Joel 1:14

קַדְּשׁוּ־צֹום֙ קִרְא֣וּ עֲצָרָ֔ה אִסְפ֣וּ זְקֵנִ֗ים כֹּ֚ל יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם וְזַעֲק֖וּ אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃

Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of YHWH your God, and cry out to YHWH.

Morphology

1. קַדְּשׁוּ (qaddeshu) – Root: קדשׁ; Form: Piel imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “sanctify,” “set apart”; Notes: Command to consecrate a fast by declaring it holy and devoted to YHWH.
2. צֹום (tsom) – Root: צום; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “fast”; Notes: Refers to abstaining from food for repentance or supplication; often accompanied by prayer and mourning.
3. קִרְאוּ (qirʾu) – Root: קרא; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “call”; Notes: Command to proclaim or summon people for a sacred gathering.
4. עֲצָרָה (ʿatsarah) – Root: עצר; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “solemn assembly”; Notes: A formal religious convocation, often for fasting or repentance (cf. Lev. 23:36).
5. אִסְפוּ (isfu) – Root: אסף; Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “gather”; Notes: Instruction to assemble people for collective lamentation and prayer.
6. זְקֵנִים (zekenim) – Root: זקן; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “elders”; Notes: Denotes leaders or senior members of the community; often called upon in times of national crisis.
7. כֹּל (kol) – Root: כל; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “all”; Notes: Introduces the inclusiveness of the gathering—all the inhabitants of the land.
8. יֹשְׁבֵי (yoshevei) – Root: ישׁב; Form: Qal participle masculine plural construct; Translation: “inhabitants of”; Notes: Denotes those dwelling in the land; participial form used substantively.
9. הָאָרֶץ (ha-aretz) – Root: ארץ; Form: Definite noun feminine singular with article הַ; Translation: “the land”; Notes: Refers to the land of Yisraʾel or the nation as a whole.
10. בֵּית (beit) – Root: בית; Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “house of”; Notes: Refers to the Temple as the dwelling place of YHWH.
11. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The personal covenantal name of God.
12. אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (eloheikhem) – Root: אלה; Form: Noun masculine plural construct + suffix 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “your God”; Notes: Identifies YHWH as the God of the community being summoned to repentance.
13. וְזַעֲקוּ (ve-zaʿaqu) – Root: זעק; Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal imperative 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “and cry out”; Notes: Expresses urgent, vocal supplication to God; part of the communal act of repentance.
14. אֶל (ʾel) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition; Translation: “to,” “unto”; Notes: Indicates direction of prayer—directed toward YHWH.
15. יְהוָה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun, divine name; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: Repetition at the verse’s end emphasizes that the appeal and repentance are directed to Him alone.