אַרְבָּעָ֨ה שֻׁלְחָנֹ֜ות מִפֹּ֗ה וְאַרְבָּעָ֧ה שֻׁלְחָנֹ֛ות מִפֹּ֖ה לְכֶ֣תֶף הַשָּׁ֑עַר שְׁמֹונָ֥ה שֻׁלְחָנֹ֖ות אֲלֵיהֶ֥ם יִשְׁחָֽטוּ׃
Four tables on this side and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables upon which they shall slaughter.
Morphology
- אַרְבָּעָה (ʾarbaʿāh) – Root: ארבע (ʾrbʿ); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “four”; Notes: Specifies the quantity of tables on one side, indicating balanced design within the gate area.
- שֻׁלְחָנוֹת (shulḥānōt) – Root: שׁלח (š-l-ḥ); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “tables”; Notes: These are likely stone or bronze tables used for the ritual slaughter and preparation of offerings.
- מִפֹּה (mippōh) – Root: —; Form: Preposition מִן + adverb פֹּה; Translation: “on this side”; Notes: Indicates spatial orientation relative to the temple gate.
- וְאַרְבָּעָה (veʾarbaʿāh) – Root: ארבע (ʾrbʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + numeral masculine singular; Translation: “and four”; Notes: Parallel to the first group of tables, emphasizing symmetry and ritual order.
- שֻׁלְחָנוֹת (shulḥānōt) – Root: שׁלח (š-l-ḥ); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “tables”; Notes: Repeated for the second group, located on the opposite side of the gate structure.
- מִפֹּה (mippōh) – Root: —; Form: Preposition מִן + adverb פֹּה; Translation: “and on that side”; Notes: Completes the bilateral description of the sacrificial area.
- לְכֶתֶף (leketef) – Root: כתף (k-t-p); Form: Preposition לְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “by the side”; Notes: Literally “by the shoulder,” a Hebrew idiom denoting the side wall or flank of a structure.
- הַשַּׁעַר (hašaʿar) – Root: שׁער (š-ʿ-r); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the gate”; Notes: Refers to the temple gate complex within Ezekiel’s visionary temple plan.
- שְׁמֹונָה (šĕmōnāh) – Root: שׁמנה (šmn); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “eight”; Notes: The total number of tables — four on each side — indicating complete arrangement.
- שֻׁלְחָנוֹת (shulḥānōt) – Root: שׁלח (š-l-ḥ); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “tables”; Notes: Recapitulates the total count of the tables intended for sacrificial preparation.
- אֲלֵיהֶם (ʾălêhem) – Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 3mp; Translation: “upon them”; Notes: Refers to the tables themselves as the surfaces used in the ritual process.
- יִשְׁחָטוּ (yišḥātū) – Root: שׁחט (š-ḥ-ṭ); Form: Qal imperfect 3mp; Translation: “they shall slaughter”; Notes: Describes the priestly act of slaughtering sacrificial animals, the central function of these eight tables.