וּמַעֲל֤וֹת שִׁבְעָה֙ עֹֽלוֹתָ֔ו וְאֵֽלַמָּ֖ו לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְתִמֹרִ֣ים ל֗וֹ אֶחָ֥ד מִפּ֛וֹ וְאֶחָ֥ד מִפּ֖וֹ אֶל־אֵילָֽו׃
And seven steps ascended to it, and its porches were before them; and palm trees were for it, one on this side and one on that side, upon its posts.
Morphology
- וּמַעֲלֹות (u-maʿalot) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine plural; Translation: “and steps”; Notes: Refers to the stairs or steps ascending to the temple gate.
- שִׁבְעָה (shivʿah) – Root: שׁבע (shevaʿ); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “seven”; Notes: Indicates the number of steps, often symbolic of completeness or perfection in biblical numerology.
- עֹלוֹתָו (ʿolotav) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal participle feminine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “ascended to it”; Notes: Describes the upward motion or ascent by means of the seven steps.
- וְאֵילַמָּו (ve-elammav) – Root: אֵילָם (ʾēlam); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural + suffix 3ms; Translation: “and its porches”; Notes: Refers to the vestibules or porticoes associated with the gate structure.
- לִפְנֵיהֶם (lifneihem) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Preposition לִ + plural construct + suffix 3mp; Translation: “before them”; Notes: Indicates that the porches were situated directly in front of the ascending steps.
- וְתִמֹרִים (ve-timorim) – Root: תָּמָר (tamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and palm trees”; Notes: Decorative carvings or engravings that adorned the temple gates, symbolizing righteousness and vitality.
- לֹו (lo) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3ms; Translation: “for it”; Notes: Denotes possession — the palms belong to or are positioned upon this specific gate.
- אֶחָד (eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾaḥad); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Used to describe one palm decoration placed on each side of the gate.
- מִפּוֹ (mippō) – Root: פה (peh); Form: Preposition מִן + adverbial particle “this side” + suffix 3ms; Translation: “on this side”; Notes: Describes spatial symmetry in architectural placement.
- וְאֶחָד (ve-eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾaḥad); Form: Conjunction וְ + numeral masculine singular; Translation: “and one”; Notes: Balances the design with a matching element on the opposite side.
- מִפּוֹ (mippō) – Root: פה (peh); Form: Preposition מִן + adverbial particle + suffix 3ms; Translation: “on that side”; Notes: Completes the bilateral symmetry of the gate decoration.
- אֶל־אֵילָו (el-eilav) – Root: אֵיל (ʾēl); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “upon its posts”; Notes: Indicates the placement of the palm carvings directly on the supporting pillars of the gate.