וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה לִפְנֵי֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח יְהוָ֔ה נֶ֖גֶד כָּל־קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּפְרֹ֥שׂ כַּפָּ֖יו הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
And Shelomo stood before the altar of YHWH in the presence of all the assembly of Yisraʾel, and he spread out his palms toward the heavens.
Morphology
- וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד (vayyaʿamod) – Root: עמד; Form: Wayyiqtol (narrative past) Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he stood”; Notes: Marks action of positioning oneself, here for prayer or proclamation.
- שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה (Shelomoh) – Root: שלמה; Form: Proper noun, masculine singular; Translation: “Shelomoh”; Notes: Subject of the verb; the king of Yisraʾel.
- לִפְנֵי֙ (lifnei) – Root: פנים; Form: Preposition + construct masculine plural noun; Translation: “before / in front of”; Notes: Indicates physical orientation or reverent stance.
- מִזְבַּ֣ח (mizbeaḥ) – Root: זבח; Form: Masculine singular noun; Translation: “altar”; Notes: Refers to the altar in the Temple court.
- יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Indicates to whom the altar belongs.
- נֶ֖גֶד (neged) – Root: נגד; Form: Preposition; Translation: “in the presence of / opposite”; Notes: Indicates spatial relation with audience.
- כָּל־קְהַ֣ל (kol-qehal) – Root: קהל; Form: Noun “all” + construct masculine singular noun; Translation: “all the assembly of”; Notes: Refers to the congregation gathered in Jerusalem.
- יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: The national collective present at the dedication.
- וַיִּפְרֹ֥שׂ (vayyifros) – Root: פרשׂ; Form: Wayyiqtol (narrative past) Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he spread out”; Notes: A gesture of prayer or supplication.
- כַפָּ֖יו (kappav) – Root: כף; Form: Dual noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “his palms / hands”; Notes: The extended hands signify a prayerful stance.
- הַשָּׁמָֽיִם (ha-shamayim) – Root: שׁמים; Form: Definite article + masculine plural noun; Translation: “the heavens”; Notes: Direction of the gesture, indicating appeal to YHWH above.