וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃ (wat·tə·ḥal·le·hā) in Exodus 20:25: Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃ (wat·tə·ḥal·le·hā) in Exodus 20:25
Source Word
The Exodus 20:25 BSB+ word-table row 14 anchors וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃ as H2490, Conj-w | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-2ms | 3fs, for the rendering "you will defile it."
How The Form Affects Interpretation
You will defile it assigns responsibility to the addressed builder and marks the altar, not craftsmanship in general, as the object affected by the prohibited action. You will defile it preserves the second-person subject and feminine suffix, while the preceding tool clause supplies the condition that produces the result.
How To Communicate It
Trace the condition from wielding the chisel to defiling the altar, then distinguish the altar-specific prohibition from a general judgment on skilled work.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Do not use this altar-specific form to condemn every tool or form of craftsmanship.
- The feminine suffix points to the altar, not merely one stone.
- Piel does not imply that every crafted stone is defiled or condemn skilled work generally.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Piel
ConsecImperf
Second
Masculine
Singular
Not applicable
Waw conjunction
Third person feminine singular
The waw-linked Piel consecutive imperfect carries the altar builder as second-person subject and the altar as the attached feminine object. Using a chisel leads to you will defile it.
The finite form states the profaning result of the hearer's action and keeps the altar as the directly affected object.
What The Form Does In This Verse
The consequence clause following the prohibition against applying a chisel to the altar's stones
The instruction that an altar of stone be made from uncut stones for worship of the Lord
The finite form states the profaning result of the hearer's action and keeps the altar as the directly affected object.
Piel does not imply that every crafted stone is defiled or condemn skilled work generally.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form marks the builder as responsible and the altar as directly profaned by the prohibited tool.
The waw-linked Piel consecutive imperfect carries the altar builder as second-person subject and the altar as the attached feminine object. Using a chisel leads to you will defile it.. The finite form states the profaning result of the hearer's action and keeps the altar as the directly affected object.. Attached to the consequence clause following the prohibition against applying a chisel to the altar's stones. Governed by the instruction that an altar of stone be made from uncut stones for worship of the Lord. Piel does not imply that every crafted stone is defiled or condemn skilled work generally.
Who defiles what in Exodus 20:25? The addressed builder would defile the altar by using a chisel to shape its stones.
Direct: You will defile it preserves the second-person subject and feminine suffix, while the preceding tool clause supplies the condition that produces the result.
The feminine suffix points to the altar, not merely one stone. The form states a consequence inside a conditional prohibition.
Conj-w | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-2ms | 3fs at Exodus 20:25 treated as the whole interpretation: Do not use this altar-specific form to condemn every tool or form of craftsmanship. the English rendering "you will defile it" detached from its Hebrew form: Keep "you will defile it" connected to וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃, row 14, and the full Exodus 20:25 clause.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The Exodus 20:25 BSB+ word-table row 14 anchors וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃ as H2490, Conj-w | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-2ms | 3fs, for the rendering "you will defile it."
For h2490-exodus-20-25-conj-w-v-piel-consecimperf-2ms-3fs, חָלַל is the lemma behind "you will defile it" at row 14; this exact token keeps H2490 tied to Exodus 20:25.
The waw-linked Piel consecutive imperfect carries the altar builder as second-person subject and the altar as the attached feminine object. Using a chisel leads to you will defile it.
Exodus 20:25 protects the altar from prohibited alteration: applying a chisel to its stones would profane it.
The consequence is bounded by Israel's altar instruction at Sinai; broader claims about tools, artistry, or sacred space require their own textual warrant.
Trace the condition from wielding the chisel to defiling the altar, then distinguish the altar-specific prohibition from a general judgment on skilled work.
Do not use this altar-specific form to condemn every tool or form of craftsmanship.