Ezekiel 46:9

וּבְבֹ֨וא עַם־הָאָ֜רֶץ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָה֮ בַּמֹּֽועֲדִים֒ הַבָּ֡א דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁ֨עַר צָפֹ֜ון לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֗ת יֵצֵא֙ דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁ֣עַר נֶ֔גֶב וְהַבָּא֙ דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁ֣עַר נֶ֔גֶב יֵצֵ֖א דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁ֣עַר צָפֹ֑ונָה לֹ֣א יָשׁ֗וּב דֶּ֤רֶךְ הַשַּׁ֨עַר֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א בֹ֔ו כִּ֥י נִכְחֹ֖ו יֵצֵֽאוּ׃

And when the people of the land come before YHWH at the appointed times, the one who enters by way of the north gate to bow down shall go out by way of the south gate, and the one who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate; they shall not return by way of the gate through which they came in, but straight before them they shall go out.

Morphology

1. וּבְבֹוא (u-ve-vo) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + preposition בְּ + infinitive construct; Translation: “and when they come in”; Notes: Introduces a temporal clause referring to the people’s entrance into the temple court for worship.
2. עַם־הָאָרֶץ (ʿam-haʾarets) – Root: עם (ʿam) / ארץ (ʾarets); Form: Construct chain: noun masculine singular + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the people of the land”; Notes: Refers collectively to the general populace of Yisraʾel.
3. לִפְנֵי (lifnei) – Root: פנה (panah); Form: Preposition לְ + plural construct noun; Translation: “before”; Notes: Indicates reverence and standing in the presence of YHWH.
4. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: הוה (havah); Form: Proper divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of the God of Yisraʾel, the object of their worship.
5. בַּמֹּועֲדִים (ba-moʿadim) – Root: יעד (yaʿad); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “at the appointed times”; Notes: Refers to festivals or set times for worship, such as Sabbaths or feast days.
6. הַבָּא (ha-ba) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Definite participle Qal masculine singular; Translation: “the one who enters”; Notes: Describes the individual approaching the temple for worship.
7. דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁעַר (derekh-shaʿar) – Root: דרך (darakh) / שׁער (shaʿar); Form: Construct chain: noun masculine singular + noun masculine singular; Translation: “by way of the gate”; Notes: Specifies the particular entry route used by worshippers.
8. צָפֹון (tsafon) – Root: צפן (tsafan); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “north”; Notes: Refers to the northern direction, associated here with the north gate of the temple court.
9. לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת (le-hishtachăvot) – Root: חוה (ḥavah); Form: Preposition לְ + Hitpael infinitive construct; Translation: “to bow down”; Notes: Indicates the act of prostration or worship before YHWH.
10. יֵצֵא (yetze) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he shall go out”; Notes: Indicates the direction of departure after worship.
11. דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁעַר (derekh-shaʿar) – Root: דרך (darakh) / שׁער (shaʿar); Form: Construct chain: noun masculine singular + noun masculine singular; Translation: “by way of the gate”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes structured movement within the sacred space.
12. נֶגֶב (negev) – Root: נגב (nagav); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “south”; Notes: Refers to the southern direction; those entering from the north exit through the south, symbolizing order and symmetry in worship.
13. וְהַבָּא (ve-ha-ba) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Conjunction וְ + definite participle Qal masculine singular; Translation: “and the one who enters”; Notes: Parallel clause describing the reciprocal path of those entering from the opposite gate.
14. דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁעַר (derekh-shaʿar) – Root: דרך (darakh) / שׁער (shaʿar); Form: Construct chain: noun masculine singular + noun masculine singular; Translation: “by way of the gate”; Notes: Describes directional movement within the temple’s symmetrical layout.
15. נֶגֶב (negev) – Root: נגב (nagav); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “south”; Notes: Indicates the southern entrance, corresponding to the previous northern direction.
16. יֵצֵא (yetze) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he shall go out”; Notes: Repeated for parallel structure, emphasizing ritual precision in worship movement.
17. דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁעַר (derekh-shaʿar) – Root: דרך (darakh) / שׁער (shaʿar); Form: Construct chain: noun masculine singular + noun masculine singular; Translation: “by way of the gate”; Notes: Continues the regulated pattern of temple traffic during worship festivals.
18. צָפֹונָה (tsafonah) – Root: צפן (tsafan); Form: Noun masculine singular with directional suffix; Translation: “northward”; Notes: The opposite direction to the initial entry, maintaining balance in ritual procession.
19. לֹא (lo) – Root: —; Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the act of returning the same way, symbolizing renewal in worship.
20. יָשׁוּב (yashuv) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he shall return”; Notes: Indicates forbidden repetition of the same route during sacred assembly.
21. דֶּרֶךְ הַשַּׁעַר (derekh-ha-shaʿar) – Root: דרך (darakh) / שׁער (shaʿar); Form: Noun masculine singular construct + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “by way of the gate”; Notes: Specifies the entrance used, emphasizing proper ritual movement.
22. אֲשֶׁר (ʾasher) – Root: —; Form: Relative pronoun; Translation: “which” or “that”; Notes: Introduces the subordinate clause about the original gate of entry.
23. בָּא (ba) – Root: בוא (boʾ); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he came”; Notes: Refers to the person’s initial entry route into the temple court.
24. בֹּו (bo) – Root: —; Form: Preposition בְּ + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “by it”; Notes: Indicates the specific gate used earlier in the sentence.
25. כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason clause explaining the required movement pattern.
26. נִכְחֹו (nikhcho) – Root: נכח (nakhakh); Form: Nifal participle masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “straight before him”; Notes: Refers to the direction of departure, emphasizing forward progression in ritual movement.
27. יֵצֵאוּ (yetzeʾu) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they shall go out”; Notes: Concludes the instruction — all worshippers must exit directly ahead, not returning the same way, symbolizing renewed worship and orderly procession.