Author Archives: Biblical 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

The Hebrew verb בָּלַע (root: ב-ל-ע) means “to swallow,” “to devour,” “to consume,” or “to destroy.” It often conveys a violent or sudden action, such as an enemy overtaking someone, the earth swallowing the wicked, or time consuming strength. It is frequently found in poetic and prophetic contexts to describe destruction or overwhelming judgment. בָּלַע appears primarily in the Qal binyan and also occurs in Piel (intensive: to utterly consume) and Niphal (passive: to be swallowed). The vivid imagery of this verb contributes to many dramatic scenes in the Hebrew Bible.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בָּלַט (root: ב-ל-ט) is a relatively rare verb that carries the sense of “moving stealthily,” “acting secretly,” “sneaking away,” or “slipping quietly.” It often appears in poetic or narrative contexts, describing hidden or cautious movement, either physically or emotionally. In most biblical occurrences, בָּלַט functions in the Qal stem, though it is primarily used in participial or adverbial forms (e.g., בַּלָּט, meaning “secretly” or “quietly”). It is less commonly used than other verbs for concealment, but it offers vivid imagery when it does appear.… Learn Hebrew