וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה אֵ֚לֶּה חֻקֹּ֣ות הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ בְּיֹ֖ום הֵעָֽשֹׂותֹ֑ו לְהַעֲלֹ֤ות עָלָיו֙ עֹולָ֔ה וְלִזְרֹ֥ק עָלָ֖יו דָּֽם׃
And He said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘These are the statutes of the altar on the day when it is made, to offer burnt offerings upon it, and to sprinkle blood upon it.
Morphology
- וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And He said”; Notes: Typical narrative form introducing divine speech in prophetic literature.
- אֵלַי (ʾelai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Marks the recipient of the divine communication — the prophet Ezekiel.
- בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-ʾadam) – Root: אדם (ʾadam); Form: Construct noun masculine singular + noun masculine singular; Translation: “son of man”; Notes: Common divine address to Ezekiel, underscoring his human nature in contrast to divine majesty.
- כֹּה (koh) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative adverb; Translation: “thus”; Notes: Introduces the exact wording of YHWH’s message — formal prophetic formula.
- אָמַר (ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has said”; Notes: Part of the prophetic declaration formula, confirming divine authority.
- אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (Adonai YHWH) – Root: אדן (ʾadon) / היה (hayah); Form: Proper title combining noun אֲדֹנָי (“Lord”) + proper name יְהוִה (“YHWH”); Translation: “the Lord YHWH”; Notes: Emphasizes divine sovereignty and covenantal authority.
- אֵלֶּה (elleh) – Root: —; Form: Demonstrative plural; Translation: “these”; Notes: Points forward to the list of altar regulations to be given.
- חֻקֹּות (ḥuqqot) – Root: חקק (ḥaqaq); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “statutes” or “ordinances”; Notes: Refers to fixed ceremonial rules regarding altar use.
- הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (ha-mizbeaḥ) – Root: זבח (zavach); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the altar”; Notes: The altar of burnt offerings described in Ezekiel’s temple vision.
- בְּיֹום (be-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “on the day”; Notes: Temporal expression marking when the altar is to be consecrated or put into use.
- הֵעָשֹׂותֹו (heʿasoto) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Nifal infinitive construct + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “when it is made”; Notes: Passive verbal form referring to the completion of altar construction.
- לְהַעֲלֹות (le-haʿalot) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Preposition לְ + Hiphil infinitive construct; Translation: “to offer up”; Notes: Denotes the act of offering a sacrifice — specifically “to cause to ascend,” implying burnt offerings rising in smoke.
- עָלָיו (ʿalav) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “upon it”; Notes: Indicates the altar as the place of sacrifice.
- עֹולָה (ʿolah) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “burnt offering”; Notes: Whole offering consumed by fire, symbolizing complete consecration to YHWH.
- וְלִזְרֹק (ve-lizroq) – Root: זרק (zaraq); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition לְ + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “and to sprinkle”; Notes: Ritual act of sprinkling blood on or around the altar during consecration.
- עָלָיו (ʿalav) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “upon it”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes the altar as the central locus of both offering and purification rites.
- דָּם (dam) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “blood”; Notes: Central element in sacrificial atonement rituals — represents life and purification before YHWH.