עֹ֘לֹ֤ות מֵחִ֣ים אַעֲלֶה־֭לָּךְ עִם־קְטֹ֣רֶת אֵילִ֑ים אֶ֥עֱשֶֽׂה בָקָ֖ר עִם־עַתּוּדִ֣ים סֶֽלָה׃ (Psalm 66:15)
Burnt offerings of fat animals I will offer to you with the smoke of rams I will prepare cattle with male goats Selah.
Introduction: Verbal Stems in Worship’s Highest Flame
Psalm 66:15 voices a crescendo of worship: burnt offerings, incense, and choice animals. But behind the sensory images are two binyanim that shape the worshipper’s approach. The psalmist doesn’t just do sacrifice—he elevates it, with verbs chosen for theological emphasis. In this verse, the binyanim are the quiet engines behind the worship vocabulary.
Core Verbs in the Verse
This verse contains two active verbs:
1. אַעֲלֶה — “I will offer up”
2. אֶעֱשֶׂה — “I will prepare” or “I will do”
Let’s explore their binyanim, morphology, and literary effects.
1. אַעֲלֶה — Hiphil, Imperfect, 1cs
Root: עָלָה (to go up)
Binyan: Hiphil
Voice: Causative
Morphology:
– Prefix א: 1st person singular
– Hiphil stem vowel pattern: אַעֲלֶה
– No suffix: standard imperfect form
Semantic Force:
– In Qal, עָלָה means “to ascend.”
– In Hiphil, it becomes “to cause to ascend,” i.e., “to offer up (a sacrifice).”
– This is the technical temple language for sacrificial offering.
– It evokes both ritual elevation (ascending smoke) and spiritual ascent.
Why Hiphil?
– The Hiphil denotes intentional, priest-like action.
– The psalmist identifies himself not as a mere donor but as one actively causing the offering to rise.
– This stem also aligns with the noun עֹלוֹת (burnt offerings), a word derived from the same root.
2. אֶעֱשֶׂה — Qal, Imperfect, 1cs
Root: עָשָׂה (to do, make)
Binyan: Qal
Voice: Active
Function:
– The verb אֶעֱשֶׂה is generic: “I will do/make/prepare”
– Qal is the most basic, unmarked stem, expressing simple action.
– It balances the previous Hiphil verb with simplicity and humility.
Why Not Use Hiphil or Piel Here?
– Qal reflects unadorned effort—it is the hand that prepares, not the priest that officiates.
– The psalmist moves from the elevated language of אַעֲלֶה to the grounded language of אֶעֱשֶׂה, reinforcing a full-body approach to worship: both exalted offering and personal preparation.
Comparative Table: Binyanim in Action
| Verb | Root | Binyan | Voice | Meaning | Why This Binyan? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַעֲלֶה | עלה | Hiphil | Causative | I will cause to ascend (offer) | Used for sacrificial ritual language |
| אֶעֱשֶׂה | עשה | Qal | Active | I will prepare/do | Direct, unembellished worship action |
When the Grammar Ascends
The binyanim in Psalm 66:15 elevate the verse beyond a shopping list of offerings. Hiphil reaches upward—literally lifting the sacrifice to the heavens. Qal stays grounded—ensuring the practical details are carried out.
Together, they capture a complete act of worship:
– Hiphil: causes the holy to rise.
– Qal: enacts it with faithful hands.
The sacrifice is not only fire and fat—it is grammar infused with intention, making the offering both spiritual and grammatical.
