Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew

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

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

The Hebrew verb בָּצַע (root: ב-צ-ע) primarily means “to cut off,” “to break open,” or “to divide.” Over time, it developed figurative meanings, including “to plunder,” “to gain by violence,” or “to profit unjustly.” In biblical usage, it often carries a negative moral connotation—especially in prophetic texts where it is associated with greed, corruption, and exploitation. בָּצַע appears most frequently in the Qal binyan and occasionally in Niphal (to be broken off) and Pual (to be greedily taken).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּצַע Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּצַעְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּצַעְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּצַעְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּצַע 3rd person feminine singular בָּצְעָה 1st person plural בָּצַעְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּצַעְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּצַעְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּצְעוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בּוֹצֵעַ Feminine singular בּוֹצַעַת Masculine plural בּוֹצְעִים Feminine plural בּוֹצְעוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְצַע 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְצַע 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְצְעִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְצַע 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְצַע 1st person plural נִבְצַע 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְצְעוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְצַעְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְצְעוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּצַע 2nd person feminine singular בִּצְעִי 2nd person masculine plural בִּצְעוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּצַעְנָה   Usage in Scripture Genesis 37:26 – מַה־בֶּצַע כִּי נַהֲרֹג אֶת־אָחִינוּ “What profit is there if we kill our brother?”… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בָּנָה (root: ב-נ-ה) means “to build,” “to construct,” or “to establish.” It is a foundational term in biblical Hebrew, used both literally—for constructing houses, cities, or altars—and metaphorically—for establishing families, dynasties, or spiritual legacies. It occurs frequently in narrative, poetic, legal, and prophetic texts. בָּנָה is a hollow verb (middle root letter is a weak נ), resulting in irregularities in some conjugations. It appears primarily in the Qal binyan, with additional occurrences in Niphal (to be built) and Pual (to be constructed passively).… Learn Hebrew