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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: Biblical Hebrew
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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Silent Idols: Infinitives, Negation, and Sensory Absence in Deuteronomy 4:28
וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם עֵ֣ץ וָאֶ֔בֶן אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִרְאוּן֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּן וְלֹ֥א יֹֽאכְל֖וּן וְלֹ֥א יְרִיחֻֽן׃
(Deuteronomy 4:28)
And there you will serve gods, the work of human hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Future Prediction: וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁם אֱלֹהִים
וַעֲבַדְתֶּם is a Qal wayyiqtol 2mp of ע־ב־ד (“to serve”), used here predictively: “and you shall serve.” The location שָׁם (“there”) marks exile, indicating worship in a foreign land. אֱלֹהִים here refers not to the true God, but to foreign idols — a bitter irony conveyed by context.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּזַר: To Cut, Decree, or Decide
The Hebrew verb גָּזַר (root: ג-ז-ר) primarily means “to cut,” “to divide,” or “to decree.” Originally, it referred to a literal act of cutting or severing something. Over time, it took on a more abstract meaning, describing a legal or authoritative decision (i.e., a decree being issued, as if it were “cut out” or finalized).
This verb appears mainly in the Qal binyan (to cut, to decide), and sometimes in the Niphal binyan (to be decreed or decided).
Qal Binyan Conjugation of גָּזַר (“to cut,” “to decree”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
גָּזַרְתִּי
2nd person masculine singular
גָּזַרְתָּ
2nd person feminine singular
גָּזַרְתְּ
3rd person masculine singular
גָּזַר
3rd person feminine singular
גָּזְרָה
1st person plural
גָּזַרְנוּ
2nd person masculine plural
גְּזַרְתֶּם
2nd person feminine plural
גְּזַרְתֶּן
3rd person plural
גָּזְרוּ
Present (Participle) Tense
Gender/Number
Form
Masculine singular
גּוֹזֵר
Feminine singular
גּוֹזֶרֶת
Masculine plural
גּוֹזְרִים
Feminine plural
גּוֹזְרוֹת
Future (Imperfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
אֶגְזֹּר
2nd person masculine singular
תִּגְזֹּר
2nd person feminine singular
תִּגְזְּרִי
3rd person masculine singular
יִגְזֹּר
3rd person feminine singular
תִּגְזֹּר
1st person plural
נִגְזֹּר
2nd person masculine plural
תִּגְזְּרוּ
2nd person feminine plural
תִּגְזֹּרְנָה
3rd person plural
יִגְזְּרוּ
Imperative Mood
Person
Form
2nd person masculine singular
גְּזֹּר
2nd person feminine singular
גִּזְרִי
2nd person masculine plural
גִּזְרוּ
2nd person feminine plural
גְּזֹּרְנָה
Usage in Scripture
Job 22:28 – וְתִגְזֹּר אֹמֶר וְיָקָם לָךְ
“You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you.”… Learn Hebrew
Meeting in the Wilderness: Commands, Encounters, and Sequential Verbs in Exodus 4:27
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן לֵ֛ךְ לִקְרַ֥את מֹשֶׁ֖ה הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַֽיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּ בְּהַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיִּשַּׁק־לֹֽו׃
(Exodus 4:27)
And YHWH said to Aharon, “Go to meet Moshe in the wilderness.” And he went and met him on the mountain of God and kissed him.
Divine Command: וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־אַהֲרֹן
וַיֹּאמֶר is a Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of א־מ־ר (“to say”), standard for narrative progression. יְהוָה is the divine speaker, and אֶל־אַהֲרֹן marks Aaron as the recipient. This phrase introduces a command directly from God to Aaron.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גוּר: To Sojourn, Dwell Temporarily, or Fear
The Hebrew verb גוּר (root: ג-ו-ר) has two main sets of meanings depending on context and binyan:
– In the Qal binyan, it means “to sojourn,” “to reside temporarily,” or “to dwell as an alien.”
– In other usages (especially poetic), it can also mean “to fear” or “to be afraid.”
The primary biblical usage of גוּר involves living temporarily in a land not one’s own—being a foreigner or guest without full citizenship rights. It appears often in narratives about the Patriarchs (like Avraham) and laws concerning the “ger” (resident alien).… Learn Hebrew
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The Ravaged Vineyard: Visionary Perfects and Destruction Syntax in Jeremiah 4:26
רָאִ֕יתִי וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְכָל־עָרָ֗יו נִתְּצוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י חֲרֹ֥ון אַפֹּֽו׃
(Jeremiah 4:26)
I saw, and behold, the Karmel was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down before YHWH, before the burning of His anger.
Vision Report: רָאִיתִי וְהִנֵּה
רָאִיתִי (“I saw”) is a Qal perfect 1cs of ר־א־ה (“to see”), indicating a complete visionary act. וְהִנֵּה (“and behold”) introduces the object of the vision, creating dramatic immediacy typical of prophetic revelations.
Desolate Landscape: הַכַּרְמֶל הַמִּדְבָּר
הַכַּרְמֶל (“the fertile land” or “vineyard”) is used here ironically.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּדַר: To Fence, Wall Up, or Enclose
The Hebrew verb גָּדַר (root: ג-ד-ר) means “to wall up,” “to fence,” “to enclose,” or “to build a wall.” It is used literally to refer to constructing walls or enclosures, and metaphorically to describe protection, separation, or exclusion.
In the Hebrew Bible, this verb typically appears in the Qal binyan (simple action), and occasionally in the Pual and Hiphil forms when referring to being walled up or causing others to be fenced in. It plays an important role in both agricultural and prophetic language.… Learn Hebrew
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Blood and Altar: Precision and Ritual Syntax in Leviticus 4:25
וְלָקַ֨ח הַכֹּהֵ֜ן מִדַּ֤ם הַֽחַטָּאת֙ בְּאֶצְבָּעֹ֔ו וְנָתַ֕ן עַל־קַרְנֹ֖ת מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֑ה וְאֶת־דָּמֹ֣ו יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ אֶל־יְסֹ֖וד מִזְבַּ֥ח הָעֹלָֽה׃
(Leviticus 4:25)
And the priest shall take from the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of the burnt offering.
Sequential Ritual Actions: וְלָקַ֨ח… וְנָתַ֕ן… יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ
The verse progresses through a sequence of wayyiqtol verbs:
וְלָקַ֨ח — “and he shall take” (Qal wayyiqtol 3ms from ל־ק־ח)
וְנָתַ֕ן — “and he shall put” (Qal wayyiqtol 3ms from נ־ת־ן)
יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ — “he shall pour out” (Qal imperfect 3ms from ש־פ־ך)
This sequence defines the priest’s precise duties in handling the blood of the sin offering, emphasizing ritual order and sacred space.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּדַל: To Grow, Become Great, or Magnify
The Hebrew verb גָּדַל (root: ג-ד-ל) means “to grow,” “to become great,” or “to be magnified.” It conveys both physical growth (as of a child or plant) and abstract greatness (as in power, importance, or honor). Depending on the binyan (verbal stem), it can describe either natural development or intentional exaltation or glorification.
This verb appears in several binyanim:
– Qal: to grow, become great
– Piel: to make great, magnify, glorify
– Hiphil: to cause to grow or raise someone to greatness
Its theological richness is evident when used of God, kings, and prophetic language.… Learn Hebrew
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Hands, Heads, and Holy Places: Ritual Syntax in Leviticus 4:24
וְסָמַ֤ךְ יָדֹו֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַשָּׂעִ֔יר וְשָׁחַ֣ט אֹתֹ֔ו בִּמְקֹ֛ום אֲשֶׁר־יִשְׁחַ֥ט אֶת־הָעֹלָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה חַטָּ֖את הֽוּא׃
(Leviticus 4:24)
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat and slaughter it in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before YHWH; it is a sin offering.
Sequential Actions: וְסָמַ֤ךְ… וְשָׁחַ֣ט
The verse opens with two wayyiqtol verbs: וְסָמַ֤ךְ (“and he shall lay”) and וְשָׁחַ֣ט (“and he shall slaughter”), from the roots ס־מ־ך and ש־ח־ט respectively. These forms are Qal wayyiqtol 3ms and represent sequential narrative events — typical in priestly and ritual texts to indicate ordered procedure.… Learn Hebrew
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