Ezekiel 44:10

כִּ֣י אִם־הַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָֽחֲקוּ֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י בִּתְעֹ֤ות יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּע֣וּ מֵֽעָלַ֔י אַחֲרֵ֖י גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם וְנָשְׂא֖וּ עֲוֹנָֽם׃

But the Leviyyim who went far from Me when Yisraʾel went astray, who strayed from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.

Morphology

1. כִּי אִם (ki ʾim) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction phrase; Translation: “but” or “however”; Notes: Introduces a contrast, here distinguishing the unfaithful Levites from others.
2. הַלְוִיִּם (ha-leviyyim) – Root: לוי (Levi); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “the Levites”; Notes: Refers to the Levitical priests, members of the tribe dedicated to temple service.
3. אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Introduces a clause describing the Levites’ disobedience.
4. רָחֲקוּ (raḥaqu) – Root: רחק (raḥaq); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “went far” or “kept far away”; Notes: Expresses spiritual and moral distance from YHWH.
5. מֵעָלַי (me-ʿalay) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition מִן + preposition עַל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “from Me”; Notes: Denotes departure or separation from YHWH’s presence and command.
6. בִּתְעֹות (bitʿot) – Root: תעה (taʿah); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun feminine plural construct; Translation: “in the straying” or “in the error”; Notes: Refers to Yisraʾel’s collective apostasy, following idols instead of YHWH.
7. יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: שרי (sarah) + אל (ʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: The covenant people, whose rebellion the Levites followed.
8. אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “who”; Notes: Connects the following verb clause clarifying Yisraʾel’s actions.
9. תָּעוּ (taʿu) – Root: תעה (taʿah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “went astray”; Notes: Describes deliberate deviation from YHWH’s ways, echoing idolatrous rebellion.
10. מֵעָלַי (me-ʿalay) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition מִן + עַל + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “from Me”; Notes: Repetition intensifies the personal betrayal of YHWH by both Yisraʾel and the Levites.
11. אַחֲרֵי (aḥarei) – Root: אחר (ʾaḥar); Form: Preposition; Translation: “after”; Notes: Denotes pursuit or imitation — they followed after false gods.
12. גִּלּוּלֵיהֶם (gilluleihem) – Root: גלל (galal); Form: Noun masculine plural + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their idols”; Notes: Pejorative term for idols, literally “dung things,” emphasizing their worthlessness.
13. וְנָשְׂאוּ (ve-nasʾu) – Root: נשא (nasaʾ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they shall bear”; Notes: Often conveys the idea of bearing guilt or punishment.
14. עֲוֹנָם (ʿavonam) – Root: עון (ʿavon); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their iniquity”; Notes: Refers to the moral and covenantal consequences of sin, often associated with punishment or guilt-bearing.