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Monthly Archives: April 2025

The Hebrew Verb בּוֹא: To Come, Enter, or Arrive

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
The Hebrew verb בּוֹא (root: ב-ו-א) is a high-frequency irregular verb that means “to come,” “to go in,” “to enter,” or “to arrive.” It occurs in narrative, legal, and poetic contexts and is essential for expressing movement toward a place or event. It frequently appears with prepositions like אֶל (“to”) or בְּ (“in”). Because it is a hollow verb (middle root is ו), its forms are highly irregular in some tenses and must be memorized. It appears most frequently in the Qal binyan, with some occurrences in Hiphil (causative: “to bring in”).… Learn Hebrew
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The Syntax of Legal Hypotheticals and Priestly Responsibility in Leviticus 4:3

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction: Legal Instruction and Theological Stakes in Leviticus 4:3 Leviticus 4:3 introduces the procedures for sin offerings (חַטָּאת) in the case of unintentional sin by the anointed priest. This passage inaugurates one of the most structurally detailed sacrificial regulations in the Torah. The verse reads: אִ֣ם הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ יֶחֱטָ֖א לְאַשְׁמַ֣ת הָעָ֑ם וְהִקְרִ֡יב עַ֣ל חַטָּאתֹו֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטָ֜א פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֥ר תָּמִ֛ים לַיהוָ֖ה לְחַטָּֽאת׃ If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt upon the people, then he shall bring for his sin that he has committed a bull of the herd without blemish to the LORD as a sin offering.… Learn Hebrew
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The Semantics and Theology of the Nifʿal Imperfect in Isaiah 4:3

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction: Contextual and Theological Framing of Isaiah 4:3 Isaiah 4:3 appears at a pivotal juncture in the prophetic literature of Isaiah, marking a thematic shift from divine judgment to purification and restoration. The verse reads: וְהָיָ֣ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּצִיֹּ֗ון וְהַנֹּותָר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קָדֹ֖ושׁ יֵאָ֣מֶר לֹ֑ו כָּל־הַכָּת֥וּב לַחַיִּ֖ים בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ And the one who is left in Tsiyyon and the one who remains in Yerushalayim will be called holy, everyone who is written down for life in Yerushalayim. Situated within the oracle of Isaiah 2–4, this verse belongs to a broader literary unit that envisions Zion’s eschatological cleansing.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּהַל: To Terrify or Alarm

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
The Hebrew verb בָּהַל (root: ב-ה-ל) means “to terrify,” “to alarm,” “to hasten in fear,” or “to panic.” It typically describes sudden emotional or mental disturbance—such as fear, confusion, or urgency—often in response to shocking or overwhelming circumstances. This verb is used in poetic, prophetic, and narrative contexts in the Hebrew Bible. It is most commonly found in the Qal binyan and sometimes in the Niphal (passive or reflexive, “to be terrified”) or Piel (intensive causative, “to cause terror”).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּהַל Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּהַלְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּהַלְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּהַלְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּהַל 3rd person feminine singular בָּהֲלָה 1st person plural בָּהַלְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּהַלְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּהַלְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּהֲלוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּהֵל Feminine singular בֹּהֶלֶת Masculine plural בֹּהֲלִים Feminine plural בֹּהֲלוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְהַל 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְהַל 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְהֲלִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְהַל 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְהַל 1st person plural נִבְהַל 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְהֲלוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְהַלְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְהֲלוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּהַל 2nd person feminine singular בַּהֲלִי 2nd person masculine plural בַּהֲלוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּהַלְנָה   Usage in Scripture Daniel 5:6 – וְהִתְבַּהֲלוּ מְתַנֵּה “His limbs were terrified…” — describing the sudden fear of King Belshazzar when he saw the handwriting on the wall.… Learn Hebrew
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Comparative Particles and Temporal Subordination in Qohelet’s Reasoning

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:2 Ecclesiastes 4:2 presents a comparison between the dead and the living, asserting that the dead are better off. The verse is marked by layered comparative and temporal clauses, joined by particles such as מִן (“than”) and עֲדֶנָה (“still”). The grammatical structure illustrates how Qohelet constructs philosophical comparisons through concise and ambiguous Hebrew syntax. This lesson explores the role of comparative particles and temporal subordination, particularly how מִן and עֲדֶנָה shape the logic of existential reflection. וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ אֲנִ֛י אֶת־הַמֵּתִ֖ים שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר מֵ֑תוּ מִן־הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה חַיִּ֖ים עֲדֶֽנָה׃ Analysis of Key Words and Structures וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ (veshabbeaḥ) – Conjunctive verb, Piel participle from שׁבח (“to praise, commend”).… Learn Hebrew
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Exodus 4:2 – Interrogative Pronoun and Demonstrative Use of מַה־זֶּה

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהוָ֖ה מַה־זֶּה בְיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מַטֶּֽה׃ And YHWH said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” Explanation of Feature This verse from Exodus 4:2 presents a clear example of a Hebrew interrogative clause introduced by the compound expression מַה־זֶּה (“What is this…?”). The interrogative מַה (“what”) is joined with the demonstrative זֶּה (“this”), forming a common question phrase that appears throughout narrative Hebrew. This construction is followed by a prepositional phrase בְיָדֶךָ (“in your hand”), which completes the interrogative clause.… Learn Hebrew
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Deuteronomy 4:1 – Imperative, Infinitive Purpose, and Participial Construction

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
וְעַתָּ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שְׁמַ֤ע אֶל־הַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְאֶל־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְלַמֵּ֥ד אֶתְכֶ֖ם לַעֲשֹׂ֑ות לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֗וּ וּבָאתֶם֙ וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם׃ And now, Yisra’el, listen to the statutes and to the judgments that I am teaching you to do, so that you may live and go in and possess the land that YHWH, the God of your fathers, is giving to you. Explanation of Feature This verse from Deuteronomy 4:1 features a blend of grammatical forms typical of covenant exhortation: 1.… Learn Hebrew
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Double Wayyiqtol Narrative Framing in Dialogic Introductions

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Job 4:1 Job 4:1 marks the beginning of the first response to Job’s lament. The verse introduces the speech of Elifaz the Temani using a formula common in biblical narrative and dialogue: two sequential wayyiqtol verbs, וַיַּעַן (“and he answered”) and וַיֹּאמַר (“and he said”). This construction creates a formal transition into direct speech and is characteristic of Hebrew dialogue conventions. This lesson explores the grammatical and rhetorical function of double wayyiqtol verbs in introducing biblical speeches. וַ֭יַּעַן אֱלִיפַ֥ז הַֽתֵּימָנִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר׃ Analysis of Key Words and Structures וַ֭יַּעַן (vayyaʿan) – Wayyiqtol verb from ענה (“to answer”), 3rd person masculine singular.… Learn Hebrew
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The Conjunction וְהֵן: Conditional Clauses with Assertive Function in Biblical Hebrew

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Exodus 4:1 This verse presents Moshe’s objection to his divine mission, expressing doubt that the people of Yisra’el will believe his message. The key grammatical feature is the use of the construction וְהֵן, a conditional clause that introduces a hypothetical situation. Unlike the more common אִם for conditionals, וְהֵן expresses a stronger, more assertive hypothetical, sometimes shading into expectation. This lesson focuses on how וְהֵן functions in Biblical Hebrew and how it shapes the syntax of conditional declarations. וַיַּ֤עַן מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר וְהֵן֙ לֹֽא־יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ לִ֔י וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמְע֖וּ בְּקֹלִ֑י כִּ֣י יֹֽאמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֖יךָ יְהוָֽה׃ Analysis of Key Words and Structures וַיַּ֤עַן מֹשֶׁה֙ (vayyaʿan Mosheh) – “And Moshe answered.”… Learn Hebrew
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Dislocation and Apposition: Royal Titling in Biblical Hebrew

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to 1 Kings 4:1 This verse formally introduces the reign of King Shelomoh (Solomon) with a syntactically simple but rhetorically rich construction. The structure features a dislocated subject and appositional noun phrases, which combine to create a solemn and emphatic royal title. This lesson focuses on dislocation and apposition in Biblical Hebrew and how these features function to frame royal identity. וַֽיְהִי֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Analysis of Key Words and Structures וַֽיְהִי֙ (vayehi) – Wayyiqtol verb from היה (“to be”), 3rd person masculine singular.… Learn Hebrew
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