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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
The Hebrew Verb בָּכָה: To Weep or Cry
The Hebrew verb בָּכָה (root: ב-כ-ה) means “to weep,” “to cry,” or “to lament.” It is one of the most emotive verbs in the Hebrew Bible and appears frequently in narratives, poetry, and laments to express sorrow, mourning, or intense emotion—whether in personal grief, national tragedy, or divine lament.
The verb appears mostly in the Qal and Piel binyanim:
– Qal: simple weeping, often spontaneous or uncontrolled.
– Piel: intensive or formal weeping (e.g., wailing, prolonged mourning).
Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּכָה
Past (Perfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
בָּכִיתִי
2nd person masculine singular
בָּכִיתָ
2nd person feminine singular
בָּכִית
3rd person masculine singular
בָּכָה
3rd person feminine singular
בָּכְתָה
1st person plural
בָּכִינוּ
2nd person masculine plural
בְּכִיתֶם
2nd person feminine plural
בְּכִיתֶן
3rd person plural
בָּכוּ
Present (Participle) Tense
Gender/Number
Form
Masculine singular
בּוֹכֶה
Feminine singular
בּוֹכָה
Masculine plural
בּוֹכִים
Feminine plural
בּוֹכוֹת
Future (Imperfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
אֶבְכֶּה
2nd person masculine singular
תִּבְכֶּה
2nd person feminine singular
תִּבְכִּי
3rd person masculine singular
יִבְכֶּה
3rd person feminine singular
תִּבְכֶּה
1st person plural
נִבְכֶּה
2nd person masculine plural
תִּבְכּוּ
2nd person feminine plural
תִּבְכֶּינָה
3rd person plural
יִבְכּוּ
Imperative Mood
Person
Form
2nd person masculine singular
בְּכֵה
2nd person feminine singular
בְּכִי
2nd person masculine plural
בְּכוּ
2nd person feminine plural
בְּכֶינָה
Usage in Scripture
Genesis 45:14 – וַיִּפֹּל עַל־צַוְּאַרֵי בִנְיָמִין אָחִיו וַיֵּבְךְּ
“He fell on the neck of his brother Binyamin and wept.”… Learn Hebrew
Measuring Judgment: Distributive Syntax and Temporal Framing in Ezekiel 4:10
Introduction: Symbolic Acts and the Grammar of Famine
In Ezekiel 4, the prophet performs symbolic actions that embody the coming siege and judgment upon Yerushalayim. Verse 10 forms part of YHWH’s instructions for Ezekiel’s food rationing during his enacted siege, emphasizing scarcity and controlled survival:
וּמַאֲכָֽלְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאכֲלֶ֔נּוּ בְּמִשְׁקֹ֕ול עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שֶׁ֖קֶל לַיֹּ֑ום מֵעֵ֥ת עַד־עֵ֖ת תֹּאכֲלֶֽנּוּ׃
And your food that you shall eat shall be by weight—twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat it.
This verse uses a combination of relative clauses, distributive syntax, accusative object fronting, and temporal markers to convey restriction, rhythm, and ritualized deprivation.… Learn Hebrew
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Standing in the Midst: Participles, Command Chains, and Theological Transition in Joshua 4:10
Introduction: Narrative Suspension and Liturgical Obedience at the Jordan
Joshua 4:10 presents a narrative interlude during the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, emphasizing the role of the priests and the obedience to divine command mediated through Moshe and Yehoshua. The verse reads:
וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים נֹשְׂאֵ֣י הָאָרֹ֗ון עֹמְדִים֮ בְּתֹ֣וךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ עַ֣ד תֹּ֣ם כָּֽל־֠הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֨ה יְהוָ֤ה אֶת־יְהֹושֻׁ֨עַ֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָ֔ם כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־יְהֹושֻׁ֑עַ וַיְמַהֲר֥וּ הָעָ֖ם וַֽיַּעֲבֹֽרוּ׃
And the priests bearing the Ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that YHWH commanded Yehoshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moshe had commanded Yehoshua; and the people hurried and crossed over.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בִּין: To Understand, Discern, or Perceive
The Hebrew verb בִּין (root: ב-י-ן) is a hollow verb meaning “to understand,” “to discern,” “to consider,” or “to perceive with insight.” It is a central concept in biblical wisdom literature, particularly in Proverbs, where understanding (בִּינָה) is prized alongside knowledge (דַּעַת) and wisdom (חָכְמָה). It often implies not just comprehension but discernment and the capacity to distinguish between things.
בִּין most frequently appears in the Qal and Hiphil stems:
– Qal: to have understanding or insight.
– Hiphil: to cause to understand, to teach, or to explain.… Learn Hebrew
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Perception, Predicate Structure, and the Recognition of Holiness in 2 Kings 4:9
Introduction: Hospitality, Discernment, and the Prophetic Figure
2 Kings 4:9 records the words of the Shunammite woman as she speaks to her husband regarding the prophet Elisha. Her declaration serves as the turning point for their household’s hospitality and the theological development of the chapter. The verse reads:
וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־אִישָׁ֔הּ הִנֵּה־נָ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ אֱלֹהִ֖ים קָדֹ֣ושׁ ה֑וּא עֹבֵ֥ר עָלֵ֖ינוּ תָּמִֽיד׃
And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who continually passes by us.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּטֵל: To Cease, Be Idle, or Be Nullified
The Hebrew verb בָּטֵל (root: ב-ט-ל) means “to cease,” “to be idle,” “to become null,” or “to be ineffective.” It conveys the idea of stopping an action or rendering something void or powerless. In biblical Hebrew, this verb appears both in literal contexts—such as cessation of labor or activities—and in legal or theological contexts—such as nullifying covenants or abolishing ordinances.
בָּטֵל is primarily found in the Niphal (passive/reflexive: “to be nullified”) and Hiphil (causative: “to make void” or “to abolish”) stems, but its Qal form also carries the meaning of “to be idle” or “to cease.”… Learn Hebrew
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Conditional Syntax and the Language of Belief in Exodus 4:8
Introduction: Signs, Skepticism, and Theological Assurance
Exodus 4:8 captures a divine anticipation of Israel’s skeptical response to Moshe’s mission. God provides Moshe with miraculous signs and predicts their effects using a conditional structure that weaves together belief, hearing, and persuasion. The verse reads:
וְהָיָה֙ אִם־לֹ֣א יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ לָ֔ךְ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּ לְקֹ֖ל הָאֹ֣ת הָרִאשֹׁ֑ון וְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּ לְקֹ֖ל הָאֹ֥ת הָאַחֲרֹֽון׃
And it shall be, if they do not believe you and do not listen to the voice of the first sign, then they shall believe the voice of the latter sign.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּטַח: To Trust, Rely Upon, or Be Confident
The Hebrew verb בָּטַח (root: ב-ט-ח) means “to trust,” “to be confident,” or “to rely upon.” It is one of the most important and frequently used words in biblical Hebrew for expressing faith, security, and dependence—especially on YHWH. The verb implies a deep sense of assurance or placing one’s confidence in something or someone.
בָּטַח appears predominantly in the Qal stem, often followed by the prepositions בְּ (in) or עַל (upon), and is richly used in Psalms, Proverbs, and prophetic literature.… Learn Hebrew
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Imperative Syntax and the Economics of Wisdom in Proverbs 4:7
Introduction: Wisdom as Commodity and Command
Proverbs 4:7 is a pivotal statement in the wisdom tradition, combining instructional tone with poetic parallelism. It exhorts the learner to prioritize wisdom above all possessions, using the language of acquisition and possession. The verse reads:
רֵאשִׁ֣ית חָ֭כְמָה קְנֵ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה וּבְכָל־֝קִנְיָנְךָ֗ קְנֵ֣ה בִינָֽה׃
The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; and with all your acquisition, get understanding.
This verse is both poetic and didactic. It emphasizes not the abstract value of wisdom, but the practical and existential necessity of actively acquiring it.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּחַר: To Choose or Select
The Hebrew verb בָּחַר (root: ב-ח-ר) means “to choose,” “to select,” or “to prefer.” It plays a crucial theological role in the Hebrew Bible, often used in relation to divine election—God choosing individuals (like Avraham or David), tribes (like Levi), or the nation of Yisra’el.
בָּחַר appears primarily in the Qal binyan, where it describes the simple action of choosing. It is frequently followed by the preposition בְּ (indicating the one who is chosen).
Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּחַר
Past (Perfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
בָּחַרְתִּי
2nd person masculine singular
בָּחַרְתָּ
2nd person feminine singular
בָּחַרְתְּ
3rd person masculine singular
בָּחַר
3rd person feminine singular
בָּחֲרָה
1st person plural
בָּחַרְנוּ
2nd person masculine plural
בְּחַרְתֶּם
2nd person feminine plural
בְּחַרְתֶּן
3rd person plural
בָּחֲרוּ
Present (Participle) Tense
Gender/Number
Form
Masculine singular
בֹּחֵר
Feminine singular
בֹּחֶרֶת
Masculine plural
בּוֹחֲרִים
Feminine plural
בּוֹחֲרוֹת
Future (Imperfect) Tense
Person
Form
1st person singular
אֶבְחַר
2nd person masculine singular
תִּבְחַר
2nd person feminine singular
תִּבְחֲרִי
3rd person masculine singular
יִבְחַר
3rd person feminine singular
תִּבְחַר
1st person plural
נִבְחַר
2nd person masculine plural
תִּבְחֲרוּ
2nd person feminine plural
תִּבְחַרְנָה
3rd person plural
יִבְחֲרוּ
Imperative Mood
Person
Form
2nd person masculine singular
בְּחַר
2nd person feminine singular
בַּחֲרִי
2nd person masculine plural
בַּחֲרוּ
2nd person feminine plural
בְּחַרְנָה
Usage in Scripture
Deuteronomy 7:6 – בְּךָ בָּחַר יְהוָה
“The LORD has chosen you…” — referring to the election of Yisra’el.… Learn Hebrew