הַמִּזְבֵּ֡חַ עֵ֣ץ שָׁלֹושׁ֩ אַמֹּ֨ות גָּבֹ֜הַּ וְאָרְכֹּ֣ו שְׁתַּֽיִם־אַמֹּ֗ות וּמִקְצֹֽעֹותָיו֙ לֹ֔ו וְאָרְכֹּ֥ו וְקִֽירֹתָ֖יו עֵ֑ץ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלַ֔י זֶ֚ה הַשֻּׁלְחָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length two cubits; and its corners, its length, and its walls were of wood, and he said to me, “This is the table that is before YHWH.”
Morphology
- הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (ha-mizbeaḥ) – Root: זבח (zavaḥ); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the altar”; Notes: Refers to the altar structure, often symbolizing the meeting place between divine and human through offerings.
- עֵץ (ʿets) – Root: עץ (ʿets); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “wood”; Notes: Specifies the material from which the altar was made, emphasizing simplicity and sanctity.
- שָׁלֹושׁ (shalosh) – Root: שלשׁ (shalash); Form: Numeral feminine; Translation: “three”; Notes: Indicates the altar’s height of three cubits.
- אַמֹּות (ʾammot) – Root: אמה (ʾammah); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “cubits”; Notes: Unit of length, approximately 45–50 centimeters, used for sacred measurements.
- גָּבֹהַּ (gavoah) – Root: גבה (gavah); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “high”; Notes: Describes the vertical dimension of the altar.
- וְאָרְכֹּו (ve-ʾorko) – Root: ארך (ʾarakh); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and its length”; Notes: Refers to the longitudinal measurement of the altar.
- שְׁתַּיִם־אַמֹּות (shetayim-ʾammot) – Root: שׁנים (shenayim); Form: Numeral feminine dual + noun feminine plural; Translation: “two cubits”; Notes: Specifies the altar’s width.
- וּמִקְצֹעֹותָיו (u-miqtzoʿotav) – Root: קצע (qatzaʿ); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition מִן + noun masculine plural construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “and its corners”; Notes: Describes the protruding edges, part of the altar’s architectural detail.
- לֹו (lo) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Preposition לְ + suffix 3ms; Translation: “for it / belonging to it”; Notes: Indicates possession, linking the corners to the altar.
- וְקִירֹתָיו (ve-qirotav) – Root: קיר (qir); Form: Conjunction וְ + plural noun masculine construct + suffix 3ms; Translation: “and its walls”; Notes: Refers to the vertical sides forming the altar’s frame.
- עֵץ (ʿets) – Root: עץ (ʿets); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “wood”; Notes: Repetition underscores the uniform wooden composition of all altar components.
- וַיְדַבֵּר (va-yedabber) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Piel wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he spoke”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s or the interpreting angel’s speech to Ezekiel.
- אֵלַי (ʾelai) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition אֶל + suffix 1cs; Translation: “to me”; Notes: Direct object of the preceding verb—Ezekiel is addressed directly.
- זֶה (zeh) – Root: זה (zeh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “this”; Notes: Introduces a divine identification or explanation.
- הַשֻּׁלְחָן (ha-shulḥan) – Root: שלחן (shulḥan); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the table”; Notes: May metaphorically refer to the altar as the “table” of YHWH, symbolizing fellowship through offerings.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “which / that”; Notes: Connects the preceding noun to the following prepositional phrase.
- לִפְנֵי (lifnei) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Preposition לְ + construct plural noun; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates spatial relation, “in front of” or “in the presence of.”
- יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The sacred Name of God, emphasizing His presence before whom the altar-table stands.