וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י כַּֽדְכֹד֙ שִׁמְשֹׁתַ֔יִךְ וּשְׁעָרַ֖יִךְ לְאַבְנֵ֣י אֶקְדָּ֑ח וְכָל־גְּבוּלֵ֖ךְ לְאַבְנֵי־חֵֽפֶץ׃
And I will make your battlements of ruby, and your gates of sparkling stones, and all your borders of precious stones.
Morphology
- וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י (ve-samti) – Root: שׂים; Form: Conjunction + Qal perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “And I will make”; Notes: YHWH speaking a promise of restoration and beautification.
- כַּֽדְכֹד֙ (kadkod) – Root: Unknown (hapax); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “ruby” or “crimson stone”; Notes: A rare gem; possibly a deep red gemstone like garnet or ruby.
- שִׁמְשֹׁתַ֔יִךְ (shimshotayikh) – Root: שׁמשׁ; Form: Noun feminine dual + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your battlements” or “pinnacles”; Notes: May relate to decorative or exposed parts of the structure.
- וּשְׁעָרַ֖יִךְ (u-sheʿarayikh) – Root: שער; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine dual + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “and your gates”; Notes: Dual form refers to the two-leaved gates of a city.
- לְאַבְנֵ֣י (le-avnei) – Root: אבן; Form: Preposition + construct noun masculine plural; Translation: “of stones”; Notes: Introduces the material from which the gates are made.
- אֶקְדָּ֑ח (ʾeqdaḥ) – Root: קדח; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “sparkling stones” or “fiery stones”; Notes: Possibly volcanic or gleaming gemstones like carbuncle or flint.
- וְכָל־ (ve-khol) – Root: כל; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “and all”; Notes: Introduces a comprehensive scope.
- גְּבוּלֵ֖ךְ (gevuleikh) – Root: גבול; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + 2nd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “your borders”; Notes: Refers to the outer edges or boundaries of the city.
- לְאַבְנֵי־חֵֽפֶץ (le-avnei-ḥefets) – Root: אבן / חפץ; Form: Preposition + construct noun masculine plural + absolute noun masculine singular; Translation: “of precious stones”; Notes: Literally “stones of delight”—indicates valuable or desirable gems.