וְהָעֲזָרָ֞ה אַרְבַּ֧ע עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אֹ֗רֶךְ בְּאַרְבַּ֤ע עֶשְׂרֵה֙ רֹ֔חַב אֶ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣עַת רְבָעֶ֑יהָ וְהַגְּבוּל סָבִ֨יב אֹותָ֜הּ חֲצִ֣י הָאַמָּ֗ה וְהַֽחֵיק־לָ֤הּ אַמָּה֙ סָבִ֔יב וּמַעֲלֹתֵ֖הוּ פְּנֹ֥ות קָדִֽים׃
And the ledge fourteen in length by fourteen in breadth on its four sides, and the border around it half a cubit, and its base a cubit around; and its steps face east.
Morphology
- וְהָעֲזָרָה (ve-ha-ʿazara) – Root: עזר (ʿazar); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the ledge” or “the court”; Notes: Refers to the upper platform or terrace surrounding the altar hearth, part of the sacrificial structure.
- אַרְבַּע (arbaʿ) – Root: —; Form: Numeral feminine singular; Translation: “four”; Notes: First component of the compound numeral “fourteen.”
- עֶשְׂרֵה (ʿesreh) – Root: —; Form: Numeral feminine form of “ten”; Translation: “ten”; Notes: Together with אַרְבַּע, forms “fourteen.”
- אֹרֶךְ (ʾorekh) – Root: ארך (ʾarakh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “length”; Notes: Refers to one of the altar’s principal dimensions.
- בְּאַרְבַּע (be-arbaʿ) – Root: ארבע (arbaʿ); Form: Preposition בְּ + numeral feminine singular; Translation: “by four”; Notes: Introduces a measurement comparison, meaning “by fourteen.”
- עֶשְׂרֵה (ʿesreh) – Root: —; Form: Numeral feminine form of “ten”; Translation: “ten”; Notes: Completes the compound “fourteen.”
- רֹחַב (roḥav) – Root: רחב (raḥav); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “breadth”; Notes: Specifies the width of the altar’s upper ledge or platform.
- אֶל (ʾel) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “toward” or “upon”; Notes: Here expresses direction or alignment relating to the four sides of the structure.
- אַרְבַּעַת (arbaʿat) – Root: ארבע (arbaʿ); Form: Numeral masculine singular construct; Translation: “four”; Notes: Construct form connects directly with רְבָעֶיהָ.
- רְבָעֶיהָ (revāʿeha) – Root: רבע (ravaʿ); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “its sides” or “its quarters”; Notes: Refers to the four equal sides of the altar platform, emphasizing symmetry and balance.
- וְהַגְּבוּל (ve-ha-gevul) – Root: גבול (gevul); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the border”; Notes: Refers to the boundary or rim around the altar ledge.
- סָבִיב (saviv) – Root: סביב (saviv); Form: Adverb; Translation: “around”; Notes: Denotes circular or complete enclosure surrounding the ledge.
- אֹותָהּ (otah) – Root: —; Form: Direct object pronoun feminine singular; Translation: “it”; Notes: Refers back to the ledge (הָעֲזָרָה).
- חֲצִי (ḥatsi) – Root: חצה (ḥatsah); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “half”; Notes: Describes the thickness or height of the altar’s border — half a cubit.
- הָאַמָּה (ha-ammah) – Root: אמה (ammah); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the cubit”; Notes: Measurement unit, roughly 45–52 cm; here, the border measures half a cubit.
- וְהַחֵיק־לָהּ (ve-ha-ḥeiq-lah) – Root: חיק (ḥeiq); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun masculine singular + preposition לְ + suffix 3rd person feminine singular; Translation: “and its base”; Notes: Refers to the supporting foundation or lower socket of the altar platform.
- אַמָּה (ammah) – Root: אמה (ammah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “a cubit”; Notes: Indicates the height or thickness of the altar’s base section.
- סָבִיב (saviv) – Root: סביב (saviv); Form: Adverb; Translation: “around”; Notes: Shows that the base completely encircles the altar ledge.
- וּמַעֲלֹתֵהוּ (u-maʿalotehu) – Root: מעלה (maʿalah); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun feminine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and its steps”; Notes: Refers to the stairway leading up to the altar, allowing priests to ascend for service.
- פְּנֹות (penot) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Noun feminine plural participial form; Translation: “facing” or “turning”; Notes: Describes the direction in which the steps or ascent face.
- קָדִים (qadim) – Root: קדמ (qadam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “east”; Notes: Indicates that the altar’s ascent faced eastward — a symbolic orientation toward divine presence and light.