Isaiah 5:30

וְיִנְהֹ֥ם עָלָ֛יו בַּיֹּ֥ום הַה֖וּא כְּנַהֲמַת־יָ֑ם וְנִבַּ֤ט לָאָ֨רֶץ֙ וְהִנֵּה־חֹ֔שֶׁךְ צַ֣ר וָאֹ֔ור חָשַׁ֖ךְ בַּעֲרִיפֶֽיהָ׃ פ

And he shall roar over it on that day like the roaring of the sea, and one shall look to the land, and behold, darkness, distress, and the light is darkened in its skies.

Morphology

1. וְיִנְהֹם (ve-yinhom) – Root: נהם (naham); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and he shall roar”; Notes: Refers to a threatening or tumultuous noise, often used of lions or the sea.
2. עָלָיו (ʿalav) – Root: על (ʿal); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “over it”; Notes: The object of the roaring—likely the land or people.
3. בַּיֹּום (ba-yom) – Root: יום (yom); Form: Preposition בְּ + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “on the day”; Notes: Indicates a specific moment of judgment or calamity.
4. הַהוּא (ha-hu) – Root: הוא (hu); Form: Demonstrative adjective masculine singular; Translation: “that”; Notes: Modifies “day” to indicate a future or fateful event.
5. כְּנַהֲמַת־יָם (ke-nahamat-yam) – Root: נהם (naham), ים (yam); Form: Comparative phrase: preposition כְּ + noun feminine singular in construct + noun masculine singular; Translation: “like the roaring of the sea”; Notes: Evokes the thunderous, unstoppable nature of judgment.
6. וְנִבַּט (ve-nibbat) – Root: נבט (nabat); Form: Nifal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with vav-consecutive; Translation: “and one looked” or “and it was looked upon”; Notes: Passive voice expressing observation.
7. לָאָרֶץ (la-aretz) – Root: ארץ (ʾaretz); Form: Preposition לְ + definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “to the land”; Notes: The object of fearful gaze—land in turmoil.
8. וְהִנֵּה (ve-hinneh) – Root: נה (hinneh); Form: Interjection; Translation: “and behold”; Notes: Introduces a dramatic or startling scene.
9. חֹשֶׁךְ (ḥoshekh) – Root: חשׁך (ḥ-sh-kh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “darkness”; Notes: Symbol of judgment or divine abandonment.
10. צַר (tsar) – Root: צרר (tsarar); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “distress”; Notes: Denotes anguish or affliction.
11. וָאוֹר (va-or) – Root: אור (ʾor); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and light”; Notes: Juxtaposed with darkness, but here reversed—light itself fails.
12. חָשַׁךְ (ḥashakh) – Root: חשׁך (ḥ-sh-kh); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is darkened”; Notes: Irony of even light succumbing to darkness.
13. בַּעֲרִיפֶיהָ (ba-ʿaripheha) – Root: ערף (ʿoref); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “in its skies” or “cloud heights”; Notes: Likely poetic term for heaven or atmosphere—darkness extends even there.