אור החיים — וספרתם לכם ממחרת השבת

Q — Why does the Torah specify 'וספרתם לכם' — count 'for yourselves' — regarding the Omer count toward Shavuot?

A — Or HaChaim brings the Zohar's striking comparison of Sefirat HaOmer to a zavah's count of seven clean days. In Egypt, Israel was 'in another domain,' steeped in spiritual impurity — like a woman in her days of impurity. Through circumcision (brit milah) they entered the holy realm and the impurity ceased — as a woman's flow stops. Just as Scripture says of her 'she shall count for herself seven days' (וספרה לה), so here 'וספרתם לכם' — count for your own selves — to purify in the supernal holy waters and then come to unite with the King and receive His Torah. The Omer count is Israel's purification leading from the Exodus to receiving the Torah at Sinai.