לֹ֥א

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 לֹ֥א

   LO

   not
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 לֹ֥א סְלוּלָֽה׃

   LO se-lu-LA

   not built up or raised highway
3. clause🔊 וַיַּכְשִׁל֤וּם בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם֙ שְׁבִילֵ֣י עוֹלָ֔ם לָלֶ֣כֶת נְתִיב֔וֹת דֶּ֖רֶךְ לֹ֥א סְלוּלָֽה׃

   va-yakh-shi-LUM be-dar-KHE-hem she-vi-LE o-LAM la-LE-khet ne-ti-VOT DE-rekh LO se-lu-LA

   and they have caused them to stumble in their ways paths of ancient time or eternity to walk paths a way or road not built up or raised highway
4. sentence🔊 כִּֽי־שְׁכֵחֻ֥נִי עַמִּ֖י לַשָּׁ֣וְא יְקַטֵּ֑רוּ וַיַּכְשִׁל֤וּם בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם֙ שְׁבִילֵ֣י עוֹלָ֔ם לָלֶ֣כֶת נְתִיב֔וֹת דֶּ֖רֶךְ לֹ֥א סְלוּלָֽה׃

   ki-she-KHE-khu-ni a-MI la-SHAV ye-kat-TE-ru va-yakh-shi-LUM be-dar-KHE-hem she-vi-LE o-LAM la-LE-khet ne-ti-VOT DE-rekh LO se-lu-LA

   for they have forgotten me my people to what is worthless or false they make incense offerings and they have caused them to stumble in their ways paths of ancient time or eternity to walk paths a way or road not built up or raised highway

Exegesis

Finally, the infinitive construct lā-le-khet netivot derekh lo-selulah {לָלֶכֶת נְתִיבוֹת דֶּרֶךְ לֹא סְלוּלָה | lā-le-khet nə-ti-wōṯ ḏe-reḵ lō sə-lū-lā} serves as a purpose clause, highlighting the deliberate departure onto side trails rather than the established highway.

Root and etymology

m-l-ʾ🔊 mem–lamed–aleph

“work, occupation”

• 🔊 מַלְאָךְmal’akhmessengerGenesis 16:7