אִם־גִּלְעָ֥ד אָ֨וֶן֙ אַךְ־שָׁ֣וְא הָי֔וּ בַּגִּלְגָּ֖ל שְׁוָרִ֣ים זִבֵּ֑חוּ גַּ֤ם מִזְבְּחֹותָם֙ כְּגַלִּ֔ים עַ֖ל תַּלְמֵ֥י שָׂדָֽי׃
If Gileʿad is iniquity, surely they are vanity; in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, yes, their altars are like heaps upon the furrows of the field.
Morphology
- אִם (ʾim) – Root: אם (ʾim); Form: Conditional particle; Translation: “if”; Notes: Introduces a hypothetical or rhetorical clause implying condemnation.
- גִּלְעָד (Gilʿad) – Root: גלעד (Gilʿad); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Gilʿad”; Notes: A region east of the Yarden, known for its healing balm but here condemned for corruption and idolatry.
- אָוֶן (ʾaven) – Root: און (ʾaven); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “iniquity”; Notes: Often used figuratively for wickedness or idolatry—echoing Bet-Aven (“House of Iniquity,” i.e., Bet-El).
- אַךְ (ʾakh) – Root: אך (ʾakh); Form: Adverb; Translation: “surely” or “indeed”; Notes: Intensifies the statement that follows—emphasizes certainty of their vanity.
- שָׁוְא (shav) – Root: שוא (shav); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “vanity” or “emptiness”; Notes: Denotes futility or deception—spiritual worthlessness of their worship.
- הָיוּ (hayu) – Root: היה (hayah); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they were”; Notes: States their condition—those of Gilʿad have become vain.
- בַּגִּלְגָּל (ba-Gilgal) – Root: גלגל (Gilgal); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite proper noun; Translation: “in Gilgal”; Notes: Sacred site perverted by idol sacrifices; represents corrupted worship centers.
- שְׁוָרִים (shevarim) – Root: שור (shor); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “bulls”; Notes: Animals often used in idolatrous rituals; contrasts with true sacrificial worship to YHWH.
- זִבֵּחוּ (zibbeḥu) – Root: זבח (zavaḥ); Form: Piel perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they sacrificed”; Notes: The intensive stem stresses active ritual participation—hypocritical sacrifice detached from righteousness.
- גַּם (gam) – Root: גם (gam); Form: Adverb; Translation: “also” or “even”; Notes: Adds emphasis, connecting their actions with their altars’ proliferation.
- מִזְבְּחֹותָם (mizbeḥotam) – Root: מזבח (mizbeaḥ); Form: Noun masculine plural + suffix 3mp; Translation: “their altars”; Notes: Represents the multiplication of illegitimate worship sites opposing YHWH’s covenantal order.
- כְּגַלִּים (ke-gallim) – Root: גל (gal); Form: Preposition כְּ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “like heaps”; Notes: Simile comparing their many altars to stone heaps scattered over fields—symbols of ruin and futility.
- עַל (ʿal) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition; Translation: “upon”; Notes: Marks spatial relation—where the heaps (altars) are set, on the furrows.
- תַּלְמֵי (talmei) – Root: תלם (telem); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “furrows of”; Notes: Denotes rows or ridges in plowed fields, continuing the agricultural imagery.
- שָׂדָי (saday) – Root: שדה (sadeh); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “field”; Notes: Completes the imagery—heaps of stone scattered over a field symbolize the barren results of false worship.