Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew

About Biblical Hebrew

Learn Biblical Hebrew Online. Studying Biblical Hebrew online opens a direct window into the sacred texts of the Hebrew Bible, allowing readers to engage with Scripture in its original linguistic and cultural context. By learning the language in which much of the Tanakh was written, students can move beyond translations and discover the nuanced meanings, poetic structures, and theological depth embedded in the Hebrew text. Online learning provides flexible and accessible avenues to build these skills, whether through self-paced modules, guided instruction, or interactive resources. As one grows in proficiency, the richness of biblical narratives, laws, prayers, and prophetic visions comes to life with renewed clarity, making the study of Biblical Hebrew not only an intellectual pursuit but a deeply rewarding spiritual and cultural journey.

The Hebrew Verb בָּחַן: To Test, Examine, or Try

The Hebrew verb בָּחַן (root: ב-ח-ן) means “to test,” “to examine,” or “to scrutinize.” It is used in both literal and metaphorical contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible. Often appearing in wisdom literature and prophetic books, it describes the testing of hearts, intentions, and individuals to reveal what is true or genuine. This verb primarily occurs in the Qal binyan and often takes YHWH as the subject—indicating divine examination of human beings.   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּחַן Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּחַנְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּחַנְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּחַנְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּחַן 3rd person feminine singular בָּחֲנָה 1st person plural בָּחַנּוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּחַנְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַנְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּחֲנוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּחֵן Feminine singular בֹּחֶנֶת Masculine plural בּוֹחֲנִים Feminine plural בּוֹחֲנוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְחַן 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְחַן 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְחֲנִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְחַן 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְחַן 1st person plural נִבְחַן 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְחֲנוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְחַנְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְחֲנוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּחַן 2nd person feminine singular בַּחֲנִי 2nd person masculine plural בַּחֲנוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַנְנָה   Usage in Scripture Psalm 139:23 – בְּחָנֵנִי אֵל וְדַע לְבָבִי “Search me, O God, and know my heart.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on The Hebrew Verb בָּחַן: To Test, Examine, or Try

Genesis 4:5 – Emotion Verbs and the Use of וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו

וְאֶל־קַ֥יִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָתֹ֖ו לֹ֣א שָׁעָ֑ה וַיִּ֤חַר לְקַ֨יִן֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ פָּנָֽיו׃ (Genesis 4:5) But to Qayin and to his offering He did not look with favor, and Qayin was very angry, and his face fell. Explanation of Feature This verse from Genesis 4:5 contains two noteworthy grammatical features: 1. Emotion verbs with לְ (lamed) – as seen in וַיִּחַר לְקַיִן, “Qayin became angry.” In Hebrew, anger is often described with the verb חָרָה (“to burn”) used impersonally with a lamed preposition marking the subject: “it burned to Qayin.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Genesis 4:5 – Emotion Verbs and the Use of וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו

Definiteness and Participial Titles in Cultic Legal Hebrew

וְלָקַ֛ח הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֑ר וְהֵבִ֥יא אֹתֹ֖ו אֶל־אֹ֥הֶל מֹועֵֽד׃ (Leviticus 4:5) And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it to the Tent of Meeting. This verse describes part of the sin offering ritual: the anointed priest takes the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting. What stands out grammatically is the noun phrase הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ (“the anointed priest”), which combines a definite noun with a definite participle. This construction highlights a specific cultic role and reflects the way Biblical Hebrew uses definite participial titles in legal and priestly texts.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Definiteness and Participial Titles in Cultic Legal Hebrew

The Hebrew Verb בּוֹשׁ: To Be Ashamed or Confounded

The Hebrew verb בּוֹשׁ (root: ב-ו-ש) means “to be ashamed,” “to be confounded,” or “to be disappointed.” It is most commonly used in poetic and prophetic contexts to express emotional distress, embarrassment, or failure. The shame described may be social, moral, or the result of unmet expectations. This verb is primarily used in the Qal binyan, where it expresses a passive state of shame or confusion. It often appears with prepositions like מִן (because of) or עַל (on account of).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בּוֹשׁ Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בּוֹשְׁתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בּוֹשְׁתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בּוֹשְׁתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בּוֹשׁ 3rd person feminine singular בּוֹשָׁה 1st person plural בּוֹשְׁנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בּוֹשְׁתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בּוֹשְׁתֶּן 3rd person plural בּוֹשׁוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בוֹשׁ Feminine singular בוֹשָׁה Masculine plural בוֹשִׁים Feminine plural בוֹשׁוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֵבוֹשׁ 2nd person masculine singular תֵּבוֹשׁ 2nd person feminine singular תֵּבוֹשִׁי 3rd person masculine singular יֵבוֹשׁ 3rd person feminine singular תֵּבוֹשׁ 1st person plural נֵבוֹשׁ 2nd person masculine plural תֵּבוֹשׁוּ 2nd person feminine plural תֵּבֹשֶׁנָה 3rd person plural יֵבֹשׁוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בּוֹשׁ 2nd person feminine singular בּוֹשִׁי 2nd person masculine plural בּוֹשׁוּ 2nd person feminine plural בּוֹשֶׁנָה   Usage in Scripture Psalm 25:3 – גַּם כָּל־קוֶיךָ לֹא יֵבוֹשׁוּ “Indeed, none who wait for You shall be ashamed.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Vocabulary | Tagged | Comments Off on The Hebrew Verb בּוֹשׁ: To Be Ashamed or Confounded

Jussive Negation with אַל and the Function of Double Prohibition

אַ֥ךְ אִ֛ישׁ אַל־יָרֵ֖ב וְאַל־יֹוכַ֣ח אִ֑ישׁ וְעַמְּךָ֖ כִּמְרִיבֵ֥י כֹהֵֽן׃ (Hosea 4:4) Yet let no man contend, and let no man rebuke, for your people are like those who contend with a priest. Hosea 4:4 stands at the beginning of a prophetic indictment. It opens with a forceful double prohibition, warning against judgmental contention, followed by a striking comparison between the people and the priest. The grammatical structure uses the particle אַל to negate jussive verbs twice in parallel, creating a rhetorical double command.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Jussive Negation with אַל and the Function of Double Prohibition

Volitive Forms and Rhetorical Irony in Zephaniah 3:7: A Grammatical Theology of Rejected Correction

אָמַ֜רְתִּי אַךְ־תִּירְאִ֤י אֹותִי֙ תִּקְחִ֣י מוּסָ֔ר וְלֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֣ת מְעֹונָ֔הּ כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־פָּקַ֖דְתִּי עָלֶ֑יהָ אָכֵן֙ הִשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ הִשְׁחִ֔יתוּ כֹּ֖ל עֲלִילֹותָֽם׃ I said, “Surely you will fear Me, you will accept correction.” Then her dwelling would not be cut off—[not] all that I had appointed against her. But they rose early—they corrupted all their deeds. Divine Expectation and Human Defiance in Prophetic Discourse Zephaniah 3:7 is a striking verse in the prophet’s closing oracle of judgment, where YHWH reflects on His prior disciplinary intent and Israel’s refusal to respond.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Volitive Forms and Rhetorical Irony in Zephaniah 3:7: A Grammatical Theology of Rejected Correction

The Hebrew Verb בּוֹא: To Come, Enter, or Arrive

The Hebrew verb בּוֹא (root: ב-ו-א) is a high-frequency irregular verb that means “to come,” “to go in,” “to enter,” or “to arrive.” It occurs in narrative, legal, and poetic contexts and is essential for expressing movement toward a place or event. It frequently appears with prepositions like אֶל (“to”) or בְּ (“in”). Because it is a hollow verb (middle root is ו), its forms are highly irregular in some tenses and must be memorized. It appears most frequently in the Qal binyan, with some occurrences in Hiphil (causative: “to bring in”).… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Vocabulary | Tagged | Comments Off on The Hebrew Verb בּוֹא: To Come, Enter, or Arrive

The Syntax of Legal Hypotheticals and Priestly Responsibility in Leviticus 4:3

אִ֣ם הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ יֶחֱטָ֖א לְאַשְׁמַ֣ת הָעָ֑ם וְהִקְרִ֡יב עַ֣ל חַטָּאתֹו֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטָ֜א פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֥ר תָּמִ֛ים לַיהוָ֖ה לְחַטָּֽאת׃ (Leviticus 4:3) If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt upon the people, then he shall bring for his sin that he has committed a bull of the herd without blemish to the LORD as a sin offering. Legal Instruction and Theological Stakes in Leviticus 4:3 Leviticus 4:3 introduces the procedures for sin offerings (חַטָּאת) in the case of unintentional sin by the anointed priest. This passage inaugurates one of the most structurally detailed sacrificial regulations in the Torah.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Syntax, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on The Syntax of Legal Hypotheticals and Priestly Responsibility in Leviticus 4:3

The Semantics and Theology of the Nifʿal Imperfect in Isaiah 4:3

וְהָיָ֣ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּצִיֹּ֗ון וְהַנֹּותָר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קָדֹ֖ושׁ יֵאָ֣מֶר לֹ֑ו כָּל־הַכָּת֥וּב לַחַיִּ֖ים בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (Isaiah 4:3) And the one who is left in Tsiyyon and the one who remains in Yerushalayim will be called holy, everyone who is written down for life in Yerushalayim. Contextual and Theological Framing of Isaiah 4:3 Isaiah 4:3 appears at a pivotal juncture in the prophetic literature of Isaiah, marking a thematic shift from divine judgment to purification and restoration. The verse reads: Situated within the oracle of Isaiah 2–4, this verse belongs to a broader literary unit that envisions Zion’s eschatological cleansing.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on The Semantics and Theology of the Nifʿal Imperfect in Isaiah 4:3

The Hebrew Verb בָּהַל: To Terrify or Alarm

The Hebrew verb בָּהַל (root: ב-ה-ל) means “to terrify,” “to alarm,” “to hasten in fear,” or “to panic.” It typically describes sudden emotional or mental disturbance—such as fear, confusion, or urgency—often in response to shocking or overwhelming circumstances. This verb is used in poetic, prophetic, and narrative contexts in the Hebrew Bible. It is most commonly found in the Qal binyan and sometimes in the Niphal (passive or reflexive, “to be terrified”) or Piel (intensive causative, “to cause terror”).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּהַל Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּהַלְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּהַלְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּהַלְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּהַל 3rd person feminine singular בָּהֲלָה 1st person plural בָּהַלְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּהַלְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּהַלְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּהֲלוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּהֵל Feminine singular בֹּהֶלֶת Masculine plural בֹּהֲלִים Feminine plural בֹּהֲלוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְהַל 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְהַל 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְהֲלִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְהַל 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְהַל 1st person plural נִבְהַל 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְהֲלוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְהַלְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְהֲלוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּהַל 2nd person feminine singular בַּהֲלִי 2nd person masculine plural בַּהֲלוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּהַלְנָה   Usage in Scripture Daniel 5:6 – וְהִתְבַּהֲלוּ מְתַנֵּה “His limbs were terrified…” — describing the sudden fear of King Belshazzar when he saw the handwriting on the wall.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Vocabulary | Tagged | Comments Off on The Hebrew Verb בָּהַל: To Terrify or Alarm