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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: Biblical Hebrew
Hidden Defilement, Known Guilt: Conditional Clauses and Ritual Awareness in Leviticus 5:3
אֹ֣ו כִ֤י יִגַּע֙ בְּטֻמְאַ֣ת אָדָ֔ם לְכֹל֙ טֻמְאָתֹ֔ו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִטְמָ֖א בָּ֑הּ וְנֶעְלַ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְה֥וּא יָדַ֖ע וְאָשֵֽׁם׃
Or when he touches human uncleanness, any uncleanness whereby one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, and he knows of it and is guilty.
Leviticus 5:3 appears in a section addressing unintentional sins and their required expiations. This verse considers a scenario in which someone becomes ritually impure through contact with human defilement, remains unaware of it initially, but later comes to know and is considered guilty.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּנַן: To Shield, Cover, or Defend
The Hebrew verb גָּנַן (root: ג-נ-ן) means “to shield,” “to cover,” or “to protect.” It is often used in poetic and prophetic contexts to describe divine protection—particularly God’s shielding of His people, city, or sanctuary. The imagery behind the root involves enclosing or surrounding something to keep it safe.
This verb typically appears in the Qal and Pual stems:
– Qal: to shield, to cover (rare)
– Pual: to be shielded, to be surrounded (passive or intensive)
It is related to the noun מָגֵן (shield) and shares thematic connections with protection and defense.… Learn Hebrew
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Exodus 5:2 – Interrogative Pronoun, Relative Clause, and Double Negation
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה מִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶשְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלֹ֔ו לְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֹ֤א יָדַ֨עְתִּי֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וְגַ֥ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֥א אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃
And Parʿo said, “Who is YHWH that I should listen to His voice to send Yisraʾel? I do not know YHWH, and also I will not send Yisraʾel.”
Explanation of Feature
This verse from Exodus 5:2 showcases several important grammatical structures in Biblical Hebrew:
The interrogative pronoun מִי (“Who?”) introduces a rhetorical question.
A relative clause follows, introduced by אֲשֶׁר, modifying יְהוָה.
The verse also uses double negation (לֹא יָדַעְתִּי, לֹא אֲשַׁלֵּחַ) to emphasize rejection of both YHWH’s authority and the command.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּנַב: To Steal or Deceive
The Hebrew verb גָּנַב (root: ג-נ-ב) means “to steal,” “to carry away secretly,” or “to deceive” in certain contexts. It is most often used in the context of theft—whether property, people (as in kidnapping), or abstractly in acts of stealth and trickery.
This verb appears primarily in the Qal binyan for basic theft and in the Pual (to be stolen). It is often found in legal texts, commandments, and narratives involving wrongdoing.
Qal Binyan Conjugation of גָּנַב (“to steal”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
גָּנַבְתִּי
2nd person masculine singular
גָּנַבְתָּ
2nd person feminine singular
גָּנַבְתְּ
3rd person masculine singular
גָּנַב
3rd person feminine singular
גָּנְבָה
1st person plural
גָּנַבְנוּ
2nd person masculine plural
גְּנַבְתֶּם
2nd person feminine plural
גְּנַבְתֶּן
3rd person plural
גָּנְבוּ
Present (Participle) Tense
Gender/Number
Form
Masculine singular
גּוֹנֵב
Feminine singular
גּוֹנֶבֶת
Masculine plural
גּוֹנְבִים
Feminine plural
גּוֹנְבוֹת
Future (Imperfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
אֶגְנֹב
2nd person masculine singular
תִּגְנֹב
2nd person feminine singular
תִּגְנְבִי
3rd person masculine singular
יִגְנֹב
3rd person feminine singular
תִּגְנֹב
1st person plural
נִגְנֹב
2nd person masculine plural
תִּגְנְבוּ
2nd person feminine plural
תִּגְנֹבְנָה
3rd person plural
יִגְנְבוּ
Imperative Mood
Person
Form
2nd person masculine singular
גְּנֹב
2nd person feminine singular
גִּנְבִי
2nd person masculine plural
גִּנְבוּ
2nd person feminine plural
גְּנֹבְנָה
Usage in Scripture
Exodus 20:15 – לֹא תִּגְנֹב
“You shall not steal.”… Learn Hebrew
Incline Your Ear: Imperatives, Parallelism, and the Poetic Call to Wisdom in Proverbs 5:1
בְּ֭נִי לְחָכְמָתִ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י הַט־אָזְנֶֽךָ׃
(Proverbs 5:1)
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding.
Proverbs 5:1 begins a fatherly appeal warning against the seductive power of immorality, urging the hearer to embrace wisdom. As is typical in biblical wisdom literature, the verse uses poetic parallelism, imperative mood, and possessive structures to engage the hearer emotionally and intellectually. The language is not simply instructional—it is relational and urgent, using grammar to reinforce the gravity of the moral path ahead.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּמַר: To Complete, Finish, or Accomplish
The Hebrew verb גָּמַר (root: ג-מ-ר) means “to complete,” “to finish,” “to bring to an end,” or “to accomplish.” It conveys a strong sense of finishing something fully, whether that be an action, a project, a process, or even a period of time.
גָּמַר mainly appears in the Qal binyan (simple action: to complete) and occasionally in the Piel binyan (intensive: to finish thoroughly).
Qal Binyan Conjugation of גָּמַר (“to complete, finish”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
גָּמַרְתִּי
2nd person masculine singular
גָּמַרְתָּ
2nd person feminine singular
גָּמַרְתְּ
3rd person masculine singular
גָּמַר
3rd person feminine singular
גָּמְרָה
1st person plural
גָּמַרְנוּ
2nd person masculine plural
גְּמַרְתֶּם
2nd person feminine plural
גְּמַרְתֶּן
3rd person plural
גָּמְרוּ
Present (Participle) Tense
Gender/Number
Form
Masculine singular
גּוֹמֵר
Feminine singular
גּוֹמֶרֶת
Masculine plural
גּוֹמְרִים
Feminine plural
גּוֹמְרוֹת
Future (Imperfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
אֶגְמֹר
2nd person masculine singular
תִּגְמֹר
2nd person feminine singular
תִּגְמְרִי
3rd person masculine singular
יִגְמֹר
3rd person feminine singular
תִּגְמֹר
1st person plural
נִגְמֹר
2nd person masculine plural
תִּגְמְרוּ
2nd person feminine plural
תִּגְמֹרְנָה
3rd person plural
יִגְמְרוּ
Imperative Mood
Person
Form
2nd person masculine singular
גְּמֹר
2nd person feminine singular
גִּמְרִי
2nd person masculine plural
גִּמְרוּ
2nd person feminine plural
גְּמֹרְנָה
Usage in Scripture
Psalm 138:8 – יְהוָה יִגְמֹר בַּעֲדִי
“The LORD will accomplish it for me.”… Learn Hebrew
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Speaking and Showing: Sequential Actions and Demonstrative Syntax in Exodus 4:30
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָאֹתֹ֖ת לְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃
(Exodus 4:30)
And Aharon spoke all the words which YHWH had spoken to Moshe, and he performed the signs in the sight of the people.
Main Speech Act: וַיְדַבֵּר אַהֲרֹן
וַיְדַבֵּר (“and he spoke”) is a Piel wayyiqtol 3ms of ד־ב־ר (“to speak”), showing intensive verbal communication. אַהֲרֹן (“Aaron”) is the clear subject. This verb form moves the narrative forward sequentially, highlighting Aaron’s role as the mouthpiece.
Object of Speech: אֵת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה
אֵת marks the definite direct object.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גִּלַּח: To Shave or Shear
The Hebrew verb גִּלַּח (root: ג-ל-ח) means “to shave,” “to shear,” or “to remove hair.” It primarily appears in the Piel binyan, which expresses intensive or purposeful action, particularly when shaving the head, beard, or body. It is used in ritual contexts (such as purification rites) and in descriptions of mourning or humiliation.
The verb also appears in the Hithpael form (reflexive), meaning “to shave oneself.”
Piel Binyan Conjugation of גִּלַּח (“to shave”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
גִּלַּחְתִּי
2nd person masculine singular
גִּלַּחְתָּ
2nd person feminine singular
גִּלַּחְתְּ
3rd person masculine singular
גִּלַּח
3rd person feminine singular
גִּלְּחָה
1st person plural
גִּלַּחְנוּ
2nd person masculine plural
גִּלַּחְתֶּם
2nd person feminine plural
גִּלַּחְתֶּן
3rd person plural
גִּלְּחוּ
Present (Participle) Tense
Gender/Number
Form
Masculine singular
מְגַלֵּחַ
Feminine singular
מְגַלַּחַת
Masculine plural
מְגַלְּחִים
Feminine plural
מְגַלְּחוֹת
Future (Imperfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
אֲגַלֵּחַ
2nd person masculine singular
תְּגַלֵּחַ
2nd person feminine singular
תְּגַלְּחִי
3rd person masculine singular
יְגַלֵּחַ
3rd person feminine singular
תְּגַלֵּחַ
1st person plural
נְגַלֵּחַ
2nd person masculine plural
תְּגַלְּחוּ
2nd person feminine plural
תְּגַלֵּחַנָּה
3rd person plural
יְגַלְּחוּ
Imperative Mood
Person
Form
2nd person masculine singular
גַלֵּחַ
2nd person feminine singular
גַלְּחִי
2nd person masculine plural
גַלְּחוּ
2nd person feminine plural
גַלֵּחַנָּה
Usage in Scripture
Numbers 6:9 – וְגִלַּח רֹאשׁ נִזְרוֹ
“And he shall shave the head of his consecration…” — regarding a Nazirite vow.… Learn Hebrew
Seeking with All Your Heart: Imperfects, Conditionals, and Covenant Pursuit in Deuteronomy 4:29
וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּמָצָ֑אתָ כִּ֣י תִדְרְשֶׁ֔נּוּ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
(Deuteronomy 4:29)
But from there you will seek YHWH your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.
Initiation of Seeking: וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ
וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם (“and you will seek”) is a Piel perfect 2mp from ב־ק־שׁ (“to seek, inquire”), preceded by vav-consecutive, turning the perfect into a predictive future. מִשָּׁם (“from there”) marks the place of exile as the starting point of seeking.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּלָה: To Uncover, Reveal, or Exile
The Hebrew verb גָּלָה (root: ג-ל-ה) has a range of meanings depending on the context and binyan:
– In the Qal binyan, it often means “to uncover,” “to reveal,” or “to be exposed.”
– In the Hiphil binyan, it often means “to take into exile,” “to remove,” or “to deport.”
– In some cases, especially in Niphal, it can mean “to be revealed” or “to be uncovered.”
This verb plays a significant role in biblical narratives involving revelation, exposure (of sin, truth, or shame), and exile of individuals or entire nations.… Learn Hebrew
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