Joel 2:16

אִסְפוּ־עָ֞ם קַדְּשׁ֤וּ קָהָל֙ קִבְצ֣וּ זְקֵנִ֔ים אִסְפוּ֙ עֹֽולָלִ֔ים וְיֹנְקֵ֖י שָׁדָ֑יִם יֵצֵ֤א חָתָן֙ מֵֽחֶדְרֹ֔ו וְכַלָּ֖ה מֵחֻפָּתָֽהּ׃

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the infants and nursing babies; let the bridegroom come out from his chamber and the bride from her canopy.

Morphology

1. אִסְפוּ־ (isfu) – Root: אסף (asaf); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “gather”; Notes: A call to assemble all people for communal repentance before YHWH.
2. עָ֞ם (ʿam) – Root: עם (ʿam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “people”; Notes: Refers collectively to the nation of Yisraʾel.
3. קַדְּשׁ֤וּ (qaddeshu) – Root: קדשׁ (qadash); Form: Piel imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “sanctify”; Notes: Means to consecrate or set apart as holy for worship or repentance.
4. קָהָל֙ (qahal) – Root: קהל (qahal); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “assembly” or “congregation”; Notes: Refers to the gathered community of YHWH’s people.
5. קִבְצ֣וּ (qivtsu) – Root: קבץ (qavats); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “assemble”; Notes: Reinforces the call to bring all groups together in unity before YHWH.
6. זְקֵנִ֔ים (zeqenim) – Root: זקן (zaqan); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “elders”; Notes: Represents the respected leaders or senior members of the community.
7. אִסְפוּ֙ (isfu) – Root: אסף (asaf); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “gather”; Notes: Repetition emphasizes inclusivity—no one is exempt from the call.
8. עֹֽולָלִ֔ים (ʿolalim) – Root: עלל (ʿalal); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “infants”; Notes: Very young children, symbolizing total communal participation.
9. וְיֹנְקֵ֖י (ve-yonqei) – Root: ינק (yanaq); Form: Conjunction + Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “and those nursing”; Notes: Denotes breastfeeding babies, highlighting universal inclusion.
10. שָׁדָ֑יִם (shadayim) – Root: שׁד (shad); Form: Noun dual feminine; Translation: “breasts”; Notes: Completes the phrase “nursing babies.”
11. יֵצֵ֤א (yetze) – Root: יצא (yatsaʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular (jussive nuance); Translation: “let him come out”; Notes: Expresses permission or exhortation for immediate participation.
12. חָתָן֙ (ḥatan) – Root: חתן (ḥatan); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “bridegroom”; Notes: Represents joy and celebration, now interrupted by the solemn call to repentance.
13. מֵֽחֶדְרֹ֔ו (me-ḥedro) – Root: חדר (ḥadar); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular + suffix 3ms; Translation: “from his chamber”; Notes: Denotes private quarters—symbolic of intimacy disrupted by divine summons.
14. וְכַלָּ֖ה (ve-kallah) – Root: כלה (kalah); Form: Conjunction + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and the bride”; Notes: The feminine counterpart to the bridegroom, also called to join the assembly.
15. מֵחֻפָּתָֽהּ (me-ḥuppatah) – Root: חפה (ḥafah); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular + suffix 3fs; Translation: “from her canopy”; Notes: Refers to the bridal tent or marriage canopy; all joy must give way to repentance before YHWH.