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Recent Articles
- “Even in Your Thoughts”: The Subtle Hebrew Wisdom of Ecclesiastes 10:20
- The Silence of Wisdom: Verbal Restraint and Hebrew Syntax in Proverbs 10:19
- Intercession in Action: The Hebrew Flow of Exodus 10:18
- Endless Trials: Exploring the Hebrew of Job 10:17
- “I Have Sinned”: The Grammar of Urgency and Confession in Exodus 10:16
- Order in Motion: Nethanʾel son of Tsuʿar and the March of Issachar
- The Grammar of Vision: Enumerative Syntax and Symbolic Order in Ezekiel 10:14
- The Grammar of Divine Meteorology: Syntax and Pragmatic Force in Jeremiah 10:13
- When the Sun Stood Still: Syntax and Command in Joshua 10:12
- Woven with Wonder: Syntax and Embodied Imagery in Job 10:11
- The Wink and the Wound: Syntax, Parallelism, and Irony in Proverbs 10:10
- The Grammar of Surprise: The Wayyiqtol Chain and Temporal Progression in Joshua 10:9
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The Throne Among the People: Syntax and Theology in Ezekiel 43:7
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ אֶת־מְקֹ֣ום כִּסְאִ֗י וְאֶת־מְקֹום֙ כַּפֹּ֣ות רַגְלַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֶשְׁכָּן־שָׁ֛ם בְּתֹ֥וךְ בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְעֹולָ֑ם וְלֹ֣א יְטַמְּא֣וּ עֹ֣וד בֵּֽית־֠יִשְׂרָאֵל שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֞י הֵ֤מָּה וּמַלְכֵיהֶם֙ בִּזְנוּתָ֔ם וּבְפִגְרֵ֥י מַלְכֵיהֶ֖ם בָּמֹותָֽם׃
(Ezekiel 43:7)
Clause Structure Overview
The verse consists of two main thematic units, joined by a waw-consecutive, each with subordinate clauses:
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי — Narrative introduction, “And He said to me”
Direct divine speech describing:
The place of YHWH’s throne and footstool (אֶת־מְקֹום כִּסְאִי … אֶת־מְקֹום כַּפֹּות רַגְלַי)
Purpose clause (אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁכָּן־שָׁם … לְעוֹלָם)
Prohibition clause with future negation (וְלֹא יְטַמְּאוּ עוֹד …)
Detailed Grammatical Observations
Phrase
Morphology
Syntactic Role
Notes
וַיֹּאמֶר
Wayyiqtol Qal 3ms from אָמַר
Main narrative verb
Signals a new prophetic utterance.… Learn Hebrew
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Binyanim in Motion: How Verbal Stems Drive the Tension in Ruth 3:18
וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ שְׁבִ֣י בִתִּ֔י עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽדְעִ֔ין אֵ֖יךְ יִפֹּ֣ל דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשְׁקֹט֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ כִּֽי־אִם־כִּלָּ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַיֹּֽום׃
(Ruth 3:18)
And she said sit my daughter until you know how the matter will fall for the man will not rest unless he has completed the matter today
When Verbs Set the Stage
Ruth 3:18 comes at a moment of high emotional tension. Naomi urges Ruth to wait while Boaz resolves a matter that could change her life. But this waiting is filled with motion—not outward, but inward.… Learn Hebrew
The Syntax of Contrastive Conjunctions: כִּי אִם in Proverbs 23:17
אַל־יְקַנֵּ֣א לִ֭בְּךָ בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־בְּיִרְאַת־֝יְהוָ֗ה כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃
(Proverbs 23:17)
Let your heart not be jealous of sinners but rather in the fear of YHWH all the day
Introducing the Phenomenon
Among the various conjunctions in Biblical Hebrew, the sequence כִּי אִם plays a nuanced role in constructing contrastive statements. It often functions to negate one clause or expectation and replace it with an alternative—frequently associated with exclusion, contrast, or restriction. In Proverbs 23:17, this subtle but powerful construction guides the moral instruction by contrasting two directions of the heart: envy of the wicked versus reverent fear of יְהוָה.… Learn Hebrew
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Leveled and Lifted: The Binyanim That Reshape the Land in Zechariah 14:10
יִסֹּ֨וב כָּל־הָאָ֤רֶץ כָּעֲרָבָה֙ מִגֶּ֣בַע לְרִמֹּ֔ון נֶ֖גֶב יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְרָאֲמָה וְיָשְׁבָה תַחְתֶּיהָ לְמִשַּׁ֣עַר בִּנְיָמִ֗ן עַד־מְקֹ֞ום שַׁ֤עַר הָרִאשֹׁון֙ עַד־שַׁ֣עַר הַפִּנִּ֔ים וּמִגְדַּ֣ל חֲנַנְאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד יִקְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
(Zechariah 14:10)
All the land shall be turned like the ʿAravah from Geva to Rimmon south of Yerushalayim and she shall be raised and shall dwell in her place from the Gate of Binyamin to the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate and from the Tower of Ḥananel to the winepresses of the king.
Topography by Morphology
This eschatological vision transforms the geography of Eretz Yisra’el.… Learn Hebrew
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“Even in Your Thoughts”: The Subtle Hebrew Wisdom of Ecclesiastes 10:20
גַּ֣ם בְּמַדָּֽעֲךָ֗ מֶ֚לֶךְ אַל־תְּקַלֵּ֔ל וּבְחַדְרֵי֙ מִשְׁכָּ֣בְךָ֔ אַל־תְּקַלֵּ֖ל עָשִׁ֑יר כִּ֣י עֹ֤וף הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ יֹולִ֣יךְ אֶת־הַקֹּ֔ול וּבַ֥עַל הַכְּנָפַ֖יִם יַגֵּ֥יד דָּבָֽר׃
(Ecclesiastes 10:20)
Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, and in your bedroom, do not curse the rich; for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound, and a possessor of wings will make the matter known.
This proverb teaches the power of words—and even unspoken thoughts. The Hebrew grammar is rich with subtle commands, poetic parallelism, and figurative imagery that turns ordinary speech into timeless wisdom.… Learn Hebrew
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The Silence of Wisdom: Verbal Restraint and Hebrew Syntax in Proverbs 10:19
בְּרֹ֣ב דְּ֭בָרִים לֹ֣א יֶחְדַּל־פָּ֑שַׁע וְחֹשֵׂ֖ךְ שְׂפָתָ֣יו מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃
(Proverbs 10:19)
In the multitude of words transgression will not cease, but the one who restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 10:19 is one of the most linguistically elegant maxims in the Book of Proverbs. It presents a concise moral truth through a carefully balanced antithetical parallelism — a hallmark of Hebrew poetic structure. The verse contrasts two modes of speech: the verbosity that invites sin and the restraint that reveals wisdom. Its grammar not only conveys moral instruction but also embodies it.… Learn Hebrew
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Intercession in Action: The Hebrew Flow of Exodus 10:18
וַיֵּצֵ֖א מֵעִ֣ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַיֶּעְתַּ֖ר אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃
(Exodus 10:18)
And he went out from Pharaoh, and he pleaded to YHWH.
This verse shows a quiet but powerful transition: Moshe (Moses) leaves the presence of Pharaoh and turns immediately to YHWH in prayer. The Hebrew grammar and word order beautifully express both movement and intercession, two core patterns in the story of the plagues.
Hebrew Storytelling: Sequential Verbs in Motion
Biblical Hebrew often tells stories through a chain of verbs known as wayyiqtol forms—each one moving the narrative forward step by step.… Learn Hebrew
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Endless Trials: Exploring the Hebrew of Job 10:17
תְּחַדֵּ֬שׁ עֵדֶ֨יךָ נֶגְדִּ֗י וְתֶ֣רֶב כַּֽעַשְׂךָ עִמָּדִ֑י חֲלִיפֹ֖ות וְצָבָ֣א עִמִּֽי׃
(Job 10:17)
You renew Your witnesses against me and increase Your anger toward me; changes and troops are against me.
In this verse, Job laments that his suffering feels constant and overwhelming. The Hebrew expresses this despair through strong verbs of repetition and imagery of battle—as if God continually sends new waves of attack. Let’s unpack the Hebrew grammar that gives this verse its power.
Word Order and Flow
Hebrew often begins with the verb, which gives action first and emotion second.… Learn Hebrew
“I Have Sinned”: The Grammar of Urgency and Confession in Exodus 10:16
וַיְמַהֵ֣ר פַּרְעֹ֔ה לִקְרֹ֖א לְמֹשֶׁ֣ה וּלְאַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר חָטָ֛אתִי לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם וְלָכֶֽם׃
(Exodus 10:16)
And Parʿo hastened to call for Moshe and Aharon, and he said, “I have sinned against YHWH your God and against you.”
This verse captures a moment of panic and confession after the plague of locusts. Parʿo (Pharaoh) realizes the severity of YHWH’s power and urgently summons Moshe (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron). The Hebrew grammar here beautifully conveys urgency, repentance, and direct speech through its verbs and word order.… Learn Hebrew
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Order in Motion: Nethanʾel son of Tsuʿar and the March of Issachar
וְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּעָֽר׃
(Numbers 10:15)
Καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς δυνάμεως φυλῆς υἱῶν Ισσαχαρ Ναθαναηλ υἱὸς Σωγαρ (Numbers 10:15 LXX)
The Context: The Camp Sets Out
Numbers 10 describes one of the most significant transitions in the Torah — the departure of Yisraʾel from Mount Sinai. After nearly a year at the mountain, the cloud lifts, and the tribes begin their divinely ordered march through the wilderness.
Verse 15 lists Nethanʾel son of Tsuʿar, leader of the tribe of Yissakhar, as the one “over the host” (or “army”) of his tribe.… Learn Hebrew
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The Grammar of Vision: Enumerative Syntax and Symbolic Order in Ezekiel 10:14
וְאַרְבָּעָ֥ה פָנִ֖ים לְאֶחָ֑ד פְּנֵ֨י הָאֶחָ֜ד פְּנֵ֣י הַכְּר֗וּב וּפְנֵ֤י הַשֵּׁנִי֙ פְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ פְּנֵ֣י אַרְיֵ֔ה וְהָרְבִיעִ֖י פְּנֵי־נָֽשֶׁר׃
(Ezekiel 10:14)
And each one had four faces: the face of the first was the face of a cherub, the second was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 10:14 offers one of the most intricate grammatical and theological structures in prophetic literature. The verse continues the prophet’s description of the cherubim—the living creatures who bear the divine glory.… Learn Hebrew
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The Grammar of Divine Meteorology: Syntax and Pragmatic Force in Jeremiah 10:13
לְקֹ֨ול תִּתֹּ֜ו הֲמֹ֥ון מַ֨יִם֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּעֲלֶ֥ה נְשִׂאִ֖ים מִקְצֵ֣ה אֶרֶץ בְּרָקִ֤ים לַמָּטָר֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וַיֹּ֥וצֵא ר֖וּחַ מֵאֹצְרֹתָֽיו׃
(Jeremiah 10:13)
At the sound of His giving, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and He causes vapors to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.
Information Structure and Pragmatics
The verse from Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) employs a layered clause structure where focus and topic interlock to form a cohesive cosmological statement.… Learn Hebrew
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When the Sun Stood Still: Syntax and Command in Joshua 10:12
אָ֣ז יְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהֹושֻׁעַ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה בְּיֹ֗ום תֵּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעֵינֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שֶׁ֚מֶשׁ בְּגִבְעֹ֣ון דֹּ֔ום וְיָרֵ֖חַ בְּעֵ֥מֶק אַיָּלֹֽון׃
(Joshua 10:12)
Then Yehoshua spoke to YHWH on the day YHWH gave the Amorites before Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: Sun, stand still in Gibeon; and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.
A Moment of Cosmic Syntax
Joshua 10:12 captures one of the most dramatic moments in biblical narrative: Yehoshua’s direct address to YHWH and his command to the heavenly bodies.… Learn Hebrew
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Woven with Wonder: Syntax and Embodied Imagery in Job 10:11
עֹ֣ור וּ֭בָשָׂר תַּלְבִּישֵׁ֑נִי וּֽבַעֲצָמֹ֥ות וְ֝גִידִ֗ים תְּסֹכְכֵֽנִי׃
(Job 10:11)
You clothed me with skin and flesh; with bones and sinews You knit me together.
The Grammar of Creation and Vulnerability
In this verse, Iyov (Job) poetically describes the intricate process of his own formation, portraying God as the artisan who clothed and joined together the human body. Through parallel verbs and rhythmic coordination, the syntax paints an image of divine craftsmanship. The two clauses are balanced in form and meaning, each pairing a material element of the body with a creative verb.… Learn Hebrew