עַל־רָאשֵׁ֨י הֶהָרִ֜ים יְזַבֵּ֗חוּ וְעַל־הַגְּבָעֹות֙ יְקַטֵּ֔רוּ תַּ֣חַת אַלֹּ֧ון וְלִבְנֶ֛ה וְאֵלָ֖ה כִּ֣י טֹ֣וב צִלָּ֑הּ עַל־כֵּ֗ן תִּזְנֶ֨ינָה֙ בְּנֹ֣ותֵיכֶ֔ם וְכַלֹּותֵיכֶ֖ם תְּנָאַֽפְנָה׃
Upon the tops of the mountains they sacrifice, and upon the hills they burn incense, under oak, and poplar, and terebinth, because its shade is good; therefore your daughters commit whoredom, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
Morphology
- עַל־רָאשֵׁי (ʿal-roʾshei) – Root: ראשׁ (r-ʾ-sh); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “upon the tops of”; Notes: Refers to elevated worship sites, contrasting with YHWH’s chosen sanctuary. Symbol of idolatrous elevation.
- הֶהָרִים (heharim) – Root: הר (h-r); Form: Definite article + noun masculine plural; Translation: “the mountains”; Notes: High places often associated with pagan worship and fertility cults.
- יְזַבֵּחוּ (yezabbeḥu) – Root: זבח (z-b-ḥ); Form: Piel imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they sacrifice”; Notes: Intensive form emphasizing repeated or ritualistic activity. Used for idolatrous sacrifice contrary to Torah worship.
- וְעַל־הַגְּבָעוֹת (veʿal-haggevaʿot) – Root: גבעה (g-b-ʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition + definite noun feminine plural; Translation: “and upon the hills”; Notes: Parallelism to mountains reinforces the theme of illicit worship on high places.
- יְקַטֵּרוּ (yeqatteiru) – Root: קטר (q-ṭ-r); Form: Piel imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they burn incense”; Notes: Piel form indicates ritual offering of fragrance to idols; often paired with זבח in descriptions of false worship.
- תַּחַת (taḥat) – Root: תחת (t-ḥ-t); Form: Preposition; Translation: “under”; Notes: Marks location — shady trees symbolizing sensual fertility rites in Canaanite cult practice.
- אַלּוֹן (allon) – Root: אלון (ʾ-l-n); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “oak”; Notes: Sacred tree in fertility worship. Often associated with pagan shrines (cf. Gen. 35:8).
- וְלִבְנֶה (velivne) – Root: לבנה (l-b-n-h); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and poplar”; Notes: A bright or white tree — symbol of vitality and erotic appeal in fertility cult imagery.
- וְאֵלָה (veʾelah) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and terebinth”; Notes: Another tree species linked with Canaanite rites. The triad of trees evokes natural sanctuaries where illicit worship took place.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “because”; Notes: Explains the allure — the pleasantness of shade symbolizes comfort and sensual enticement.
- טוֹב (tov) – Root: טוב (ṭ-w-b); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “good” or “pleasant”; Notes: Ironically describes what seems good to them but is spiritually corrupt.
- צִלָּהּ (tsillah) – Root: צל (ṣ-l); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3fs; Translation: “its shade”; Notes: The comfort of the tree’s shade mirrors moral complacency — the false security of idolatry.
- עַל־כֵּן (ʿal-ken) – Root: —; Form: Compound preposition; Translation: “therefore”; Notes: Marks the consequence: moral corruption follows sensual idolatry.
- תִּזְנֶינָה (tiznenah) – Root: זנה (z-n-h); Form: Qal imperfect 3fp; Translation: “they commit whoredom”; Notes: Describes the daughters of Israel — the outcome of the nation’s moral decay. The feminine plural points to societal degeneration.
- בְּנֹותֵיכֶם (benotekhem) – Root: בת (b-t); Form: Noun feminine plural + suffix 2mp; Translation: “your daughters”; Notes: Refers to younger generation corrupted by elders’ example of idolatry.
- וְכַלֹּותֵיכֶם (ve-kallotekhem) – Root: כלה (k-l-h); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine plural + suffix 2mp; Translation: “and your daughters-in-law”; Notes: Indicates that unfaithfulness spans generations — moral rot has reached family structure.
- תְּנָאַפְנָה (tenaʾafna) – Root: נאף (n-ʾ-p); Form: Qal imperfect 3fp; Translation: “commit adultery”; Notes: Completes the parallelism — whoredom and adultery represent both spiritual apostasy and literal sexual sin in the fertility cult context.