בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֵ֨לֶּה֙ הֶעֱל֤וּ גִלּֽוּלֵיהֶם֙ עַל־לִבָּ֔ם וּמִכְשֹׁ֣ול עֲוֹנָ֔ם נָתְנ֖וּ נֹ֣כַח פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם הַאִדָּרֹ֥שׁ אִדָּרֵ֖שׁ לָהֶֽם׃
“Son of man, these men have brought up their idols upon their heart, and the stumbling-block of their iniquity they have set before their faces. Shall I indeed be inquired of by them?
Morphology
- בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-ʾadam) – Root: בן (ben), אדם (ʾadam); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “son of man”; Notes: Ezekiel’s prophetic designation emphasizing human frailty.
- הָאֲנָשִׁים (ha-ʾanashim) – Root: אישׁ (ʾish); Form: Definite article + masculine plural noun; Translation: “the men”; Notes: Refers to specific individuals in focus, likely elders of Yisraʾel.
- הָאֵלֶּה (ha-elleh) – Root: אלה (ʾeleh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “these”; Notes: Restrictive demonstrative pointing out those men.
- הֶעֱלוּ (heʿelu) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have brought up”; Notes: Causative stem shows deliberate action of elevating idols inwardly.
- גִלּוּלֵיהֶם (gilluleihem) – Root: גלל (galal); Form: Masculine plural noun in construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their idols”; Notes: Derogatory term for idols, possibly mocking their worthlessness.
- עַל־לִבָּם (ʿal-libam) – Root: על (ʿal), לב (lev); Form: Preposition + masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “upon their heart”; Notes: Symbolic of inward devotion or affection corrupted by idolatry.
- וּמִכְשֹׁול (u-mikshol) – Root: כשׁל (kashal); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular absolute; Translation: “and the stumbling-block”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to what causes sin and downfall.
- עֲוֹנָם (ʿavonam) – Root: עון (ʿavon); Form: Noun masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their iniquity”; Notes: Refers to guilt and perverse wrongdoing.
- נָתְנוּ (natnu) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have set”; Notes: Indicates a deliberate, established action.
- נֹכַח (nokhaḥ) – Root: נכח (nokhaḥ); Form: Adverb; Translation: “before”; Notes: Expresses direct position or presence, here in relation to their faces.
- פְּנֵיהֶם (peneihem) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Plural noun in construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their faces”; Notes: Emphasizes open display of sin rather than secrecy.
- הַאִדָּרֹשׁ (ha-iddarosh) – Root: דרשׁ (darash); Form: Qal infinitive absolute with interrogative prefix הֲ; Translation: “Shall I indeed be inquired of?”; Notes: Infinitive absolute with interrogative particle conveys emphasis and rhetorical force.
- אִדָּרֵשׁ (iddarresh) – Root: דרשׁ (darash); Form: Niphal imperfect 1st person common singular; Translation: “I be inquired of”; Notes: Passive-reflexive form highlights YHWH as the object of inquiry.
- לָהֶם (lahem) – Root: ל (le), הם (hem); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “by them”; Notes: Marks the agents who would seek divine consultation.