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Recent Articles
- Disaster That Flies Down: A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:22
- Purified and Presented: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:21
- Like the Nations Before You: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Deuteronomy 8:20
- Voices of the Dead or the Living God? A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:19
- When the Ground Denies Him: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Job 8:18
- From Dust to Gnats: A Hebrew Lesson in Action
- The Power of Repetition: Exploring the Waw-Consecutive
- Through the Great and Fearsome Wilderness: From Fiery Serpent to Flowing Spring
- “Counsel Is Mine” — Exploring the Voice of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:14
- From the Garden to the Ear: Participles and Imperatives in Song of Songs 8:13
- Wisdom’s Self-Introduction: Where Insight Meets Strategy
- Guard Yourself: The Grammar of Memory and Obedience
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Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew
Purified and Presented: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:21
וַיִּֽתְחַטְּא֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם וַֽיְכַבְּסוּ֙ בִּגְדֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּ֨נֶף אַהֲרֹ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם תְּנוּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיְכַפֵּ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם אַהֲרֹ֖ן לְטַהֲרָֽם׃
(Numbers 8:21)
And the Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aaron waved them as a wave offering before the LORD; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.
Word-by-Word Explanation
וַיִּתְחַטְּאוּ — “and they purified themselves.” Hitpael stem (reflexive) of חָטָא (“to sin, to purify”), imperfect with vav consecutive. Subject: “the Levites.”
הַלְוִיִּם — “the Levites.” Noun with definite article הַ.
וַיְכַבְּסוּ — “and they washed.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Subtle Grammar of Possession in Biblical Hebrew
Possession in Biblical Hebrew is expressed through a range of syntactic and morphological constructions, reflecting both semantic nuance and contextual emphasis. Unlike English, which typically uses the possessive marker “of” or a possessive pronoun, Biblical Hebrew relies on the construct chain (סְמִיכוּת) and possessive suffixes attached directly to nouns. Understanding these structures requires examining both their grammatical behavior and their role within Biblical discourse.
The Construct Chain as the Primary Possessive Structure
The construct chain (סְמִיכוּת) is the quintessential method for expressing possession in Biblical Hebrew.… Learn Hebrew
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The Seductive Scents of Syntax: A Close Reading of Proverbs 7:17
נַ֥פְתִּי מִשְׁכָּבִ֑י מֹ֥ר אֲ֝הָלִ֗ים וְקִנָּמֹֽון׃
(Proverbs 7:17)
Verse Structure and Thematic Role
This verse belongs to the seductive monologue of the אִשָּׁה זָרָה (“foreign woman”) in Proverbs 7. Through sensuous imagery and poetic rhythm, it captures the allure of temptation. The verse divides naturally into two syntactic parts:
– Clause A: נַ֥פְתִּי מִשְׁכָּבִ֑י – “I have perfumed my bed”
– Clause B: מֹ֥ר אֲ֝הָלִ֗ים וְקִנָּמֹֽון – “with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon”
Clause B may function as the means or material of the action in Clause A (despite no preposition), or it may act appositionally, explaining how the bed was perfumed.… Learn Hebrew
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Too Righteous, Too Wise: The Binyanim of Overreach in Ecclesiastes 7:16
אַל־תְּהִ֤י צַדִּיק֙ הַרְבֵּ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתְחַכַּ֖ם יֹותֵ֑ר לָ֖מָּה תִּשֹּׁומֵֽם׃
(Ecclesiastes 7:16)
Do not be overly righteous and do not make yourself too wise why should you be desolate
Wisdom in Restraint—Or Restraint in Wisdom?
Ecclesiastes 7:16 is one of the most enigmatic verses in biblical wisdom literature. It cautions against excess—even in righteousness and wisdom. But it’s not only the content that arrests attention—it’s the grammar. The binyanim in this verse—Qal, Hitpael, and Niphal/Pual—create a poetic tension between action and consequence, self-elevation and self-destruction.… Learn Hebrew
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Differences Between Synonyms in Biblical Hebrew (e.g., יָדָע vs. בָּרַךְ for “Bless”)
Biblical Hebrew’s synonymous expressions often cloak distinct theological and semantic layers beneath their shared English glosses. יָדָע, rooted in knowledge and covenantal intimacy, conveys perception, experience, and divine relationship, while בָּרַךְ—stemming from the notion of kneeling—imparts favor, praise, and liturgical blessing. Their syntactic patterns diverge: יָדָע frequently appears in Qal and Hiphil stems denoting relational knowing, whereas בָּרַךְ often inhabits the Piel stem emphasizing bestowal. Additional synonym sets—such as שָׁמַע vs. הֶאֱזִין for hearing, אָהַב vs. חָשַׁק for loving, and חָטָא vs.… Learn Hebrew
Morphology in Biblical Hebrew: Word Formation & Inflection
Morphology in Biblical Hebrew revolves around a triliteral root system that yields an extensive family of meanings through structured patterns and inflections. Verb stems (binyanim) like Qal, Piel, and Hiphil shape valency and voice, while conjugations express person, gender, number, and aspect. Nouns adapt for gender and number—including dual forms—and shift between absolute and construct states to convey possession. Adjectives reflect noun agreement, participles bridge verbal and adjectival roles, and infinitives serve both syntactic and emphatic functions. Irregularities, such as suppletive plurals and weakened roots, introduce nuance.… Learn Hebrew
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Proverbs and Their Grammatical Structure
Biblical Hebrew proverbs are compact expressions of wisdom whose power lies not only in their moral content but in their precise grammatical structure. Typically arranged as bicola, these sayings use parallelism—synonymous, antithetic, or synthetic—to convey contrast, reinforcement, or progression. Grammatical features such as word order inversion, ellipsis, and fronting enhance rhetorical impact, while devices like imperatives, infinitive constructs, and numerical formulas add variety and emphasis. Metaphors are embedded through verbless clauses and construct forms, transforming abstract truths into vivid imagery. Proverbs manipulate syntax, rhythm, and poetic devices to ensure memorability and interpretive depth, making grammar itself a vessel of theological and ethical insight.… Learn Hebrew
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The Tiberian Vowel System
The Tiberian vowel system is the most developed and standardized vocalization tradition of Biblical Hebrew, codified by the Masoretes in Tiberias during the early Middle Ages (circa 8th–10th centuries AD). It is the basis of modern Biblical Hebrew pronunciation and scholarship. This system provided a precise method for marking vowels, stress, syllable structure, and even some phonetic subtleties—features not represented in the original consonantal Hebrew script.
1. Overview of the Vowel Signs
The Tiberian system consists of seven main vowel qualities, each with long and short forms.… Learn Hebrew
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When God Speaks: The Syntax of Divine Speech Frames in Biblical Hebrew
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃
(Exodus 7:8)
And YHWH said to Moshe and to Aharon, saying:
Setting the Stage for Revelation
This short but frequently occurring formulaic verse introduces a divine speech directed to two individuals—Moshe and Aharon. Though simple at first glance, the verse reveals the characteristic Hebrew structure of divine communication formulas, marked by sequential verb forms, prepositions, and the use of the infinitive construct לֵאמֹר. These forms shape not only narrative flow but also underscore the weight of revelation.… Learn Hebrew
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The Role of Gutturals (א, ה, ח, ע) in Verb Conjugation
In Biblical Hebrew, the guttural consonants—א (Aleph), ה (He), ח (Ḥet), and ע (ʿAyin)—exert a strong phonological influence on verb conjugation patterns. These consonants are not merely passive participants in verbal roots; they actively shape the morphology of verbs by affecting vowel selection, the application of dagesh, and even the presence of certain syllables. Their role becomes especially evident in the Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and imperative forms, where their unique properties must be considered during parsing and conjugation.
1. Rejection of Dageš Forte in Guttural Roots
In many binyanim (verbal stems), especially Piel, Pual, and Hitpael, doubling of the second root letter (with a Dageš forte) is a central morphological feature.… Learn Hebrew
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