וְשַׁעֲרֵ֣י הָעִ֗יר עַל־שְׁמֹות֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שְׁעָרִ֥ים שְׁלֹושָׁ֖ה צָפֹ֑ונָה שַׁ֣עַר רְאוּבֵ֞ן אֶחָ֗ד שַׁ֤עַר יְהוּדָה֙ אֶחָ֔ד שַׁ֥עַר לֵוִ֖י אֶחָֽד׃
And the gates of the city shall be according to the names of the tribes of Yisraʾel—three gates northward: one gate of Reʾuven, one gate of Yehuda, one gate of Levi.
Morphology
- וְשַׁעֲרֵי (ve-shaʿarei) – Root: שער (shaʿar); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “and the gates of”; Notes: Introduces the detailed description of the city gates and their tribal associations.
- הָעִיר (ha-ʿir) – Root: עיר (ʿir); Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the city”; Notes: Refers to the sacred city described in Ezekiel’s vision.
- עַל־שְׁמֹות (ʿal-shemot) – Root: שם (shem); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “according to the names of”; Notes: Indicates that each gate is named after one of the tribes of Yisraʾel.
- שִׁבְטֵי (shivtei) – Root: שבט (shevet); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “tribes of”; Notes: Refers to the twelve tribes descended from Yaʿaqov (Israel).
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: Represents the collective identity of the nation in the restored land.
- שְׁעָרִים (sheʿarim) – Root: שער (shaʿar); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “gates”; Notes: Specifies multiple entryways into the city.
- שְׁלֹושָׁה (sheloshah) – Root: שלש (shalosh); Form: Numeral masculine singular absolute; Translation: “three”; Notes: Denotes the total number of gates located on the northern side.
- צָפֹונָה (tsafonah) – Root: צפון (tsafon); Form: Noun masculine singular with directional suffix; Translation: “northward”; Notes: Specifies the direction of the gates.
- שַׁעַר (shaʿar) – Root: שער (shaʿar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “gate”; Notes: Introduces the list of individual gates named for the tribes.
- רְאוּבֵן (Reʾuven) – Root: רא”ה (raʾah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Reʾuven” (Reuben); Notes: The firstborn tribe of Yisraʾel, representing leadership and precedence.
- אֶחָד (eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾaḥad); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Indicates that each tribe has one gate bearing its name.
- שַׁעַר (shaʿar) – Root: שער (shaʿar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “gate”; Notes: Repeated to introduce the next tribal gate.
- יְהוּדָה (Yehudah) – Root: ידה (yadah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yehudah” (Judah); Notes: The royal tribe, often associated with kingship and praise.
- אֶחָד (eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾaḥad); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Specifies one gate for the tribe of Yehudah.
- שַׁעַר (shaʿar) – Root: שער (shaʿar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “gate”; Notes: Continues the list of gate names.
- לֵוִי (Levi) – Root: לוה (lavah); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Levi”; Notes: The priestly tribe set apart for service to YHWH, honored with a gate named after it.
- אֶחָד (eḥad) – Root: אחד (ʾaḥad); Form: Numeral masculine singular; Translation: “one”; Notes: Indicates that the tribe of Levi also has one designated gate.