וַיִּבְנ֨וּ גַם־הֵ֧מָּה לָהֶ֛ם בָּמֹ֥ות וּמַצֵּבֹ֖ות וַאֲשֵׁרִ֑ים עַ֚ל כָּל־גִּבְעָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה וְתַ֖חַת כָּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃
And they also built for themselves high places and standing stones and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree.
Morphology
- וַיִּבְנ֨וּ (va-yivnū) – Root: בנה; Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they built”; Notes: Refers to the people of Yehudah engaging in idolatrous construction.
- גַם־הֵ֧מָּה (gam-hēmmāh) – Root: גם, הם; Form: Adverb + independent pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “also they”; Notes: Emphatic expression, showing their imitation of others.
- לָהֶ֛ם (lahem) – Root: ל; Form: Preposition with 3mp suffix; Translation: “for themselves”; Notes: Indicates the self-serving nature of their actions.
- בָּמֹ֥ות (bāmōt) – Root: במה; Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “high places”; Notes: Sites of unauthorized worship, often idolatrous.
- וּמַצֵּבֹ֖ות (u-matstsevōt) – Root: מצבה; Form: Conjunction + noun feminine plural; Translation: “and standing stones”; Notes: Cultic pillars often condemned in Torah.
- וַאֲשֵׁרִ֑ים (va-ʾăshērīm) – Root: אשרה; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and Asherim”; Notes: Sacred poles or trees associated with the goddess Asherah.
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: על; Form: Preposition; Translation: “on”; Notes: Indicates location.
- כָּל־גִּבְעָ֣ה (kol-givʿāh) – Root: גבע; Form: Construct noun + noun feminine singular; Translation: “every hill”; Notes: Refers to common idolatrous worship sites.
- גְבֹהָ֔ה (gəvōhāh) – Root: גבוה; Form: Adjective feminine singular; Translation: “high”; Notes: Describes the elevation of the hills.
- וְתַ֖חַת (ve-taḥat) – Root: תחת; Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “and under”; Notes: Used here to describe alternate worship locations.
- כָּל־עֵ֥ץ (kol-ʿēts) – Root: עץ; Form: Construct noun + noun masculine singular; Translation: “every tree”; Notes: Refers to locations often used in pagan worship.
- רַעֲנָֽן (raʿănān) – Root: רען; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “green”; Notes: Symbol of vitality; used for idol sites under shady trees.