Isaiah 21:2

חָז֥וּת קָשָׁ֖ה הֻגַּד־לִ֑י הַבֹּוגֵ֤ד בֹּוגֵד֙ וְהַשֹּׁודֵ֣ד שֹׁודֵ֔ד עֲלִ֤י עֵילָם֙ צוּרִ֣י מָדַ֔י כָּל־אַנְחָתָ֖ה הִשְׁבַּֽתִּי׃

A hard vision has been told to me: ‘the betrayer betrays and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam! Besiege, Madai! All her groaning I have made to cease.’

Morphology

1. חָז֥וּת (ḥazut) – Root: חזה (ḥazah); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “vision”; Notes: Refers to a prophetic or revelatory vision, typically one bearing judgment.
2. קָשָׁ֖ה (qashah) – Root: קשה (qashah); Form: Adjective feminine singular; Translation: “hard”; Notes: Describes the vision as severe, distressing, or difficult to bear.
3. הֻגַּד־לִ֑י (huggad-li) – Root: נגד (nagad); Form: Hofal perfect 3rd person masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “has been told to me”; Notes: Passive causative, emphasizing the reception of a divine message.
4. הַבֹּוגֵ֤ד (ha-boged) – Root: בגד (bagad); Form: Definite article + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “the betrayer”; Notes: Refers to a treacherous or faithless agent.
5. בֹּוגֵד֙ (boged) – Root: בגד (bagad); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “betrays”; Notes: Repetition for emphasis—conveys ongoing treachery.
6. וְהַשֹּׁודֵ֣ד (ve-ha-shoded) – Root: שׁדד (shadad); Form: Conjunction + definite article + Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “and the destroyer”; Notes: Parallels the betrayer, a recurring poetic feature.
7. שֹׁודֵ֔ד (shoded) – Root: שׁדד (shadad); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “destroys”; Notes: Repeated to mirror betrayal and emphasize destruction.
8. עֲלִ֤י (ʿali) – Root: עלה (ʿalah); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “Go up!”; Notes: A command directed to ʿElam to engage in attack or action.
9. עֵילָם֙ (ʿElam) – Root: עילם (ʿElam); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “ʿElam”; Notes: Refers to a region east of Babylonia, often allied with Madai.
10. צוּרִ֣י (tsuri) – Root: צור (tsur); Form: Qal imperative masculine singular with 1cs suffix (energic); Translation: “Besiege!”; Notes: Call to arms—likely directed at Madai. The suffix form may reflect stylistic or poetic emphasis.
11. מָדַ֔י (Madai) – Root: מד (Madai); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Madai”; Notes: Ancient kingdom associated with the Medes, allies in divine judgment.
12. כָּל־אַנְחָתָ֖ה (kol-anḥatah) – Root: אנח (ʾanakh); Form: Noun feminine singular construct + 3fs suffix; Translation: “all her groaning”; Notes: Refers to the suffering or anguish of the attacked city or people.
13. הִשְׁבַּֽתִּי (hishbati) – Root: שׁבת (shavat); Form: Hifil perfect 1st person singular; Translation: “I have made to cease”; Notes: A causative verb—possibly the prophet speaking on YHWH’s behalf or a divine declaration of silencing grief.