בְּתִתָּ֨ם סִפָּ֜ם אֶת־סִפִּ֗י וּמְזֽוּזָתָם֙ אֵ֣צֶל מְזוּזָתִ֔י וְהַקִּ֖יר בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם וְטִמְּא֣וּ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֗י בְּתֹֽועֲבֹותָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֔וּ וָאֲכַ֥ל אֹתָ֖ם בְּאַפִּֽי׃
In their placing their threshold by My threshold and their doorpost beside My doorpost, with only the wall between Me and them, they defiled My holy name by their abominations that they committed; therefore I consumed them in My anger.
Morphology
- בְּתִתָּם (be-tittam) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Preposition בְּ + infinitive construct with suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “in their placing”; Notes: Marks the action through which the offense occurred — their setting up of rival sanctuaries or thresholds adjacent to YHWH’s temple.
- סִפָּם (sippam) – Root: סף (saf); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their threshold”; Notes: Refers to the entrance structures of their palaces or temples positioned beside the divine temple.
- אֶת־סִפִּי (ʾet-sippi) – Root: סף (saf); Form: Direct object marker אֶת + noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “My threshold”; Notes: Refers to the entryway of YHWH’s temple, establishing a direct juxtaposition with theirs.
- וּמְזוּזָתָם (u-mezuzatam) – Root: מזוזה (mezuzah); Form: Conjunction וּ + noun feminine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and their doorpost”; Notes: Symbolic of their religious or royal structures placed insolently beside YHWH’s temple.
- אֵצֶל (etzel) – Root: —; Form: Preposition; Translation: “beside” or “next to”; Notes: Expresses physical and spiritual proximity, implying offense by encroachment upon sacred space.
- מְזוּזָתִי (mezuzati) – Root: מזוזה (mezuzah); Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “My doorpost”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s temple entrance, symbolizing His domain and holiness.
- וְהַקִּיר (ve-ha-qir) – Root: קיר (qir); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “and the wall”; Notes: Refers to the thin separation between YHWH’s sanctuary and their profane constructions.
- בֵּינִי (beini) – Root: בין (bein); Form: Preposition + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “between Me”; Notes: Indicates relational and spatial division.
- וּבֵינֵיהֶם (u-veinehem) – Root: בין (bein); Form: Conjunction וּ + preposition + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and between them”; Notes: Highlights the minimal barrier separating divine holiness from human corruption.
- וְטִמְּאוּ (ve-timmeʾu) – Root: טמא (ṭamaʾ); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they defiled”; Notes: Refers to ritual and moral defilement of YHWH’s name by their idolatrous actions.
- אֶת־שֵׁם (ʾet-shem) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Direct object marker אֶת + noun masculine singular; Translation: “the name of”; Notes: Points to YHWH’s revealed name, representing His divine reputation and holiness.
- קָדְשִׁי (qodshi) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “My holiness” or “My holy name”; Notes: Emphasizes the sacred nature of YHWH’s identity defiled by human sin.
- בְּתוֹעֲבֹותָם (be-toʿavotam) – Root: תועבה (toʿevah); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “by their abominations”; Notes: Refers to detestable practices, often idolatrous rites or moral corruption.
- אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “that” or “which”; Notes: Introduces the relative clause describing their defiling acts.
- עָשׂוּ (ʿasu) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they did” or “they committed”; Notes: Refers to the concrete deeds of defilement and idolatry committed by Yisraʾel’s rulers.
- וָאֲכַל (va-ʾakhal) – Root: כלה (kalah); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 1st person common singular; Translation: “and I consumed”; Notes: Expresses divine retribution or judgment upon the offenders.
- אֹתָם (otam) – Root: —; Form: Direct object pronoun 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “them”; Notes: The object of divine punishment — those who defiled YHWH’s holiness.
- בְּאַפִּי (be-api) – Root: אף (aph); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “in My anger”; Notes: A metaphor for divine wrath, often associated with consuming judgment.