Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew

About Biblical Hebrew

Learn Biblical Hebrew Online. Studying Biblical Hebrew online opens a direct window into the sacred texts of the Hebrew Bible, allowing readers to engage with Scripture in its original linguistic and cultural context. By learning the language in which much of the Tanakh was written, students can move beyond translations and discover the nuanced meanings, poetic structures, and theological depth embedded in the Hebrew text. Online learning provides flexible and accessible avenues to build these skills, whether through self-paced modules, guided instruction, or interactive resources. As one grows in proficiency, the richness of biblical narratives, laws, prayers, and prophetic visions comes to life with renewed clarity, making the study of Biblical Hebrew not only an intellectual pursuit but a deeply rewarding spiritual and cultural journey.

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׃ Contextual Introduction 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. The grammar is structured to build conditional progression, with key temporal and causal relationships between physical contact, knowledge, and culpability. Grammatical Focus: Disjunctive אוֹ-Clause, Sequential Verbs, and Legal Causality 1.… 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
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Incline Your Ear: Imperatives, Parallelism, and the Poetic Call to Wisdom in Proverbs 5:1

בְּ֭נִי לְחָכְמָתִ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י הַט־אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ Contextual Introduction 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. Grammatical Focus: Imperative Mood, Construct Phrases, and Poetic Parallelism 1.… 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

Exodus 4:30 וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָאֹתֹ֖ת לְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃ 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. כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים (“all the words”) — a full and faithful recounting אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה — relative clause “which YHWH had spoken to Moses” (past action, Qal perfect 3ms of ד־ב־ר) Aaron’s speech faithfully transmits divine instruction received by Moses.… 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
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Seeking with All Your Heart: Imperfects, Conditionals, and Covenant Pursuit in Deuteronomy 4:29

Deuteronomy 4:29 וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּמָצָ֑אתָ כִּ֣י תִדְרְשֶׁ֔נּוּ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ 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. אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ (“YHWH your God”) identifies the object of the quest, framed relationally by the pronominal suffix אֱלֹהֶיךָ (“your God”). Promise of Discovery: וּמָצָאתָ וּמָצָאתָ (“and you will find”) is a Qal perfect 2ms from מ־צ־א (“to find”), again using vav-consecutive to imply future fulfillment.… 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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