וְאֵלַמָּ֗ו לֶֽחָצֵר֙ הַחִ֣יצוֹנָ֔ה וְתִמֹרִ֥ים אֶל־אֵלָ֖ו מִפּ֣וֹ וּמִפּ֑וֹ וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מַעֲל֖וֹת מַעֲלָֽו׃
And its porches were toward the outer court, and palm trees were upon its posts on this side and on that side, and its ascent had eight steps.
Morphology
- וְאֵלַמּוֹ (ve-elammo) – Root: אֵילָם (ʾēlam); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular with suffix 3ms; Translation: “and its porch”; Notes: Refers to the vestibule or porch attached to the gate, facing the outer court.
- לֶחָצֵר (le-ḥatser) – Root: חצר (ḥatser); Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “toward the court”; Notes: Indicates direction, showing the porch’s orientation toward the outer court area.
- הַחִיצוֹנָה (ha-ḥitsonah) – Root: חוץ (ḥuts); Form: Definite adjective feminine singular; Translation: “the outer”; Notes: Distinguishes this court from the inner court, emphasizing its external location.
- וְתִמֹרִים (ve-timorim) – Root: תמר (tamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and palm trees”; Notes: Refers to decorative palm designs carved or engraved upon the posts, a recurring symbol of beauty and righteousness in temple imagery.
- אֶל־אֵילָו (el-eilav) – Root: אֵיל (ʾēl); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “upon its posts”; Notes: Indicates placement of the palm decorations on the supporting pillars of the gate structure.
- מִפּוֹ (mi-po) – Root: —; Form: Preposition מִן + adverb פּוֹ (“here”); Translation: “on this side”; Notes: Denotes spatial symmetry of the temple gate, showing equal design on both sides.
- וּמִפּוֹ (u-mi-po) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition מִן + adverb פּוֹ; Translation: “and on that side”; Notes: Completes the parallel phrase showing identical decoration placement on both flanks.
- וּשְׁמֹנֶה (u-shemoneh) – Root: שׁמנה (shemoneh); Form: Conjunction וּ + numeral; Translation: “and eight”; Notes: Refers to the number of steps leading up to the gate’s entrance.
- מַעֲלוֹת (maʿalot) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “steps”; Notes: Describes the staircase or ascending steps leading toward the gate, symbolic of approach to holiness.
- מַעֲלוֹ (maʿalo) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “its ascent”; Notes: Refers to the specific stairway or ascent belonging to this particular gate.