| 12. Linguistic Exegesis This verse employs Hebrew poetic parallelism. It begins with the interjection hoy {הוֹי | hōy} ‘woe’, a solemn call to attention. The construct chain hamon amim rabbim {הֲמוֹן עַמִּים רַבִּים | hā-môn ʿammîm rabbîm} layers “multitude” + “peoples” + “many” to portray an immense assembly. The first simile, ka-hamôt yammîm yehemāyûn {כַּהֲמוֹת יַמִּים יֶהֱמָיוּן | ka-hamôt yammîm yehemāyûn} ‘like the roaring of seas, they roar’, creates vivid turbulence. The conjunction u-šeʼôn lə-ummîm {וּשְׁאוֹן לְאֻמִּים | u-šeʼôn lə-ʾummîm} introduces a second parallel unit, “noise of nations.” Finally, ki-šeʼôn mayyîm kabîrîm yissāʼûn {כִּשְׁאוֹן מַיִם כַּבִּירִים יִשָּׁאוּן | ki-šeʼôn mayyîm kabîrîm yissāʼûn} parallels the previous simile, depicting nations surging like mighty waters. The repetitive structure and balanced phrases amplify the prophetic warning of overwhelming chaos. |