וְאֵ֨לֶּה מִדֹּ֤ות הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ בָּֽאַמֹּ֔ות אַמָּ֥ה אַמָּ֖ה וָטֹ֑פַח וְחֵ֨יק הָאַמָּ֜ה וְאַמָּה־רֹ֗חַב וּגְבוּלָ֨הּ אֶל־שְׂפָתָ֤הּ סָבִיב֙ זֶ֣רֶת הָאֶחָ֔ד וְזֶ֖ה גַּ֥ב הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits — a cubit, a cubit and a handbreadth; and the base a cubit, and a cubit in breadth, and its border to its edge all around half a cubit; and this is the back (or height) of the altar.
Morphology
- וְאֵלֶּה (ve-elleh) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + demonstrative plural; Translation: “and these”; Notes: Introduces a detailed description of altar measurements following the temple vision.
- מִדֹּות (middot) – Root: מדד (madad); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “measurements”; Notes: Refers to the dimensions or proportions of the altar structure.
- הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (ha-mizbeaḥ) – Root: זבח (zavach); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the altar”; Notes: Central structure for sacrificial offerings; here, the altar of the future temple.
- בָּאַמֹּות (ba-ammot) – Root: אמה (ammah); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural definite; Translation: “by cubits”; Notes: Specifies the unit of measurement, using the standard cubit system.
- אַמָּה (ammah) – Root: אמה (ammah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a cubit”; Notes: Basic unit of length, approximately 45–52 cm in ancient Israelite measurement.
- אַמָּה וָטֹפַח (ammah va-tophaḥ) – Root: טפח (tapaḥ); Form: Noun feminine singular + conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “a cubit and a handbreadth”; Notes: A larger measurement — one cubit plus a handbreadth (~6 cm), used for precise architectural scaling.
- וְחֵיק (ve-ḥeiq) – Root: חיק (ḥeiq); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the base”; Notes: Refers to the lower foundation or socket of the altar.
- הָאַמָּה (ha-ammah) – Root: אמה (ammah); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the cubit”; Notes: Used here as the height of the base — one cubit high.
- וְאַמָּה־רֹחַב (ve-ammah-roḥav) – Root: רחב (raḥav); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular + noun masculine singular in apposition; Translation: “and a cubit in breadth”; Notes: Specifies the width of the base platform.
- וּגְבוּלָהּ (u-gevulah) – Root: גבול (gevul); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and its border”; Notes: Indicates a ledge or boundary edge surrounding the altar.
- אֶל־שְׂפָתָהּ (el-sefatah) – Root: שפה (safah); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun feminine singular + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “to its edge”; Notes: Marks the outermost boundary or rim of the altar platform.
- סָבִיב (saviv) – Root: סביב (saviv); Form: Adverb; Translation: “around”; Notes: Describes the surrounding perimeter — the border runs on all sides of the altar.
- זֶרֶת (zeret) – Root: זרת (zeret); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a span”; Notes: Equal to half a cubit, measuring from thumb to little finger; defines the border’s width.
- הָאֶחָד (ha-eḥad) – Root: אחד (eḥad); Form: Definite numeral masculine singular; Translation: “the one” or “one”; Notes: Specifies “one span” — standard measure of the altar’s border thickness.
- וְזֶה (ve-zeh) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction וְ + demonstrative masculine singular; Translation: “and this”; Notes: Introduces the following statement identifying a specific altar feature.
- גַּב (gav) – Root: גבב (gavav); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “back,” “height,” or “rim”; Notes: Likely refers to the top surface or elevated part of the altar structure.
- הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (ha-mizbeaḥ) – Root: זבח (zavach); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the altar”; Notes: Closes the verse, identifying the entire structure described by its measurements.