וַיְהִ֛י הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לְחַטָּ֑את וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֶחָ֖ד עַד־דָּֽן׃
And this thing became a sin, and the people went before the one as far as Dan.
Morphology
- וַיְהִ֛י (va-yehi) – Root: היה (h.y.h); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it came to be”; Notes: Introduces a consequential result.
- הַדָּבָ֥ר (ha-davar) – Root: דבר (d.b.r); Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the thing”; Notes: Refers to the establishment of the golden calves.
- הַזֶּ֖ה (ha-zeh) – Root: זה (z.h); Form: Demonstrative adjective; Translation: “this”; Notes: Modifies “the thing.”
- לְחַטָּ֑את (le-ḥattaʾt) – Root: חטא (ḥ.ṭ.ʾ); Form: Preposition + noun, feminine singular; Translation: “for a sin”; Notes: Indicates the action led to national transgression.
- וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (va-yeleḵu) – Root: הלך (h.l.k); Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they went”; Notes: Narrative continuation of public response.
- הָעָ֛ם (ha-ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿ.m); Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the people”; Notes: Refers to the northern kingdom of Yisraʾel.
- לִפְנֵ֥י (lifnei) – Root: פן (p.n); Form: Preposition + construct form; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates position of reverence or worship.
- הָאֶחָ֖ד (ha-eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾ.ḥ.d); Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the one”; Notes: Refers to one of the two calves, likely the one in Dan.
- עַד־דָּֽן (ʿad-Dan) – Root: עד (ʿ.d); Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “as far as Dan”; Notes: Indicates the northernmost pilgrimage destination.