וַיְבִאֵנִי֮ אֶל־אֻלָ֣ם הַבַּיִת֒ וַיָּ֨מָד֙ אֵ֣ל אֻלָ֔ם חָמֵ֤שׁ אַמֹּות֙ מִפֹּ֔ה וְחָמֵ֥שׁ אַמֹּ֖ות מִפֹּ֑ה וְרֹ֣חַב הַשַּׁ֔עַר שָׁלֹ֤שׁ אַמֹּות֙ מִפֹּ֔ו וְשָׁלֹ֥שׁ אַמֹּ֖ות מִפֹּֽו׃
And he brought me to the porch of the house, and he measured the post of the porch—five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side—and the width of the gate, three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side.
Morphology
- וַיְבִאֵנִי (va-yeviʾeni) – Root: בוא (b-w-ʾ); Form: Hiphil wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular + suffix 1cs; Translation: “And he brought me”; Notes: The visionary guide (the man of bronze) leads Ezekiel further into the temple structure.
- אֶל־אֻלָם (el-ʾulam) – Root: אולם (ʾ-w-l-m); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to the porch”; Notes: The entrance hall or vestibule of the temple preceding the main sanctuary.
- הַבַּיִת (ha-bayit) – Root: בית (b-y-t); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the house”; Notes: Refers to the temple itself, symbolizing YHWH’s dwelling place.
- וַיָּמָד (va-yamad) – Root: מדד (m-d-d); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he measured”; Notes: Indicates precise architectural measurement under divine instruction.
- אֵל (ʾel) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “toward”; Notes: Marks directionality in relation to the structure being measured.
- אֻלָם (ʾulam) – Root: אולם (ʾ-w-l-m); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “porch”; Notes: Refers again to the temple vestibule as the focal point of measurement.
- חָמֵשׁ (ḥamesh) – Root: חמש (ḥ-m-sh); Form: Numeral feminine singular; Translation: “five”; Notes: Denotes equal dimensions on both sides of the porch’s entry posts.
- אַמֹּות (ʾammot) – Root: אמה (ʾ-m-h); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “cubits”; Notes: Ancient unit of measurement, approximately 45–52 centimeters per cubit.
- מִפֹּה (mippo) – Root: פה (p-h); Form: Preposition מִן + adverb of place; Translation: “from here / on this side”; Notes: Indicates symmetry in architectural layout.
- וְחָמֵשׁ (ve-ḥamesh) – Root: חמש (ḥ-m-sh); Form: Conjunction וְ + numeral feminine singular; Translation: “and five”; Notes: Reiterates the equal measure on the opposite side.
- אַמֹּות (ʾammot) – Root: אמה (ʾ-m-h); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “cubits”; Notes: Confirms identical dimensioning for both flanks of the entrance.
- מִפֹּה (mippo) – Root: פה (p-h); Form: Preposition מִן + adverb of place; Translation: “on that side”; Notes: Indicates the opposite side of the previous measurement, maintaining symmetry.
- וְרֹחַב (ve-roḥav) – Root: רחב (r-ḥ-b); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the width”; Notes: Introduces a new measurement parameter distinct from the post thickness.
- הַשַּׁעַר (ha-shaʿar) – Root: שער (š-ʿ-r); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the gate”; Notes: Refers to the temple entrance gate structure.
- שָׁלֹשׁ (shalosh) – Root: שלש (š-l-š); Form: Numeral feminine singular; Translation: “three”; Notes: Marks the width of each gate section on either side.
- אַמֹּות (ʾammot) – Root: אמה (ʾ-m-h); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “cubits”; Notes: Unit of temple measurement for architectural precision.
- מִפֹּו (mippō) – Root: פה (p-h); Form: Preposition מִן + adverb of place; Translation: “on this side”; Notes: Expresses equal lateral measurement on the first side.
- וְשָׁלֹשׁ (ve-shalosh) – Root: שלש (š-l-š); Form: Conjunction וְ + numeral feminine singular; Translation: “and three”; Notes: Balances the second side of the gate.
- אַמֹּות (ʾammot) – Root: אמה (ʾ-m-h); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “cubits”; Notes: Standard architectural measure for the width specification.
- מִפֹּו (mippō) – Root: פה (p-h); Form: Preposition מִן + adverb of place; Translation: “on that side”; Notes: Denotes the symmetrical width of the opposite portion of the entrance.