וַיַּצִּ֧בוּ לָהֶ֛ם מַצֵּבֹ֖ות וַאֲשֵׁרִ֑ים עַ֚ל כָּל־גִּבְעָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה וְתַ֖חַת כָּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃
And they set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree.
Morphology
- וַיַּצִּבוּ (va-yatsivu) – Root: נצב (natsav); Form: Hifil wayyiqtol 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they set up”; Notes: Causative form—caused to stand or erect.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: ל (le); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “for themselves”; Notes: Indicates personal religious initiative.
- מַצֵּבֹות (matsevot) – Root: נצב (natsav); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “pillars”; Notes: Stone standing-stones often associated with pagan worship.
- וַאֲשֵׁרִים (va-Asherim) – Root: אשרה (Asherah); Form: Noun masculine/feminine plural (proper or cultic); Translation: “and Asherim”; Notes: Sacred wooden poles or trees associated with the goddess Asherah.
- עַל כָּל־גִּבְעָה (ʿal kol-givʿah) – Root: גבע (givʿah); Form: Preposition + construct phrase; Translation: “on every hill”; Notes: Typical location for pagan worship sites.
- גְּבֹהָה (gevohah) – Root: גבֹה (gavoh); Form: Adjective feminine singular; Translation: “high”; Notes: Modifies “hill,” emphasizing elevation.
- וְתַחַת (ve-taḥat) – Root: תחת (taḥat); Form: Conjunction + preposition; Translation: “and under”; Notes: Parallel structure with previous phrase.
- כָּל־עֵץ (kol-ʿets) – Root: עץ (ʿets); Form: Construct phrase; Translation: “every tree”; Notes: Common expression for cultic worship sites.
- רַעֲנָן (raʿanan) – Root: רענן (raʿanan); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “green” or “lush”; Notes: Suggests attractiveness or fertility theme in idol worship.