ע קַרְנֹתָיו֙ וְאֶל־אַרְבַּע֙ פִּנֹּ֣ות הָעֲזָרָ֔ה וְאֶֽל־הַגְּב֖וּל סָבִ֑יב וְחִטֵּאתָ֥ אֹותֹ֖ו וְכִפַּרְתָּֽהוּ׃
And you shall take from its blood and put it upon its four horns, and upon the four corners of the ledge, and upon the border around it; and you shall cleanse it and make atonement for it.
Morphology
- וְלָקַחְתָּ (ve-laqaḥta) – Root: לקח (laqach); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with prefixed conjunction וְ; Translation: “And you shall take”; Notes: Instructional verb directed to the officiating priest, initiating the purification ritual.
- מִדָּמֹו (mi-damo) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “from its blood”; Notes: Refers to the sacrificial animal’s blood used for ritual purification of the altar.
- וְנָתַתָּ (ve-natatta) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with prefixed conjunction וְ; Translation: “and you shall put”; Notes: Indicates deliberate ritual placement of blood on specified altar parts.
- עַל־אַרְבַּע (ʿal-arbaʿ) – Root: ארבע (arbaʿ); Form: Preposition עַל + numeral feminine singular; Translation: “upon four”; Notes: Marks the four designated points of blood application — the altar’s horns.
- קַרְנֹתָיו (qarnotav) – Root: קרן (qeren); Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “its horns”; Notes: The four horn-like projections at the altar’s corners symbolizing power and consecration.
- וְאֶל־אַרְבַּע (ve-el-arbaʿ) – Root: ארבע (arbaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition אֶל + numeral feminine singular; Translation: “and upon four”; Notes: Parallel action emphasizing the symmetry of ritual sprinkling at four additional points.
- פִּנֹּות (pinnot) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “corners”; Notes: Refers to the corners of the altar ledge (הָעֲזָרָה), where blood was applied as part of purification.
- הָעֲזָרָה (ha-ʿazara) – Root: עזר (ʿazar); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the ledge” or “the court”; Notes: Likely the altar platform surrounding the main hearth — an architectural element receiving ritual application of blood.
- וְאֶל־הַגְּבוּל (ve-el-ha-gevul) – Root: גבול (gevul); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition אֶל + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “and upon the border”; Notes: The altar’s outer boundary or rim, marking its sanctified perimeter.
- סָבִיב (saviv) – Root: סביב (saviv); Form: Adverb; Translation: “around”; Notes: Indicates complete circular application of blood, ensuring total ritual purification.
- וְחִטֵּאתָ (ve-ḥitteʾta) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Piel perfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and you shall cleanse (as a sin offering)”; Notes: The Piel form here carries a causative sense — to purify or decontaminate the altar from sin and defilement.
- אֹותֹו (oto) – Root: —; Form: Direct object pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “it”; Notes: Refers to the altar itself — the object being ritually cleansed.
- וְכִפַּרְתָּהוּ (ve-kippartahu) – Root: כפר (kapar); Form: Piel perfect 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and you shall make atonement for it”; Notes: Ritual term denoting reconciliation and sanctification — restoring the altar to divine acceptance through blood application.