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Recent Articles
- 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
- The Birth of Power: The Grammar of Beginning and Becoming in Genesis 10:8
- Genealogical Syntax and the Grammar of Nations in Genesis 10:7
- Do Not Mourn as Others Do: Restraint and Reverence in the Aftermath of Fire
- The Blast and the Camp: Exploring Hebrew Commands and Movement in Numbers 10:5
- If You Refuse: The Threat of the Locusts in Translation
- Trumpet Blasts and Assembly Syntax in Numbers 10:3
- Right and Left: A Beginner’s Guide to Hebrew Word Order in Ecclesiastes 10:2
- A Call to Listen: A Beginner’s Guide to Hebrew Grammar in Jeremiah 10:1
- “Even If I Wash with Snow”: Job’s Cry of Purity and Futility in Hebrew
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Author Archives: Hebrew Grammar for Beginners
And They Fled Before the Men of ʿAi”: A Hebrew Battle Surprise
וַיַּעֲל֤וּ מִן־הָעָם֙ שָׁ֔מָּה כִּשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיָּנֻ֕סוּ לִפְנֵ֖י אַנְשֵׁ֥י הָעָֽי׃
(Joshua 7:4)
And about three thousand men went up from the people there, but they fled before the men of ʿAi.
Word-by-Word Explanation
וַיַּעֲלוּ – “And they went up”Verb, from the root עָלָה (“to go up”).
– The וַ prefix marks narrative past (vav-consecutive).
– Form: 3rd person masculine plural → “they went up.”
Hebrew often uses “go up” for traveling to a location, especially a city or holy site.
מִן־הָעָם – “from the people”Preposition + Noun.… Learn Hebrew
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“Go Out to Meet Ahaz”: A Hebrew Mission in Isaiah 7:3
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָה֮ אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָהוּ֒ צֵא־נָא֙ לִקְרַ֣את אָחָ֔ז אַתָּ֕ה וּשְׁאָ֖ר יָשׁ֣וּב בְּנֶ֑ךָ אֶל־קְצֵ֗ה תְּעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָעֶלְיֹונָ֔ה אֶל־מְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כֹובֵֽס׃
(Isaiah 7:3)
Literal English Translation
And YHWH said to Yeshayahu, “Go out now to meet Aḥaz—you and Sheʾar Yashuv your son—at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, at the highway of the launderer’s field.”
Word-by-Word Explanation
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר – “And He said”Verb, from אָמַר (“to say”), 3rd person masculine singular. The וַ prefix signals narrative past: “And He said.”
יְהוָה – “YHWH”Divine name.… Learn Hebrew
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On the Day YHWH Spoke: Learning Hebrew Narrative Structure in Exodus 6:28
וַיְהִ֗י בְּיֹ֨ום דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
(Exodus 6:28)
And it came to pass on the day that YHWH spoke to Moshe in the land of Mitsrayim (Egypt).
This verse is a short narrative introduction that sets the scene for divine communication. It might look simple at first, but it reveals a lot about Hebrew narrative grammar, time expressions, and sentence flow. Let’s break it down and see how Hebrew builds meaning, even in one quiet verse.
This is a time marker.… Learn Hebrew
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Pointing Them Out: Hebrew Grammar in Exodus 6:26
ה֥וּא אַהֲרֹ֖ן וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ לָהֶ֔ם הֹוצִ֜יאוּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם עַל־צִבְאֹתָֽם׃
(Exodus 6:26)
This verse identifies Aharon and Moshe as the leaders appointed by YHWH to lead the Israelites out of Mitsrayim (Egypt). It’s short, but it packs rich grammar: subject pronouns, relative clauses, direct speech, and imperative verbs. Let’s learn how each piece works together.
English Translation (Clear and Literal)
This is Aharon and Moshe, to whom YHWH said, “Bring out the children of Yisra’el from the land of Mitsrayim according to their divisions.”… Learn Hebrew
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When the Mountains Melt: A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 64:2
בַּעֲשֹׂותְךָ֥ נֹורָאֹ֖ות לֹ֣א נְקַוֶּ֑ה יָרַ֕דְתָּ מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ הָרִ֥ים נָזֹֽלּוּ׃
(Isaiah 64:2)
When You did awesome things we did not expect, You came down — from before You the mountains quaked and flowed.
Word-by-Word Explanation
בַּעֲשֹׂותְךָ — “when You did.” Preposition בְּ (“in, when”) + infinitive construct of עָשָׂה (“to do, make”) + suffix -ךָ (“You,” masculine). Idiomatically: “when You did.”
נֹורָאֹות — “awesome things / fearful deeds.” Plural noun from יָרֵא (“to fear”), describing acts that inspire awe and dread.
לֹא נְקַוֶּה — “we did not hope / expect.”… Learn Hebrew
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Let’s Walk Through Ruth’s Hebrew Together
וַתֹּאמֶר֩ ר֨וּת הַמֹּואֲבִיָּ֜ה אֶֽל־נָעֳמִ֗י אֵֽלְכָה־נָּ֤א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַאֲלַקֳטָ֣ה בַשִּׁבֳּלִ֔ים אַחַ֕ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַתֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ לְכִ֥י בִתִּֽי׃
(Ruth 2:2)
This beautiful verse from the Book of Ruth shows a conversation between Ruth and Naomi. Let’s explore what each Hebrew word means, how they fit together, and what we can learn about Hebrew grammar from this sentence.
English Translation (Word by Word)
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go, please, to the field and glean among the ears of grain behind someone in whose eyes I find favor.”… Learn Hebrew
Sons Begging, Strength Returned: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Job 20:10
בָּ֭נָיו יְרַצּ֣וּ דַלִּ֑ים וְ֝יָדָ֗יו תָּשֵׁ֥בְנָה אֹונֹֽו׃
(Job 20:10)
His sons will seek favor from the poor, and his hands will return his strength.
“Each suffix and verb you unpack is another key to hearing Hebrew’s poetic irony.”
Word-by-Word Explanation
בָּנָיו — “his sons.” From בֵּן (“son”) + plural + suffix -ָיו (“his”).
יְרַצּוּ — “they will seek favor / beg.” Qal imperfect 3mp from רָצָה (“to be pleased, accept”). In this poetic context, it conveys humiliation: “seek favor from” or “beg from.”… Learn Hebrew
“My Closest Friends Abhor Me” – The Emotional Weight of Job 19:19
תִּֽ֭עֲבוּנִי כָּל־מְתֵ֣י סֹודִ֑י וְזֶֽה־֝אָהַ֗בְתִּי נֶהְפְּכוּ־בִֽי׃
(Job 19:19)
All the men of my secret counsel abhor me, and those I loved have turned against me.
Word-by-Word Explanation
תִּֽעֲבוּנִי – “they abhor me”Verb, imperfect form (future-like), from the root ת־ע־ב (“to loathe” or “to abhor”).
– תִּֽעֲבוּ = “they will abhor” (3rd person masculine plural, imperfect)
– נִי = “me” (1st person singular object suffix)
Together: “they abhor me” or “they loathe me.”
This expresses deep rejection—Job feels utterly despised.
כָּל־ – “all”A common word meaning “every” or “all of.”… Learn Hebrew
When Silence Becomes Guilt
וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִשְׁמַע֙ אֶל־דְּבָרַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְדַבֵּ֖ר בִּשְׁמִ֑י אָנֹכִ֖י אֶדְרֹ֥שׁ מֵעִמֹּֽו׃
(Deuteronomy 18:19)
A Voice That Must Be Heard
This verse is a solemn divine warning. YHWH declares that He Himself will hold accountable any person who refuses to heed the prophet who speaks in His name. The setting is covenantal: Israel has asked for an intermediary so they won’t hear God’s overwhelming voice directly (see v. 16), and God agrees—yet with one condition: the prophet’s word must still carry divine authority.… Learn Hebrew
Joyful Return: Exploring Isaiah 35:10 in Beginner Hebrew
וּפְדוּיֵ֨י יְהוָ֜ה יְשֻׁב֗וּן וּבָ֤אוּ צִיֹּון֙ בְּרִנָּ֔ה וְשִׂמְחַ֥ת עֹולָ֖ם עַל־רֹאשָׁ֑ם שָׂשֹׂ֤ון וְשִׂמְחָה֙ יַשִּׂ֔יגוּ וְנָ֖סוּ יָגֹ֥ון וַאֲנָחָֽה
(Isaiah 35:10)
This powerful and poetic verse from Isaiah is filled with emotion, movement, and transformation. We’ll use it to explore basic Hebrew grammar, focusing on verbs, nouns, and how Hebrew expresses joy and deliverance using rhythm and repetition.
English Translation (Simple and Clear)
And the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and they shall come to Zion with singing, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.… Learn Hebrew
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