וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י לִֽשְׁכֹ֨ות הַצָּפֹ֜ון לִֽשְׁכֹ֣ות הַדָּרֹום֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַגִּזְרָה֒ הֵ֣נָּה לִֽשְׁכֹ֣ות הַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֹאכְלוּ־שָׁ֧ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־קְרֹובִ֥ים לַֽיהוָ֖ה קָדְשֵׁ֣י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים שָׁ֞ם יַנִּ֣יחוּ קָדְשֵׁ֣י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים וְהַמִּנְחָה֙ וְהַחַטָּ֣את וְהָאָשָׁ֔ם כִּ֥י הַמָּקֹ֖ום קָדֹֽשׁ׃
And he said to me, “The chambers of the north and the chambers of the south which are before the separate place, they are the holy chambers where the priests who draw near to YHWH shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall place the most holy offerings, and the grain offering, and the sin offering, and the guilt offering, for the place is holy.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces divine or angelic speech to the prophet.
- אֵלַי (ʾelai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Indicates direct address to the prophet Yeḥezqel (Ezekiel).
- לִשְׁכֹות (li-shekhoth) – Root: לשׁכה (lishkah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “the chambers”; Notes: Refers to rooms or compartments within the temple complex.
- הַצָּפֹון (ha-tsafon) – Root: צפון (tsafon); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the north”; Notes: Designates the northern chambers of the sanctuary.
- לִשְׁכֹות (li-shekhoth) – Root: לשׁכה (lishkah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “the chambers”; Notes: Parallel structure referring now to the southern set of chambers.
- הַדָּרֹום (ha-darom) – Root: דרום (darom); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the south”; Notes: Specifies the southern chambers within the temple layout.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces the clause explaining their orientation.
- אֶל־פְּנֵי (ʾel-penei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition אֶל + construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “before” or “facing”; Notes: Expresses spatial direction — facing the separate place.
- הַגִּזְרָה (ha-gizrah) – Root: גזר (gazar); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the separate place”; Notes: A section of the temple area reserved for sacred purposes.
- הֵנָּה (henah) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative pronoun feminine plural; Translation: “these”; Notes: Refers to both sets of chambers mentioned (north and south).
- לִשְׁכֹות (li-shekhoth) – Root: לשׁכה (lishkah); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “chambers of”; Notes: Specifies their purpose or function as sacred rooms.
- הַקֹּדֶשׁ (ha-qodesh) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “holiness” or “holy”; Notes: Denotes sanctity; these chambers are holy areas.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “where”; Notes: Introduces a relative clause explaining the chambers’ purpose.
- יֹאכְלוּ־שָׁם (yokhelu-sham) – Root: אכל (ʾakhal); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural + adverb; Translation: “they shall eat there”; Notes: Refers to priests consuming portions of holy offerings.
- הַכֹּהֲנִים (ha-kohanim) – Root: כהן (kohen); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the priests”; Notes: The Levitical priests who minister before YHWH.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces the defining clause about the priests’ role.
- קְרֹובִים (qerovim) – Root: קרב (qarav); Form: Qal participle masculine plural; Translation: “draw near”; Notes: Describes those who approach YHWH for priestly service.
- לַיהוָה (la-YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Preposition לְ + divine name; Translation: “to YHWH”; Notes: Indicates the priests’ direct ministry before the LORD.
- קָדְשֵׁי (qodshei) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “the holy things of”; Notes: Refers to the sacred portions of offerings consecrated to YHWH.
- הַקֳּדָשִׁים (ha-qodashim) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the most holy things”; Notes: Designates offerings of the highest sanctity.
- שָׁם (sham) – Root: —; Form: Adverb of place; Translation: “there”; Notes: Marks the location where the priests will perform sacred acts.
- יַנִּיחוּ (yanniḥu) – Root: נוח (nu’aḥ); Form: Hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall place”; Notes: Indicates setting or depositing sacred items for storage or ritual use.
- קָדְשֵׁי (qodshei) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “the holy things of”; Notes: Refers again to the sacred offerings.
- הַקֳּדָשִׁים (ha-qodashim) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the most holy things”; Notes: Used here in apposition to clarify what is stored.
- וְהַמִּנְחָה (ve-ha-minḥah) – Root: מנח (manach); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the grain offering”; Notes: One of the principal offerings brought before YHWH, often of flour and oil.
- וְהַחַטָּאת (ve-ha-ḥattat) – Root: חטא (ḥataʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the sin offering”; Notes: Designates an offering for atonement of sin.
- וְהָאָשָׁם (ve-ha-ʾasham) – Root: אשם (ʾasham); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the guilt offering”; Notes: Refers to offerings for guilt or trespass, distinct from sin offerings.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: כי (ki); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Provides the reason why these offerings are stored there.
- הַמָּקֹום (ha-maqom) – Root: קום (qum); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the place”; Notes: Refers to the sacred space designated for priestly use.
- קָדֹשׁ (qadosh) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “holy”; Notes: Concludes with a statement of sanctity—this place is set apart for divine purposes.