Isaiah 57:5

הַנֵּֽחָמִים֙ בָּֽאֵלִ֔ים תַּ֖חַת כָּל־עֵ֣ץ רַעֲנָ֑ן שֹׁחֲטֵ֤י הַיְלָדִים֙ בַּנְּחָלִ֔ים תַּ֖חַת סְעִפֵ֥י הַסְּלָעִֽים׃

Those who comfort themselves with the terebinths under every green tree, slaughterers of the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks.

Morphology

1. הַנֵּֽחָמִים (ha-neḥamim) – Root: נחם (naḥam); Form: Nifal participle masculine plural with definite article; Translation: “those who comfort themselves”; Notes: May indicate self-consolation or idolatrous ritual seeking solace; passive-reflexive meaning in Nifal.
2. בָּאֵלִים (ba-ʾelim) – Root: אֵלָה (elah); Form: Preposition בְּ + plural masculine noun with definite article; Translation: “with the terebinths”; Notes: Possibly a reference to cultic trees used in idolatrous practices.
3. תַּחַת (taḥat) – Root: תחת (taḥat); Form: Preposition; Translation: “under”; Notes: Used to describe spatial position, often of ritual practice locations.
4. כָּל־עֵץ (kol-ʿets) – Root: כל (kol) / עץ (ʿets); Form: Construct phrase: “every” + masculine singular noun; Translation: “every tree”; Notes: Generalized image of locations for pagan rituals.
5. רַעֲנָן (raʿanan) – Root: רענן (raʿanan); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “green” or “leafy”; Notes: Suggests lushness—attractive setting for cultic activity.
6. שֹׁחֲטֵי (shoḥaṭei) – Root: שׁחט (shaḥat); Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “slaughterers of”; Notes: Refers to those performing ritual slaughter, in this context of children.
7. הַיְלָדִים (ha-yeladim) – Root: ילד (yalad); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the children”; Notes: Object of slaughter, emphasizing the horror of the idolatrous act.
8. בַּנְּחָלִים (ba-neḥalim) – Root: נחל (naḥal); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite plural masculine noun; Translation: “in the valleys”; Notes: Valleys often associated with cultic and burial practices (e.g., Ge-Hinnom).
9. תַּחַת (taḥat) – Root: תחת (taḥat); Form: Preposition; Translation: “under”; Notes: Repeated preposition continuing the spatial imagery.
10. סְעִפֵי (seʿipei) – Root: סעף (saʿaf); Form: Plural construct masculine noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “clefts of”; Notes: Refers to branchings or fissures—used metaphorically for hidden rocky places.
11. הַסְּלָעִים (ha-selaʿim) – Root: סלע (selaʿ); Form: Definite plural masculine noun; Translation: “the rocks”; Notes: Culminates the image of secret or sacred sites of idolatrous sacrifice.