Introduction to Isaiah 13:4
Isaiah 13:4 describes a prophetic vision of a great army assembling for war, with nations gathering under divine command. The Nifal participle נֶאֱסָפִים (neʾesafim) plays a crucial role in conveying the passive nature of the assembly, highlighting that these nations are not gathering by their own initiative but rather under an external force. This analysis will explore the morphology, syntactic function, and semantic implications of this participle in the context of Biblical Hebrew.
קֹ֥ול הָמֹ֛ון בֶּֽהָרִ֖ים דְּמ֣וּת עַם־רָ֑ב קֹ֠ול שְׁאֹ֞ון מַמְלְכֹ֤ות גֹּויִם֙ נֶֽאֱסָפִ֔ים יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות מְפַקֵּ֖ד צְבָ֥א מִלְחָמָֽה׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
The Nifal participle נֶאֱסָפִים (neʾesafim) appears in the phrase:
קֹ֠ול שְׁאֹ֞ון מַמְלְכֹ֤ות גֹּויִם֙ נֶֽאֱסָפִ֔ים
This phrase consists of:
- קֹ֠ול שְׁאֹ֞ון (qōl šeʾōn) – “the sound of tumult” (construct phrase).
- מַמְלְכֹ֤ות גֹּויִם (mamləkhōt gōyim) – “kingdoms of nations” (construct chain).
- נֶאֱסָפִים (neʾesafim) – “are gathered together” (Nifal participle, passive action).
The verb נֶאֱסָפִים is the focus of our grammatical analysis.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
Morphological Analysis of נֶאֱסָפִים
The participle נֶאֱסָפִים is derived from the root אָסַף (ʾ-s-p), meaning “to gather, assemble.” It appears in the Nifal stem, which typically conveys passive or reflexive action.
Parsing Details
- Root: אָסַף (ʾ-s-p)
- Form: Nifal Participle Masculine Plural
- Translation: “Are gathered together” or “Have been assembled.”
The Function of the Nifal Participle
The Nifal binyan generally conveys:
- Passive Voice: The action is performed on the subject (e.g., “They are gathered”).
- Reflexive Voice: The subject experiences the action itself (e.g., “They gather themselves”).
In this verse, נֶאֱסָפִים carries a passive meaning: the nations are being gathered by an external force, namely YHWH’s command.
Lexical and Semantic Nuances
The root אָסַף (ʾ-s-p) is frequently used in contexts of gathering people, objects, or ideas, often indicating divine orchestration:
- Genesis 49:10 – וְלֹו יִקְּהַת עַמִּים (wəlō yīqqəhat ʿammīm), “To him shall be the gathering of the peoples.”
- Isaiah 11:12 – וְנִפְצוֹת יְהוּדָה יְקַבֵּץ (wənifṣōt yəhūḏāh yəqabbēṣ), “He will gather the dispersed of Judah.”
In Isaiah 13:4, נֶאֱסָפִים emphasizes the passive nature of the assembly, suggesting that the nations are not simply gathering of their own will, but rather are being brought together under divine command.
Word Order and Syntax
The phrase מַמְלְכֹ֤ות גֹּויִם נֶֽאֱסָפִ֔ים follows a noun-participle structure:
- מַמְלְכֹ֤ות גֹּויִם – “Kingdoms of nations” (subject).
- נֶאֱסָפִים – “Are gathered together” (verb in participle form).
This structure places emphasis on the nations as the recipient of the action, reinforcing the passive role of the kingdoms in YHWH’s divine plan.
The Role of נֶאֱסָפִים in Isaiah 13:4
The Nifal participle נֶאֱסָפִים in Isaiah 13:4 is essential for illustrating the divine orchestration of the nations’ gathering. The passive nature of the verb underscores that this assembly is not voluntary but divinely mandated, aligning with prophetic themes of YHWH’s sovereignty over history.
By using this participle, the passage conveys a sense of inevitability and divine control, highlighting that the nations are being summoned for a higher purpose, whether for judgment or divine intervention.
