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Recent Articles
- Proverbs and Their Grammatical Structure
- Descending into Night: Time Expressions and Poetic Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew
- The Tiberian Vowel System
- When God Speaks: The Syntax of Divine Speech Frames in Biblical Hebrew
- The Role of Gutturals (א, ה, ח, ע) in Verb Conjugation
- “Into the Ark Together”: Order, Gender, and Cause in the LXX Rendering of Noah’s Entry
- Burning Beneath the Pot: Simile Syntax and Semantic Force in Ecclesiastes 7:6
- Gutturals in Biblical Hebrew
- Guarded by Grammar: Purpose Clauses and Verbal Suffixes in Proverbs 7:5
- And They Fled Before the Men of ʿAi”: A Hebrew Battle Surprise
- Theophoric Names in the Hebrew Bible: Divine Elements in Human Identity
- “Go Out to Meet Ahaz”: A Hebrew Mission in Isaiah 7:3
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Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew
Grammatical Deception: Mood, Syntax, and Speech in Judges 4:20
Judges 4:20
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֔יהָ עֲמֹ֖ד פֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֑הֶל וְהָיָה֩ אִם־אִ֨ישׁ יָבֹ֜וא וּשְׁאֵלֵ֗ךְ וְאָמַ֛ר הֲיֵֽשׁ־פֹּ֥ה אִ֖ישׁ וְאָמַ֥רְתְּ אָֽיִן׃
Focus on Imperatives: עֲמֹ֖ד
The word עֲמֹד is the imperative masculine singular form of the root ע־מ־ד, meaning “to stand.” Here, it is a direct command: “Stand!” or more idiomatically, “Stand at the entrance!” Imperatives in Biblical Hebrew vary by gender and number, and in this case, a masculine form is used even though the speaker addresses a woman — an example of formality or grammatical default in certain narrative contexts.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בֵּרֵךְ: To Bless, Kneel, or Bestow Favor
The Hebrew verb בֵּרֵךְ (root: ב-ר-ךְ) means “to bless,” “to bestow favor,” or “to praise.” While the root can also be connected to the idea of “kneeling” (from a different form in the Qal binyan), in the Piel binyan—which is the most common form—the verb almost always means “to bless.” It is one of the most frequently used verbs in the Hebrew Bible in both divine and human contexts.
בֵּרֵךְ is almost exclusively used in the Piel binyan when referring to “blessing,” and it plays a major role in biblical theology and liturgy, including the priestly blessing, patriarchal blessings, and divine promises.… Learn Hebrew
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Stumbling in Darkness: Imagery, Negation, and Parallelism in Proverbs 4:19
דֶּ֣רֶךְ רְ֭שָׁעִים כָּֽאֲפֵלָ֑ה לֹ֥א יָ֝דְע֗וּ בַּמֶּ֥ה יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ
Contextual Introduction
Proverbs 4:19 forms part of a wisdom contrast between the path of the righteous and that of the wicked. While the previous verse (v.18) compares the way of the righteous to the shining light of dawn, this verse paints the way of the wicked as enveloped in darkness. The stark imagery is matched by a concise and rhythmic syntactic structure. The verse delivers a powerful moral lesson, grammatically structured to portray ignorance, danger, and inevitable failure.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּרַח: To Flee, Escape, or Run Away
The Hebrew verb בָּרַח (root: ב-ר-ח) means “to flee,” “to escape,” or “to run away.” It is a common action verb used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe physical flight from danger, pursuit, judgment, or conflict. It can also be used metaphorically for fleeing from sin, judgment, or responsibility.
This verb appears primarily in the Qal binyan (simple action) and is used in both narrative and poetic contexts. The form is typically regular and predictable, making it a foundational vocabulary word for students of Biblical Hebrew.… Learn Hebrew
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Negative Imperative with Jussive Verbs and Genitive Apposition
Introduction to Numbers 4:18
This verse is part of a divine command to preserve the lives of the Qehatite clan among the Levites, who were tasked with transporting the most sacred objects. The verse uses a negative imperative with a jussive verb, which is a common grammatical structure in Biblical Hebrew for expressing prohibitions. It also features an example of genitive apposition, where one noun defines another. This lesson will explore both features: the construction of prohibitive commands using אַל + jussive, and the syntactical function of noun + genitive noun phrase as a descriptive unit.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּרָא: To Create, Bring into Existence
The Hebrew verb בָּרָא (root: ב-ר-א) means “to create” or “to bring into existence.” It is a powerful and theologically significant verb that appears in the very first verse of the Bible. Unlike other Hebrew verbs for “making” (like עשה or יצר), בָּרָא is used exclusively for divine activity—only God is the subject of this verb in the Hebrew Bible. It conveys the idea of bringing something entirely new into being, often ex nihilo (out of nothing).
It appears primarily in the Qal binyan.… Learn Hebrew
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Sequential Devastation: Narrative Syntax and Theological Catastrophe in 1 Samuel 4:17
Introduction: News of Defeat and the Grammar of National Collapse
1 Samuel 4:17 records the devastating news brought to Eli after the defeat of Israel by the Philistines. The verse’s sequential grammar and syntactic rhythm deliver multiple escalating tragedies: military defeat, mass slaughter, death of Eli’s sons, and the capture of the Ark. The messenger’s speech is a structured crescendo of calamity:
וַיַּ֨עַן הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָ֤ס יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְגַ֛ם מַגֵּפָ֥ה גְדֹולָ֖ה הָיְתָ֣ה בָעָ֑ם וְגַם־שְׁנֵ֨י בָנֶ֜יךָ מֵ֗תוּ חָפְנִי֙ וּפִ֣ינְחָ֔ס וַאֲרֹ֥ון הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָֽחָה׃
And the bearer of tidings answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and also there has been a great slaughter among the people; and also your two sons, Ḥofni and Pinḥas, are dead, and the Ark of God has been captured.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בִּקֵּשׁ: To Seek, Request, or Desire
The Hebrew verb בִּקֵּשׁ (root: ב-ק-שׁ) means “to seek,” “to request,” or “to desire.” It belongs to the Piel binyan, and unlike many verbs, it does not typically appear in the Qal. Its form is intensive or causative by nature, indicating purposeful, often passionate pursuit or solicitation.
This verb is frequently found throughout the Hebrew Bible in contexts of seeking something from God, searching for wisdom or peace, or requesting a favor or item. It plays a key role in narrative, prophetic, and poetic texts.… Learn Hebrew
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“He Shall Be Your Mouth”: Syntax of Mediation and Divine Authority in Exodus 4:16
Introduction: Delegated Speech and Theological Role Inversion
Exodus 4:16 is part of YHWH’s response to Moshe’s protest that he is “not a man of words” (Exod. 4:10). In reply, YHWH designates Aharon, Moshe’s brother, as his spokesperson. This verse defines the functional relationship between Moshe and Aharon in symbolic and hierarchical terms:
וְדִבֶּר־ה֥וּא לְךָ֖ אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וְהָ֤יָה הוּא֙ יִֽהְיֶה־לְּךָ֣ לְפֶ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לֹּ֥ו לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃
And he shall speak for you to the people; and it shall be that he will be as a mouth for you, and you shall be as God to him.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּקַר: To Seek, Inquire, or Inspect
The Hebrew verb בָּקַר (root: ב-ק-ר) means “to seek,” “to inquire,” “to examine,” or “to inspect.” It often implies a deliberate and careful investigation—whether of people, things, or situations. While it shares a root with nouns like בֹּקֶר (morning), the verbal form is distinct in usage and meaning.
This verb appears most often in the Qal binyan (to investigate, examine) and also in Piel (to inspect thoroughly or supervise). It is commonly used in priestly, legal, and administrative contexts, especially in regard to sacrificial animals, health examinations, or inquiries about someone’s welfare.… Learn Hebrew
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