וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים בָּאַמָּ֖ה הָיָ֣ה הַבָּ֑יִת ה֖וּא הַהֵיכָ֥ל לִפְנָֽי׃
And forty cubits was the house—that is, the Hekhal—before it.
Morphology
- וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים (veʾarbaʿim) – Root: ארבע (ʾarbaʿ); Form: Conjunction + numeral, masculine plural; Translation: “And forty”; Notes: Indicates a measurement in cubits.
- בָּאַמָּ֖ה (baʾammah) – Root: אמה (ʾammah); Form: Preposition + definite noun, feminine singular; Translation: “cubits”; Notes: Measurement unit used for length.
- הָיָ֣ה (hayah) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “was”; Notes: Main verb indicating state or existence.
- הַבָּ֑יִת (habbayit) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the house”; Notes: Refers here to the main room or nave of the Temple.
- ה֖וּא (hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Independent pronoun, masculine singular; Translation: “it is” or “that is”; Notes: Equative use identifying the subject.
- הַהֵיכָ֥ל (haheikhal) – Root: היכל (heikhal); Form: Definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “the Hekhal”; Notes: Refers to the sanctuary or main hall of the Temple.
- לִפְנָֽי (lifnai) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition + plural noun with directional sense + 1cs suffix; Translation: “before it” or “in front”; Notes: Refers to position of the Hekhal in front of the Devir (Holy of Holies).