H6335b H6335b
to be scattered, dispersed (Niphal passive form)
A Niphal perfect verb appearing in Nahum 3:18, describing the scattering of the Assyrian king's people. The prophet announces to Assyria's ruler that 'your people are scattered on the mountains' with none to gather them—an image of total disintegration and abandonment. The verb form is textually uncertain; many scholars suggest reading a more common root for 'scatter' (naphotsu from pûts). The image is of a leaderless, dispersed population, the ultimate sign of national collapse.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A passive verb meaning 'to be scattered' or 'dispersed,' used in Nahum 3:18 to describe the fate of Assyria's people. The prophet declares that the shepherds (leaders) slumber and the people are scattered across the mountains without anyone to gather them. Though textually uncertain (possibly emended from naphoshu to naphotsu), the sense is clear: complete dispersion and abandonment. Spanish 'dispersado' and French 'scattered' capture this image of a population broken apart and left leaderless. 1×
AR["تَبَدَّدَ"]·ben["ছড়িয়ে-পড়েছে"]·DE["seine-Seele"]·EN["are-scattered"]·FR["son-âme"]·heb["נפושו"]·HI["बिखर-गई-है"]·ID["terserak"]·IT["la-sua-anima"]·jav["sumebar"]·KO["흩어졌도다"]·PT["dispersou-se"]·RU["рассеялся"]·ES["Dispersado"]·SW["wametawanyika"]·TR["dağıldılar"]·urd["بکھر-گئے"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. [פּוּשׁ] vb. Niph. be scattered;—3 pl. נָפ֫שׁוּ עַמְּךָ עַל־הֶהָרִים Na 3:18 (read prob. נָפֹצוּ).