עֹמֵ֞ד עַל־שְׁנֵ֧י עָשָׂ֣ר בָּקָ֗ר שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה פֹנִ֣ים צָפֹ֡ונָה וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֩ פֹנִ֨ים יָ֜מָּה וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה פֹּנִ֣ים נֶ֗גְבָּה וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ פֹּנִ֣ים מִזְרָ֔חָה וְהַיָּ֥ם עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְכָל־אֲחֹֽרֵיהֶ֖ם בָּֽיְתָה׃
It stood on twelve oxen: three facing north, and three facing west, and three facing south, and three facing east; and the Sea was upon them above, and all their hindquarters were inward.
Morphology
- עֹמֵ֞ד (ʿomed) – Root: עמד (ʿamad); Form: Qal participle, masculine singular; Translation: “standing”; Notes: Describes the position of the Sea.
- עַל־שְׁנֵ֧י (ʿal-shenei) – Root: שנים (shnayim); Form: Preposition + construct dual form; Translation: “upon twelve”; Notes: Construct form indicating a numerical relationship.
- עָשָׂ֣ר (ʿasar) – Root: עשר (ʿeser); Form: Numeral, masculine singular (in construct); Translation: “ten”; Notes: With the previous word, forms “twelve.”
- בָּקָ֗ר (baqar) – Root: בקר (baqar); Form: Noun, masculine plural; Translation: “oxen”; Notes: Twelve oxen supporting the Sea.
- שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (sheloshah) – Root: שלש (shalosh); Form: Numeral, masculine; Translation: “three”; Notes: Begins a list of orientation groups.
- פֹנִ֣ים (ponim) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Qal participle, masculine plural; Translation: “facing”; Notes: Describes the direction of the oxen.
- צָפֹ֡ונָה (tsafonah) – Root: צפון (tsafon); Form: Directional adverb; Translation: “northward”; Notes: First direction group.
- וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֩ (usheloshah) – Root: שלש (shalosh); Form: Conjunction + numeral; Translation: “and three”; Notes: Continues directional listing.
- פֹנִ֨ים (ponim) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Qal participle, masculine plural; Translation: “facing”; Notes: Repeated for emphasis.
- יָ֜מָּה (yamah) – Root: ים (yam); Form: Directional adverb; Translation: “westward”; Notes: Toward the sea (west).
- וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (usheloshah) – Root: שלש (shalosh); Form: Conjunction + numeral; Translation: “and three”; Notes: Third group.
- פֹּנִ֣ים (ponim) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Qal participle, masculine plural; Translation: “facing”; Notes: Continuing pattern.
- נֶ֗גְבָּה (negbah) – Root: נגב (negev); Form: Directional adverb; Translation: “southward”; Notes: Southern direction.
- וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (usheloshah) – Root: שלש (shalosh); Form: Conjunction + numeral; Translation: “and three”; Notes: Final directional group.
- פֹּנִ֣ים (ponim) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Qal participle, masculine plural; Translation: “facing”; Notes: Final occurrence in the series.
- מִזְרָ֔חָה (mizrakhah) – Root: מזרח (mizraḥ); Form: Directional adverb; Translation: “eastward”; Notes: Eastern direction.
- וְהַיָּ֥ם (vehayyam) – Root: ים (yam); Form: Conjunction + definite noun, masculine singular; Translation: “and the Sea”; Notes: Refers to the large basin atop the oxen.
- עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (ʿaleihem) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition + 3mp suffix; Translation: “upon them”; Notes: The Sea rests on the oxen.
- מִלְמָ֑עְלָה (milmaʿlah) – Root: למעלה (lemaʿlah); Form: Preposition + directional noun; Translation: “from above”; Notes: Emphasizes position above the oxen.
- וְכָל־אֲחֹֽרֵיהֶ֖ם (vechol-aḥoreihem) – Root: אחור (aḥor); Form: Conjunction + noun + 3mp suffix; Translation: “and all their hindquarters”; Notes: Indicates how they are arranged in relation to the Sea.
- בָּֽיְתָה (baytah) – Root: בית (bayit); Form: Directional adverb; Translation: “inward”; Notes: Their backs faced inward, toward the center under the Sea.