King James Bible
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
This formulaic phrase introduces divine legislation throughout the Torah, establishing Moses as the authoritative mediator between God and Israel. The Hebrew name YHWH (LORD) emphasizes the covenant relationship, while the act of speaking underscores the personal, communicative nature of Israel's God. This participial form signals that specific instructions will follow, creating expectation for divine commands. In the literary structure of Leviticus, this brief transition marks the beginning of a new section of ritual law, in this case concerning purification after childbirth.