לִבְנֹ֥ות לָ֨נוּ֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לָשׁ֖וּב מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְאִם־לְהַעֲלֹ֨ות עָלָ֜יו עֹולָ֣ה וּמִנְחָ֗ה וְאִם־לַעֲשֹׂ֤ות עָלָיו֙ זִבְחֵ֣י שְׁלָמִ֔ים יְהוָ֖ה ה֥וּא יְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃
To build for ourselves an altar to turn away from following YHWH? Or if to offer upon it burnt offering and grain offering, or if to perform upon it sacrifices of peace offerings—YHWH, He shall require it.
Morphology
- לִבְנֹ֥ות (livnot) – Root: בנה (banah); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to build”; Notes: Indicates purpose.
- לָ֨נוּ֙ (lanu) – Root: לנו (lanu); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “for ourselves”; Notes: Shows possession or intention.
- מִזְבֵּ֔חַ (mizbeaḥ) – Root: מזבח (mizbeaḥ); Form: Noun, masculine singular absolute; Translation: “an altar”; Notes: The object being built.
- לָשׁ֖וּב (lashuv) – Root: שוב (shuv); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to turn away”; Notes: Purpose clause.
- מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י (me-aḥarei) – Root: אחר (aḥar); Form: Preposition; Translation: “from following”; Notes: Indicates separation.
- יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Refers to the divine name.
- וְאִם־ (ve-ʾim) – Root: אם (ʾim); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or if”; Notes: Introduces an alternative possibility.
- לְהַעֲלֹ֨ות (le-haʿalot) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to offer up”; Notes: Describes the action of sacrifice.
- עָלָ֜יו (ʿalav) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “upon it”; Notes: Refers to the altar.
- עֹולָ֣ה (ʿolah) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “burnt offering”; Notes: A type of sacrifice.
- וּמִנְחָ֗ה (u-minḥah) – Root: מנחה (minḥah); Form: Noun, feminine singular absolute; Translation: “grain offering”; Notes: A non-meat offering.
- וְאִם־ (ve-ʾim) – Root: אם (ʾim); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “or if”; Notes: Introduces another alternative.
- לַעֲשֹׂ֤ות (laʿasot) – Root: עשה (ʿasah); Form: Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to perform”; Notes: Describes action.
- עָלָיו֙ (ʿalav) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “upon it”; Notes: Refers to the altar.
- זִבְחֵ֣י (zivḥei) – Root: זבח (zavaḥ); Form: Noun, masculine plural construct; Translation: “sacrifices of”; Notes: Refers to offerings.
- שְׁלָמִ֔ים (shelamim) – Root: שלם (shalam); Form: Noun, masculine plural absolute; Translation: “peace offerings”; Notes: A specific type of sacrifice.
- יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The subject of the verb.
- ה֥וּא (hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Pronoun, 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He”; Notes: Emphasizes agency.
- יְבַקֵּֽשׁ (yevakesh) – Root: בקש (baqash); Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “shall require it”; Notes: Expresses expectation of divine inquiry.