וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ אֶת־מְקֹ֣ום כִּסְאִ֗י וְאֶת־מְקֹום֙ כַּפֹּ֣ות רַגְלַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֶשְׁכָּן־שָׁ֛ם בְּתֹ֥וךְ בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְעֹולָ֑ם וְלֹ֣א יְטַמְּא֣וּ עֹ֣וד בֵּֽית־֠יִשְׂרָאֵל שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֞י הֵ֤מָּה וּמַלְכֵיהֶם֙ בִּזְנוּתָ֔ם וּבְפִגְרֵ֥י מַלְכֵיהֶ֖ם בָּמֹותָֽם׃
(Ezekiel 43:7)
Clause Structure Overview
The verse consists of two main thematic units, joined by a waw-consecutive, each with subordinate clauses:
- וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי — Narrative introduction, “And He said to me”
- Direct divine speech describing:
- The place of YHWH’s throne and footstool (אֶת־מְקֹום כִּסְאִי … אֶת־מְקֹום כַּפֹּות רַגְלַי)
- Purpose clause (אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁכָּן־שָׁם … לְעוֹלָם)
- Prohibition clause with future negation (וְלֹא יְטַמְּאוּ עוֹד …)
Detailed Grammatical Observations
| Phrase | Morphology | Syntactic Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאמֶר | Wayyiqtol Qal 3ms from אָמַר | Main narrative verb | Signals a new prophetic utterance. |
| אֵלַי | Prep. + 1cs suffix | Indirect object | Recipient of the divine message — the prophet. |
| בֶּן־אָדָם | Noun construct + noun absolute | Vocative | Characteristic Ezekielian address formula. |
| אֶת־מְקֹום כִּסְאִי … אֶת־מְקֹום כַּפֹּות רַגְלַי | Accusative direct object phrases | Objects of implied demonstrative identification | Parallelism highlights throne and footstool as symbols of divine reign. |
| אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁכָּן־שָׁם … לְעוֹלָם | Relative clause with imperfect Qal 1cs of שָׁכַן | Purpose/relative modifier | Emphasizes permanent divine indwelling among Yisraʾel. |
| וְלֹא יְטַמְּאוּ עוֹד | Waw + negation + imperfect Piel 3mp of טָמֵא | Main prohibition/future negation | Signals covenantal purity expectation. |
| בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל | Noun construct + proper noun | Subject of the prohibition clause | Refers collectively to the covenant community. |
| שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי | Noun + construct | Object of verb “defile” | “My holy name” — central theological focus of the book. |
| הֵמָּה וּמַלְכֵיהֶם… | Independent pronoun + waw conjunctive + plural noun + suffix | Appositional elaboration | Clarifies both people and rulers are responsible for prior defilement. |
Syntactic Flow
– The verse moves from vocative address → identification of the divine dwelling place → eternal permanence clause → covenantal prohibition → historical culpability.
– Parallelism in the double אֶת־מְקֹום heightens emphasis on both aspects of divine presence — reign and rest.
– The waw-consecutive on וְלֹא shifts from affirmation of God’s dwelling to a preventative statement regarding future behavior.
Theological and Literary Implications
This is more than temple architecture — it is covenantal geography:
– The “throne” and “footstool” are spatial metaphors for God’s universal kingship and localized presence.
– The permanence (“forever”) clause links to Zion theology but reimagined in the exilic-prophetic framework.
– The prohibition functions as a moral boundary for restored worship.
Resting Place of Holiness
Ezekiel 43:7 presents a vision where the syntax mirrors the theology: parallelism for emphasis, relative clauses for permanence, and negated imperfects for moral resolve. The grammar constructs a sanctuary in words before it is rebuilt in stone.