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Recent Articles
- Through the Great and Fearsome Wilderness: From Fiery Serpent to Flowing Spring
- “Counsel Is Mine” — Exploring the Voice of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:14
- From the Garden to the Ear: Participles and Imperatives in Song of Songs 8:13
- Wisdom’s Self-Introduction: Where Insight Meets Strategy
- Guard Yourself: The Grammar of Memory and Obedience
- Mapping the Syntactic Battlefield
- When Wisdom Speaks Clearly: Syntax and Semantics in Proverbs 8:9
- Sending the Dove: From Loosened Waters to Stilled Waters
- The Mystery of Tomorrow: When Knowledge Meets a Wall
- The Seal of Syntax: Imperatives, Similes, and Poetic Fire in Song of Songs 8:6
- Perpetual Backsliding: Interrogatives, Participles, and the Syntax of Resistance
- Anchored in Syntax: The Resting of the Ark in Genesis 8:4
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Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew
Verb Study: אִחֵל — “to wish” or “to congratulate”
The Hebrew verb אִחֵל (ʾiḥēl) appears in the Hebrew Bible and carries the meaning of “to wish,” especially in the context of blessing or congratulating someone. It belongs to the Piel binyan (intensive stem), and its root is א־ח־ל. This verb is not highly common, but it does appear in poetic or formal contexts, and it has survived in Modern Hebrew with the same meaning of “to wish” (e.g., mazal tov wishes).
In Biblical Hebrew, this verb is usually used in the Piel stem, and here we provide a full conjugation table of its forms in the Piel binyan.… Learn Hebrew
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“Then Iyov Answered and Said”: Formulaic Speech Introductions in Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Job 3:2: The Turning Point of Silence into Speech
Job 3:2 contains only six Hebrew words, yet it marks a pivotal moment in the literary structure of the book: וַיַּ֥עַן אִיֹּ֗וב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃ — “Then Iyov answered and said.” This terse formula is the standard biblical narrative introduction to direct speech, particularly in dialogues. After a long narrative setup in chapters 1–2 and seven days of silence (Job 2:13), these words announce the beginning of Iyov’s poetic lament. This article will analyze the grammatical structure, verb forms, and literary function of this common biblical idiom and its use in the book of Job.… Learn Hebrew
“Lacked Nothing in the Wilderness”: Divine Sufficiency and the Verb חָסַר in Deuteronomy 2:7
Introduction to Deuteronomy 2:7: YHWH’s Provision Over Forty Years
As Moshe reflects on the long journey through the wilderness, he emphasizes not just the hardships but also the unrelenting provision of YHWH. The closing declaration—לֹ֥א חָסַ֖רְתָּ דָּבָֽר (“you lacked nothing”)—reveals more than mere survival; it expresses the profound theme of divine sufficiency. This article explores the verb חָסַר, its grammatical form, and its theological resonance in expressing how YHWH accompanied and sustained His people without fail.
כִּי֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ בֵּֽרַכְךָ֗ בְּכֹל֙ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֶ֔ךָ יָדַ֣ע לֶכְתְּךָ֔ אֶת־הַמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה זֶ֣ה אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֗ה יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א חָסַ֖רְתָּ דָּבָֽר׃
Grammar Spotlight: The Verb חָסַר and Its Form
1.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Vocabulary
Tagged Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 2:7
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“The Seed of Shīḥor”: Analyzing the Construct Chain זֶרַע שִׁחֹר in Isaiah 23:3
Introduction to Isaiah 23:3: Trade and Wealth in Poetic Prophecy
Isaiah 23 is a poetic oracle against the city of Tsor (Tyre), a hub of international commerce and maritime influence. In verse 3, the prophet depicts the city’s economic entanglements using vivid agricultural and geographical metaphors. One key phrase is זֶרַע שִׁחֹר—“the seed of Shīḥor”—which encapsulates Tyre’s reliance on the abundant produce of foreign lands. This article analyzes the construct noun chain, identifies the meaning of שִׁחֹר, and explores the poetic function of this expression.… Learn Hebrew
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“Destroyers and Scatterers of My Flock”: Analyzing the Participles מְאַבְּדִים and מְפִצִים in Jeremiah 23:1
Introduction to Jeremiah 23:1: Prophetic Indictment Against False Shepherds
Jeremiah 23:1 opens a powerful oracle of woe against the leaders of Yisra’el, metaphorically called “shepherds” who have failed in their responsibility to care for the flock of YHWH. The use of participles—מְאַבְּדִים (“destroying”) and מְפִצִים (“scattering”)—not only describes their actions but also conveys an ongoing and habitual pattern of corruption. This article explores the grammatical form, function, and theological force of these participles within the verse.
הֹ֣וי רֹעִ֗ים מְאַבְּדִ֧ים וּמְפִצִ֛ים אֶת־צֹ֥אן מַרְעִיתִ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
Grammatical Analysis of the Participles
1.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb אָחַז – “To Seize” or “To Grasp”
The Hebrew verb אָחַז (ʾāḥaz) is a common and important root in Biblical Hebrew. It means “to seize,” “to grasp,” or “to take hold of,” and is used in various contexts throughout the Tanakh—from grasping physical objects like weapons and hands to metaphorical uses such as being seized by fear or emotions. It follows standard Qal verb patterns and appears in a wide range of forms. Below is a comprehensive table of its conjugation in past, present, future, imperative, and infinitive forms.… Learn Hebrew
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Singulars of Measure in Biblical Hebrew
The phenomenon of the singular of measure in Biblical Hebrew is a fascinating grammatical and syntactic feature. It reflects how Hebrew expresses quantity, time, age, and other measurable constructs using a singular noun to represent a plural idea. In this lesson, we will explore its use across various semantic domains—especially time, space, and quantity—while examining paradigmatic examples like שָׁנָה (year) and its plural שָׁנִים.
I. Introduction to Singulars of Measure
Biblical Hebrew often uses the singular form of a noun to express a unit of measurement in a quantitative construction, particularly after numbers.… Learn Hebrew
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“Please Pray for Us”: Analyzing הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא in Jeremiah 37:3
Introduction to Jeremiah 37:3: A King’s Desperate Request
Jeremiah 37:3 records a politically and spiritually significant moment: King Tsidqiyyāh sends envoys to request intercessory prayer from the prophet Yirmeyāhū. The plea is encapsulated in the verb הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא, meaning “Please pray!”—a compelling example of biblical Hebrew’s Hitpaʿel imperative with emotional urgency and theological depth. This article analyzes the form, function, and implications of this powerful request within the prophetic tradition.
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ אֶת־יְהוּכַ֣ל בֶּן־שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֗ה וְאֶת־צְפַנְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹ֑ר הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָ֣א בַעֲדֵ֔נוּ אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
Morphological Analysis of הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא
The verb הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא is from the root פָּלַל (p-l-l), which in the Hitpaʿel stem means “to pray” or “to intercede.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Struggle Within: Analyzing וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ in Genesis 25:22
Introduction to Genesis 25:22: Prenatal Prophecy and Maternal Distress
Genesis 25:22 presents a moment of profound mystery: Rivqah experiences intense internal movement during pregnancy. The verb וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ describes what the unborn children are doing within her, and her response leads to a divine oracle that shapes biblical history. This analysis focuses on the verb וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ, a rare and expressive form, exploring its grammatical makeup, root meaning, and theological implications in the story of Yaʿaqov and ʿEsav.
וַיִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אִם־כֵּ֔ן לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה אָנֹ֑כִי וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃
Grammatical Analysis of וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ
The verb וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ is from the root רָצַץ (r-ts-ts), meaning “to crush, press, struggle.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Construct Chain in Psalm 1:3
Introduction to Psalm 1:3
Psalm 1:3 is a vivid poetic description of the righteous individual, comparing them to a tree planted by streams of water. The verse employs various grammatical constructs, including the construct chain (סְמִיכוּת), which plays a crucial role in biblical Hebrew syntax. In this analysis, we will explore the function of the construct chain in this verse, how it affects meaning, and its grammatical implications.
וְֽהָיָ֗ה כְּעֵץ֮ שָׁת֪וּל עַֽל־פַּלְגֵ֫י מָ֥יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּרְיֹ֨ו יִתֵּ֬ן בְּעִתֹּ֗ו וְעָלֵ֥הוּ לֹֽא־יִבֹּ֑ול וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
One of the most significant grammatical features in this verse is the construct chain in the phrase:
פַּלְגֵי מָיִם
This phrase consists of two nouns:
פַּלְגֵי (palgei) – “streams of” (construct form of פֶּלֶג, “stream”)
מָיִם (mayim) – “water” (absolute state)
Here, פַּלְגֵי is in the construct state, meaning it must be followed by another noun that determines its meaning.… Learn Hebrew
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