Ezekiel 20:16

יַ֜עַן בְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֣י מָאָ֗סוּ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּותַי֙ לֹא־הָלְכ֣וּ בָהֶ֔ם וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַ֖י חִלֵּ֑לוּ כִּ֛י אַחֲרֵ֥י גִלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם לִבָּ֥ם הֹלֵֽךְ׃

Because My judgments they despised, and My statutes they did not walk in them, and My sabbaths they profaned, for after their idols their heart was going.

Morphology

1. יַעַן – Root: יַעַן; Form: Conjunction/causal particle; Translation: “because”; Notes: Introduces reason for divine judgment.
2. בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי – Root: מִשְׁפָּט; Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural + 1cs suffix; Translation: “my judgments”; Notes: Refers to God’s legal decrees.
3. מָאָסוּ – Root: מָאַס; Form: Qal perfect 3cp; Translation: “they despised”; Notes: Conveys rejection and contempt.
4. וְאֶת־חֻקֹּותַי – Root: חֹק; Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + noun masculine plural + 1cs suffix; Translation: “and my statutes”; Notes: Refers to covenant stipulations.
5. לֹא־הָלְכוּ – Root: הָלַךְ; Form: Qal perfect 3cp with negative particle; Translation: “they did not walk”; Notes: Idiomatic for living in obedience.
6. בָהֶם – Root: הֵם; Form: Preposition בְּ + third mp suffix; Translation: “in them”; Notes: Refers to statutes as guiding principles.
7. וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַי – Root: שַׁבָּת; Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + noun feminine plural + 1cs suffix; Translation: “and my sabbaths”; Notes: Central sign of covenant identity.
8. חִלֵּלוּ – Root: חָלַל; Form: Piel perfect 3cp; Translation: “they profaned”; Notes: Desecrated the sacredness of YHWH’s sabbaths.
9. כִּי – Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Explains the underlying cause.
10. אַחֲרֵי – Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Marks pursuit or devotion.
11. גִּלּוּלֵיהֶם – Root: גִּלּוּל; Form: Noun masculine plural + 3mp suffix; Translation: “their idols”; Notes: Derogatory term for false gods.
12. לִבָּם – Root: לֵב; Form: Noun masculine singular + 3mp suffix; Translation: “their heart”; Notes: Seat of will and devotion.
13. הֹלֵךְ – Root: הָלַךְ; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “was going”; Notes: Expresses ongoing pursuit after idols.