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Recent Articles
- Fear, Dominion, and Syntax: A Grammar Lesson from Genesis 9:2
- “And Job Answered and Said”: A Hebrew Lesson on Job 9:1
- Syntax of Covenant Obedience: The Altar of Uncut Stones in Joshua 8:31
- Unlock the Secrets of the Tanakh: Why Hebrew Morphology is the Key
- The Poetics of Verbal Repetition in Proverbs 8:30
- Syntax of the Wave Offering: Moses and the Breast Portion in Leviticus 8:29
- Firm Skies and Deep Springs: Grammar in Proverbs 8:28
- Only the Spoil: A Hebrew Lesson on Joshua 8:27
- Binyanim Under Pressure: Exodus 8:26
- When Service Ends: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:25
- Consecration Through Syntax: The Priestly Ritual in Leviticus 8:24
- “A Three-Day Journey”: The Syntax of Volition and Deixis in Exodus According to Targum Onkelos
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Author Archives: Hebrew Grammar for Beginners
“And Job Answered and Said”: A Hebrew Lesson on Job 9:1
וַיַּ֥עַן אִיֹּ֗וב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
(Job 9:1)
And Job answered and said:
Word-by-Word Explanation
וַיַּעַן — “and he answered.”
– Root: עָנָה (“to answer, respond”).
– Form: Qal wayyiqtol (imperfect with vav-consecutive) 3rd masculine singular.
– Usage: The standard narrative form, moving the story forward.
אִיֹּוב — “Job.” The subject of the verb, a proper name in pause form.
וַיֹּאמַר — “and he said.”
– Root: אָמַר (“to say”).
– Form: Qal wayyiqtol 3ms.
– Function: Hebrew often pairs וַיַּעַן with וַיֹּאמַר as a fixed storytelling formula: “And he answered and said.”… Learn Hebrew
Unlock the Secrets of the Tanakh: Why Hebrew Morphology is the Key
Imagine reading Shakespeare not just in translation, but in the original Early Modern English—understanding every pun, every poetic twist, every hidden layer of meaning. Now imagine doing the same with the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, in its ancient, powerful tongue. But here’s the catch: Biblical Hebrew doesn’t work like English. Its soul lies in a system older than vowels and grammar drills—its morphology. And mastering it is like finding the master key to the entire text.
The DNA of Biblical Hebrew: Roots and Patterns
Biblical Hebrew is built on a fascinating genetic code: the triconsonantal root.… Learn Hebrew
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Only the Spoil: A Hebrew Lesson on Joshua 8:27
רַ֣ק הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה וּשְׁלַל֙ הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֔יא בָּזְז֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה אֶת־יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ׃
(Joshua 8:27)
Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel plundered for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which He commanded Joshua.
Word-by-Word Explanation
רַק — “only.” Limiting particle, emphasizing restriction.
הַבְּהֵמָה — “the livestock.” Definite article + בְּהֵמָה (“beast, animal, cattle”).
וּשְׁלַל — “and the spoil.” Conjunction ו + noun שָׁלָל (“spoil, plunder”).
הָעִיר — “of the city.” Definite article + עִיר (“city”).… Learn Hebrew
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When Service Ends: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:25
וּמִבֶּן֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב מִצְּבָ֣א הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲבֹ֖ד עֹֽוד׃
(Numbers 8:25)
And from the age of fifty years he shall return from the service of the work, and shall serve no more.
Word-by-Word Explanation
וּמִבֶּן — “and from the age of.” Preposition מִן (“from”) + בֵּן (“son”), used idiomatically for age (“years old”).
חֲמִשִּׁים — “fifty.” Numeral for the age marker.
שָׁנָה — “year.” Noun in singular, completing the phrase: “fifty years old.”
יָשׁוּב — “he shall return.” Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular from שׁוּב (“to return, turn back”).… Learn Hebrew
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Disaster That Flies Down: A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:22
וְאֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ יַבִּ֑יט וְהִנֵּ֨ה צָרָ֤ה וַחֲשֵׁכָה֙ מְע֣וּף צוּקָ֔ה וַאֲפֵלָ֖ה מְנֻדָּֽח׃
(Isaiah 8:22)
And he will look to the earth, and behold: distress and darkness, flying anguish, and thick darkness upon the driven one.
Word-by-Word Explanation
וְאֶל־אֶרֶץ — “and to the land/earth.” Preposition אֶל (“to, toward”) + noun אֶרֶץ (“land, earth”).
יַבִּיט — “he will look.” Hifil imperfect 3rd masculine singular from נבט (“to look, gaze”). In Hifil, often “cause oneself to look attentively.”
וְהִנֵּה — “and behold!” An interjection alerting the listener to what follows.… Learn Hebrew
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Like the Nations Before You: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Deuteronomy 8:20
כַּגֹּויִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְהוָה֙ מַאֲבִ֣יד מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם כֵּ֖ן תֹאבֵד֑וּן עֵ֚קֶב לֹ֣א תִשְׁמְע֔וּן בְּקֹ֖ול יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
(Deuteronomy 8:20)
Like the nations that the LORD destroys before you, so shall you perish, because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God.
Word-by-Word Explanation
כַּגֹּויִם — “like the nations.” The preposition כְּ (“like, as”) + plural גֹּויִם (“nations”).
אֲשֶׁר — “that / which.” Relative pronoun introducing a clause.
יְהוָה — “YHWH, the LORD.” The divine name.
מַאֲבִיד — “is destroying / destroys.”… Learn Hebrew
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Voices of the Dead or the Living God? A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:19
וְכִֽי־יֹאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיכֶ֗ם דִּרְשׁ֤וּ אֶל־הָאֹבֹות֙ וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים הַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖ים וְהַמַּהְגִּ֑ים הֲלֹוא־עַם֙ אֶל־אֱלֹהָ֣יו יִדְרֹ֔שׁ בְּעַ֥ד הַחַיִּ֖ים אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃
(Isaiah 8:19)
And when they say to you, “Seek to the mediums and to the spiritists, who chirp and mutter,” should not a people seek to its God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
“It might seem like a lot, but each verb and suffix you master brings you closer to reading Hebrew as it was first spoken.”
Word-by-Word Explanation
וְכִי־ — “and when.”… Learn Hebrew
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When the Ground Denies Him: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Job 8:18
אִם־יְבַלְּעֶ֥נּוּ מִמְּקֹומֹ֑ו וְכִ֥חֶשׁ בֹּ֝֗ו לֹ֣א רְאִיתִֽיךָ׃
(Job 8:18)
If it swallows him from his place, then it will deny him, saying: “I have not seen you.”
Word-by-Word Explanation
אִם־ – “if.” A conditional particle that sets up a possibility or situation.
יְבַלְּעֶנּוּ – “it swallows him.” From בָּלַע (“to swallow, engulf”), imperfect 3rd masculine singular. The suffix -נּוּ = “him.”
מִמְּקֹומֹו – “from his place.” The preposition מִן (“from”) assimilates before מָקוֹם, giving מִמְּקוֹם. The suffix -וֹ = “his.”
וְכִחֶשׁ – “and it will deny.”… Learn Hebrew
From Dust to Gnats: A Hebrew Lesson in Action
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֗ן וַיֵּט֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן אֶת־יָדֹ֤ו בְמַטֵּ֨הוּ֙ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתְּהִי֙ הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה כָּל־עֲפַ֥ר הָאָ֛רֶץ הָיָ֥ה כִנִּ֖ים בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
(Exodus 8:17)
And they did so, and Aharon stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and it became gnats on man and on beast; all the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Mitsrayim.
Word-by-Word Explanation
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן – “and they did so.” From עָשָׂה (“to do, make”), wayyiqtol (narrative past), 3rd person plural.… Learn Hebrew
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“Counsel Is Mine” — Exploring the Voice of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:14
לִֽי־֭עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּ֑ה אֲנִ֥י בִ֝ינָ֗ה לִ֣י גְבוּרָֽה׃
(Proverbs 8:14)
Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, strength is mine.
Word-by-Word Explanation
לִי – “To me” / “Mine”Preposition + Pronoun
– לְ = “to”
– י = “me”
Together, they form a possessive phrase: “is mine” or “belongs to me.”
עֵצָה – “Counsel” Noun, feminine singular
– Refers to guidance, advice, or strategic insight
This word is often associated with wise planning.
וְתוּשִׁיָּה – “and sound wisdom” Noun, feminine singular
– וְ = “and”
– תוּשִׁיָּה = wisdom with stability or resourcefulness
A rich term implying practical, effective insight.… Learn Hebrew
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