וְעָשׂ֥וּי כְּרוּבִ֖ים וְתִֽמֹרִ֑ים וְתִֽמֹרָה֙ בֵּין־כְּר֣וּב לִכְר֔וּב וּשְׁנַ֥יִם פָּנִ֖ים לַכְּרֽוּב׃
And it was made with keruvim and palm trees, with a palm tree between keruv and keruv; and each keruv had two faces.
Morphology
- וְעָשׂוּי (ve-ʿasui) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Conjunction וְ + passive participle masculine singular (Qal); Translation: “and it was made”; Notes: Describes the decorative workmanship of the temple wall, emphasizing divine craftsmanship.
- כְּרוּבִים (keruvim) – Root: כרב (karav, uncertain etymology); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “cherubim”; Notes: Angelic figures symbolizing divine presence, commonly found in temple imagery (cf. 1 Kings 6:29).
- וְתִמֹרִים (ve-timorim) – Root: תמר (tamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + plural noun masculine; Translation: “and palm trees”; Notes: Symbolic of life, victory, and paradise, often paired with cherubim in temple design.
- וְתִמֹרָה (ve-timorah) – Root: תמר (tamar); Form: Conjunction וְ + singular noun feminine; Translation: “and a palm tree”; Notes: Marks the alternating pattern between cherubim—palm—cherubim along the wall.
- בֵּין־כְּרוּב (bein-keruv) – Root: בין (bein); Form: Preposition בֵּין + singular noun masculine; Translation: “between a cherub”; Notes: Part of the decorative sequence, linking one cherub to the next with palm motifs.
- לִכְרוּב (li-keruv) – Root: כרב (karav); Form: Preposition לְ + singular noun masculine; Translation: “and another cherub”; Notes: Completes the pair expression—“between cherub and cherub.”
- וּשְׁנַיִם (u-shenayim) – Root: שׁנים (shanayim); Form: Conjunction וְ + numeral masculine dual; Translation: “and two”; Notes: Indicates the number of faces per cherub, emphasizing symbolic duality.
- פָּנִים (panim) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Plural noun (always plural in form); Translation: “faces”; Notes: Each cherub possesses two visages—human and leonine—representing insight and strength.
- לַכְּרוּב (la-keruv) – Root: כרב (karav); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “for each cherub”; Notes: Indicates possession—each cherub individually bore two faces.