לֹֽא־תִטַּ֥ע לְךָ֛ אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה כָּל־עֵ֑ץ אֵ֗צֶל מִזְבַּ֛ח יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃ ס
You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah, any tree, beside the altar of YHWH your God, which you make for yourself.
Morphology
- לֹֽא־תִטַּ֥ע (lo-tittaʿ) – Root: נטע (nataʿ); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You shall not plant”; Notes: Prohibits the planting of certain trees for worship purposes.
- לְךָ֛ (lekha) – Root: ל־ (l); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “for yourself”; Notes: Indicates the personal scope of the command.
- אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה (Asherah) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Noun, feminine singular; Translation: “an Asherah”; Notes: Refers to a sacred tree or pole associated with pagan worship.
- כָּל־עֵ֑ץ (kol-ʿetz) – Root: עץ (ʿetz); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “any tree”; Notes: Emphasizes the prohibition of planting any tree for idolatrous purposes.
- אֵ֗צֶל (etzel) – Root: אצל (ʾatzal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “beside”; Notes: Indicates proximity to the altar.
- מִזְבַּ֛ח (mizbeach) – Root: זבח (zavach); Form: Noun, masculine singular construct; Translation: “altar”; Notes: Refers to the place of sacrifice to YHWH.
- יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the divine name of God.
- אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (Elohekha) – Root: אלה (ʾeloh); Form: Noun, masculine plural with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Refers to the deity of the audience.
- אֲשֶׁ֥ר (asher) – Root: אשר (asher); Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “which”; Notes: Introduces a subordinate clause.
- תַּעֲשֶׂה־ (taʿaseh) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “you make”; Notes: Refers to the construction of the altar.
- לָּֽךְ׃ (lakh) – Root: ל־ (l); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “for yourself”; Notes: Refers to the personal responsibility of constructing the altar.