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.

Training Up a Child: Analyzing חֲנֹךְ in Proverbs 22:6

חֲנֹ֣ךְ לַ֭נַּעַר עַל־פִּ֣י דַרְכֹּ֑ו גַּ֥ם כִּֽי־֝יַזְקִ֗ין לֹֽא־יָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ (Proverbs 22:6) Train the youth according to his way; even when he grows old, he will not turn from it. The Way a Child Should Go Proverbs 22:6 stands as one of the most quoted and widely discussed verses in the Hebrew Bible regarding parenting and education. At its heart is the imperative verb חֲנֹךְ (ḥănōkh), “Train!” or “Dedicate!”—a rare yet powerful word that conveys far more than basic instruction. This analysis explores its morphology, semantic range, contextual meaning, and theological implications, showing how the verb roots this proverb in the deep soil of moral formation and lifelong direction.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb אָחַד – “To Unite”

The Hebrew root א־ח־ד gives rise to the familiar adjective אֶחָד meaning “one.” However, in rare cases, this root also functions as a verb in the Qal stem: אָחַד – “to unite.” While it appears very infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, some forms are attested or can be reconstructed using standard Qal paradigms. Below is a comprehensive overview of the conjugation and forms of this rare but meaningful verb. Past Tense (Perfect) – Qal Person Singular Plural 1st אָחַדְתִּי (aḥadti) – I united אָחַדְנוּ (aḥadnu) – we united 2nd m אָחַדְתָּ (aḥadta) – you (m) united אָחַדְתֶּם (aḥadtem) – you (m.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hitpael Verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת in Ezekiel 1:13

וּדְמ֨וּת הַחַיֹּ֜ות מַרְאֵיהֶ֣ם כְּגַחֲלֵי־אֵ֗שׁ בֹּֽעֲרֹות֙ כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַלַּפִּדִ֔ים הִ֕יא מִתְהַלֶּכֶ֖ת בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות וְנֹ֣גַהּ לָאֵ֔שׁ וּמִן־הָאֵ֖שׁ יֹוצֵ֥א בָרָֽק׃ (Ezekiel 1:13) And the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches; it was walking about among the living creatures, and brightness was to the fire, and from the fire came out lightning. Ezekiel 1:13 presents a striking description of the living creatures in the prophet’s vision, depicting their likeness as burning coals of fire, moving like torches.… Learn Hebrew
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The Qal Imperfect Verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ in Jeremiah 1:7

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אַל־תֹּאמַ֖ר נַ֣עַר אָנֹ֑כִי כִּ֠י עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוְּךָ֖ תְּדַבֵּֽר׃ (Jeremiah 1:7) And YHWH said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak.” Jeremiah 1:7 records YHWH’s response to the prophet’s hesitation, reassuring him that his youth does not disqualify him from divine commission. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ (ʾeshlaḥăkha), which appears in the Qal imperfect form.… Learn Hebrew
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The Verb יֶהְגֶּה in Psalm 1:2

כִּ֤י אִ֥ם בְּתֹורַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה חֶ֫פְצֹ֥ו וּֽבְתֹורָתֹ֥ו יֶהְגֶּ֗ה יֹומָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃ (Psalm 1:2) But his delight is in the Torah of YHWH, and in His Torah he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2 describes the delight of the righteous in the Torah of YHWH, emphasizing continuous meditation on divine instruction. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the verb יֶהְגֶּה (yehgeh), which conveys the action of meditation or murmuring. This analysis will explore its morphological structure, syntactic role, and semantic nuances in Biblical Hebrew.… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of Antithetical Parallelism and Participles in Ecclesiastes 1:5

וְזָרַ֥ח הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ וּבָ֣א הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְאֶ֨ל־מְקֹומֹ֔ו שֹׁואֵ֛ף זֹורֵ֥חַֽ ה֖וּא שָֽׁם׃ (Ecclesiastes 1:5) The sun rises, and the sun sets, and to its place it pants; there it rises again. Ecclesiastes 1:5 is part of a poetic passage reflecting on the cyclical nature of the world. The verse describes the rising and setting of the sun, emphasizing its continuous movement. The grammatical structure of this verse includes antithetical parallelism, where opposing actions (sunrise and sunset) are juxtaposed, as well as the use of participles (שֹׁואֵ֛ף and זֹורֵ֥חַ) to depict ongoing motion.… Learn Hebrew
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Mastering Weqatal: Syntax, Function, and Usage in Biblical Hebrew

Weqatal (וְקָטַל) is one of the most complex and fascinating verbal forms in Biblical Hebrew. It plays a crucial role in expressing sequences, aspect, and modality, particularly in narrative and legal texts. This lesson will explore every detail of Weqatal, including its morphology, syntax, function, and significance in biblical exegesis. Introduction to Weqatal Weqatal is a verbal form in Biblical Hebrew that consists of the conjunction וְ (“and”) prefixed to a Qatal (Perfect) verb. It is typically used in specific grammatical contexts, often functioning to express actions in the future or as part of a sequential chain of events.… Learn Hebrew
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The Idiomatic Expression וַתָּ֥שָׁב רוּחֹ֖ו אֵלָ֑יו (“His Spirit Returned to Him”) in 1 Samuel 30:12

This study will analyze the function of וַתָּ֥שָׁב רוּחֹ֖ו אֵלָ֑יו in biblical idiom, its grammatical structure, and its theological significance. וַיִּתְּנוּ־לֹו֩ פֶ֨לַח דְּבֵלָ֜ה וּשְׁנֵ֤י צִמֻּקִים֙ וַיֹּ֔אכַל וַתָּ֥שָׁב רוּחֹ֖ו אֵלָ֑יו כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אָ֤כַל לֶ֨חֶם֙ וְלֹא־שָׁ֣תָה מַ֔יִם שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה לֵילֹֽות׃ And they gave him a slice of pressed fig cake and two clusters of raisins, and he ate, and his spirit returned to him—for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. Introduction to 1 Samuel 30:12 1 Samuel 30:12 describes an Egyptian servant found in a weakened state by David’s men, who is then revived with food and water.… Learn Hebrew
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The Syntax of Complaint and the Theological Significance of Divine Mercy in Jonah 4:2

This study will analyze the grammatical structure of Jonah’s complaint, the syntactic function of divine attributes, and the theological implications of Jonah’s resistance to God’s compassion. וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה וַיֹּאמַ֗ר אָנָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ הֲלֹוא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗י עַד־הֱיֹותִי֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔י עַל־כֵּ֥ן קִדַּ֖מְתִּי לִבְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה כִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּ֤י אַתָּה֙ אֵֽל־חַנּ֣וּן וְרַח֔וּם אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד וְנִחָ֖ם עַל־הָרָעָֽה׃ (Jonah 4:2) And he prayed to YHWH and said, “Please, YHWH, was this not my word while I was still in my land? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in kindness, and relenting concerning disaster.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Prophetic Use of Metaphor and the Jussive and Cohortative Verb Forms in Divine Judgment in Hosea 2:3

This study will analyze the grammatical structure of the prophetic warning, the function of jussive and cohortative forms, and the theological implications of Israel’s punishment. פֶּן־אַפְשִׁיטֶ֣נָּה עֲרֻמָּ֔ה וְהִ֨צַּגְתִּ֔יהָ כְּיֹ֖ום הִוָּֽלְדָ֑הּ וְשַׂמְתִּ֣יהָ כַמִּדְבָּ֗ר וְשַׁתִּ֨הָ֙ כְּאֶ֣רֶץ צִיָּ֔ה וַהֲמִתִּ֖יהָ בַּצָּמָֽא׃ Lest I strip her naked and expose her as on the day of her birth, and make her like the wilderness, and render her like a parched land, and kill her with thirst. Introduction to Hosea 2:3 Hosea 2:3 (in the Hebrew text) is part of a larger prophetic rebuke where YHWH warns Israel of the consequences of her spiritual unfaithfulness.… Learn Hebrew
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