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The Tribal Inheritance in Joshua 14:4

Joshua 14:4 in Hebrew כִּֽי־הָי֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יֹוסֵ֛ף שְׁנֵ֥י מַטֹּ֖ות מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־נָתְנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק לַלְוִיִּ֜ם בָּאָ֗רֶץ כִּ֤י אִם־עָרִים֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְקִנְיָנָֽם׃ Introduction to the Verse Joshua 14:4 provides a key clarification regarding the division of land among the tribes Read more … Continue reading

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The Meaning of דֹּדֶיךָ in Song of Songs 1:2

Song of Songs 1:2 in Hebrew יִשָּׁקֵ֨נִי֙ מִנְּשִׁיקֹ֣ות פִּ֔יהוּ כִּֽי־טֹובִ֥ים דֹּדֶ֖יךָ מִיָּֽיִן׃ Introduction to the Verse Song of Songs 1:2 is a poetic expression of love and longing, beginning the book with an intimate request: יִשָּׁקֵ֨נִי֙ מִנְּשִׁיקֹ֣ות פִּ֔יהוּ – “Let … Continue reading

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The Meaning of מִלְּתָא אַזְדָּא in Daniel 2:5

Daniel 2:5 in Hebrew עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֣ר לְכַשְׂדָּיֵא מִלְּתָ֖א מִנִּ֣י אַזְדָּ֑א הֵ֣ן לָ֤א תְהֹֽודְעוּנַּ֨נִי֙ חֶלְמָ֣א וּפִשְׁרֵ֔הּ הַדָּמִין֙ תִּתְעַבְד֔וּן וּבָתֵּיכֹ֖ון נְוָלִ֥י יִתְּשָׂמֽוּן׃ Introduction to the Expression מִלְּתָא אַזְדָּא Daniel 2:5 records King Nebuchadnezzar’s response to the Chaldeans Read more […]

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The Use of Contrasting Concepts in Ecclesiastes 2:3

Ecclesiastes 2:3 in Hebrew תַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י לִמְשֹׁ֥וךְ בַּיַּ֖יִן אֶת־בְּשָׂרִ֑י וְלִבִּ֞י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז בְּסִכְל֔וּת עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר־אֶרְאֶ֗ה אֵי־זֶ֨ה טֹ֜וב לִבְנֵ֤י הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַעֲשׂוּ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּיהֶֽם׃ Introduction to the Verse Ecclesiastes Read more […]

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The Hebrew Verb אָזַן in the Hebrew Bible

Understanding the Verb אָזַן The Hebrew verb אָזַן (ʾāzan) is a significant term in the Hebrew Bible, meaning “to listen attentively” or “to give ear.” It differs from the common verb for hearing, שָׁמַע (shāmaʿ), in that אָזַן conveys the … Continue reading

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The Meaning of תָּם וְיָשָׁר in Job 1:1

Job 1:1 in Hebrew אִ֛ישׁ הָיָ֥ה בְאֶֽרֶץ־ע֖וּץ אִיֹּ֣וב שְׁמֹ֑ו וְהָיָ֣ה הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֗וּא תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר וִירֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְסָ֥ר מֵרָֽע׃ Introduction to Job’s Character Job 1:1 introduces Job as a man of exemplary character, describing him with four key attributes: תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר … Continue reading

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The Use of Poetic Imagery in Jonah 2:5

Jonah 2:5 in Hebrew אֲפָפ֤וּנִי מַ֨יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ תְּהֹ֖ום יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי ס֖וּף חָב֥וּשׁ לְרֹאשִֽׁי׃ Introduction to Jonah’s Prayer Jonah 2:5 is part of Jonah’s prayer from within the fish, using vivid poetic imagery to describe his distress. The verse states: אֲפָפ֤וּנִי מַ֨יִם֙ … Continue reading

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The Meaning of שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון in Leviticus 25:4

Leviticus 25:4 in Hebrew וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗ת שַׁבַּ֤ת שַׁבָּתֹון֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָאָ֔רֶץ שַׁבָּ֖ת לַיהוָ֑ה שָֽׂדְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תִזְרָ֔ע וְכַרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִזְמֹֽר׃ Introduction to שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון Leviticus 25:4 introduces the Sabbatical Year (שְׁמִטָּה, Shemittah), in which the land is to rest every seven years. … Continue reading

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Hebrew Idioms and Metaphors in Proverbs 23:5

Proverbs 23:5 in Hebrew הֲתָעִיף עֵינֶ֥יךָ בֹּ֗ו וְֽאֵ֫ינֶ֥נּוּ כִּ֤י עָשֹׂ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לֹּ֣ו כְנָפַ֑יִם כְּ֝נֶ֗שֶׁר וָעִ֥יף הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ Introduction to Hebrew Idioms in Proverbs Proverbs 23:5 uses vivid metaphorical language and idiomatic expressions to describe the fleeting nature of wealth. The verse states: … Continue reading

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The Use of Rhetorical Questions and Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew (Habakkuk 3:8)

Habakkuk 3:8 in Hebrew הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י תִרְכַּב֙ עַל־סוּסֶ֔יךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃ Introduction to Rhetorical Questions and Parallelism Habakkuk 3:8 presents a vivid poetic description of God’s power, employing rhetorical questions and parallelism to emphasize … Continue reading

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