כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ שַׁ֜עַר הֶחָצֵ֤ר הַפְּנִימִית֙ הַפֹּנֶ֣ה קָדִ֔ים יִהְיֶ֣ה סָג֔וּר שֵׁ֖שֶׁת יְמֵ֣י הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה וּבְיֹ֤ום הַשַּׁבָּת֙ יִפָּתֵ֔חַ וּבְיֹ֥ום הַחֹ֖דֶשׁ יִפָּתֵֽחַ׃
‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Morphology
- כֹּה־אָמַר (koh-ʾamar) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Adverb + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “Thus said”; Notes: A prophetic formula introducing divine speech, common in Ezekiel and other prophets.
- אֲדֹנָי (ʾadonai) – Root: אדן (ʾadon); Form: Proper noun with possessive suffix plural form; Translation: “Lord”; Notes: Title of divine sovereignty, used reverently before “YHWH.”
- יְהוִה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The Tetragrammaton, referring to the covenantal name of Israel’s God.
- שַׁעַר (shaʿar) – Root: שׁער (shaʿar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “gate”; Notes: Refers to the specific temple gate described in Ezekiel’s temple vision.
- הֶחָצֵר (he-ḥatser) – Root: חצר (ḥatser); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the court”; Notes: The temple courtyard within which the gate faces eastward.
- הַפְּנִימִית (ha-penimit) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Definite adjective feminine singular; Translation: “the inner”; Notes: Specifies the inner court, as distinct from the outer court of the temple.
- הַפֹּנֶה (ha-poneh) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Definite participle Qal masculine singular; Translation: “that faces”; Notes: Describes the orientation of the gate toward the east.
- קָדִים (qadim) – Root: קדם (qadam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “east”; Notes: The direction of sunrise, often symbolizing divine glory or the coming presence of YHWH.
- יִהְיֶה (yihyeh) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall be”; Notes: Predictive aspect indicating the future condition of the gate.
- סָגוּר (sagur) – Root: סגר (sagar); Form: Passive participle Qal masculine singular; Translation: “shut”; Notes: Indicates the gate’s closed state during weekdays, emphasizing holiness and restriction of access.
- שֵׁשֶׁת (sheshet) – Root: שׁשׁ (shesh); Form: Numeral feminine construct; Translation: “six of”; Notes: Refers to the six ordinary days of labor in the week.
- יְמֵי (yemei) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “days of”; Notes: Indicates possession — the six days belonging to the work week.
- הַמַּעֲשֶׂה (ha-maʿaseh) – Root: עשׂה (ʿasah); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the work”; Notes: Refers to ordinary labor, in contrast to the sacred rest of the Sabbath.
- וּבְיֹום (u-ve-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Conjunction וְ + Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “but on the day”; Notes: Introduces the contrast between workdays and the sacred Sabbath or new moon.
- הַשַּׁבָּת (ha-shabbat) – Root: שׁבת (shavat); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the Sabbath”; Notes: The seventh day set apart for rest and worship, when the eastern gate is opened.
- יִפָּתֵחַ (yippateach) – Root: פתח (pataḥ); Form: Niphal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it shall be opened”; Notes: Passive voice signifies divine authorization — the gate opens not by human action but by command.
- וּבְיֹום (u-ve-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Conjunction וְ + Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and on the day”; Notes: Repeated to parallel the Sabbath clause, marking another sacred occasion.
- הַחֹדֶשׁ (ha-ḥodesh) – Root: חדשׁ (ḥadash); Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the new moon”; Notes: The monthly renewal marked by sacrifices and special worship.
- יִפָּתֵחַ (yippateach) – Root: פתח (pataḥ); Form: Niphal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “it shall be opened”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes divine permission for worship entry at sacred times — Sabbath and new moon.