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Recent Articles
- The Hebrew Verb בָּרַח: To Flee, Escape, or Run Away
- Negative Imperative with Jussive Verbs and Genitive Apposition
- The Hebrew Verb בָּרָא: To Create, Bring into Existence
- Sequential Devastation: Narrative Syntax and Theological Catastrophe in 1 Samuel 4:17
- The Hebrew Verb בִּקֵּשׁ: To Seek, Request, or Desire
- “He Shall Be Your Mouth”: Syntax of Mediation and Divine Authority in Exodus 4:16
- The Hebrew Verb בָּקַר: To Seek, Inquire, or Inspect
- The Mark of Mercy: Legal Syntax and Divine Protection in Genesis 4:15
- The Hebrew Verb בָּצַע: To Cut Off, Break Open, or Gain Unjustly
- Teaching the Law: Syntax of Instruction and Inheritance in Deuteronomy 4:14
- The Hebrew Verb בָּנָה: To Build, Construct, or Establish
- Dream Syntax and Divine Communication: Structural Layers in Job 4:13
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Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew
Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Isaiah 4:5
וּבָרָ֣א יְהוָ֡ה עַל־כָּל־מְכֹ֨ון הַר־צִיֹּ֜ון וְעַל־מִקְרָאֶ֗הָ עָנָ֤ן יֹומָם֙ וְעָשָׁ֔ן וְנֹ֛גַהּ אֵ֥שׁ לֶהָבָ֖ה לָ֑יְלָה כִּ֥י עַל־כָּל־כָּבֹ֖וד חֻפָּֽה׃ 1. Verb Form and Theological Implication: וּבָרָ֣א יְהוָה The verse opens with וּבָרָ֣א (“and [He] will create”), a Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular from the … Continue reading
Chains of Crime: Asyndeton, Verb Chains, and Poetic Justice in Hosea 4:2
אָלֹ֣ה וְכַחֵ֔שׁ וְרָצֹ֥חַ וְגָנֹ֖ב וְנָאֹ֑ף פָּרָ֕צוּ וְדָמִ֥ים בְּדָמִ֖ים נָגָֽעוּ׃ Contextual Introduction Hosea 4:2 forms part of YHWH’s indictment against Israel for covenantal infidelity. The prophet lists a litany of violations—oath-breaking, deceit, murder, theft, adultery—before declaring a breakdown of social and … Continue reading
“If You Return, O Yisra’el”: Analyzing תָּשׁוּב in Jeremiah 4:1
Introduction to Jeremiah 4:1: The Call to Return and Its Conditional Framework Jeremiah 4:1 opens with a passionate invitation from YHWH to Yisra’el, framed by a double occurrence of the verb תָּשׁוּב—“you return.” This verse is structured around a conditional … Continue reading
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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Proverbs 30:3
וְלֹֽא־לָמַ֥דְתִּי חָכְמָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת קְדֹשִׁ֣ים אֵדָֽע׃ 1. Confessional Tone through Verb Forms: לָמַדְתִּי and אֵדָע The first clause begins with וְלֹֽא־לָמַ֥דְתִּי—“And I have not learned.” This is a Qal perfect 1st person singular verb from the root למד (“to learn”). The … Continue reading
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“Would He Return?”: Analyzing הֲיָשׁוּב in Jeremiah 3:1
Introduction to Jeremiah 3:1: Covenant, Divorce, and the Question of Return Jeremiah 3:1 opens with a rhetorical allusion to Deuteronomic law regarding divorce and remarriage (cf. Deut. 24:1–4). The core grammatical and theological tension is framed by the interrogative verb … Continue reading
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“And the Word of the LORD Came to Me”: Analyzing וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר in Jeremiah 2:1
Introduction to Jeremiah 2:1: The Prophetic Speech Formula Jeremiah 2:1 begins with a classic prophetic formula: וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר, “And the word of the LORD came to me, saying.” This formula recurs throughout the prophetic literature and functions not … Continue reading
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The Construct Chain and Noun Phrase Syntax in Jeremiah 1:1
Introduction to Jeremiah 1:1 Jeremiah 1:1 introduces the prophetic book by identifying the prophet’s lineage, his priestly background, and his geographic origin. The verse employs construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), a common feature in Biblical Hebrew used to express relationships between nouns. … Continue reading
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“To Do in the Land”: Analyzing לַעֲשֹׂות in Deuteronomy 12:1
Introduction to Deuteronomy 12:1: Obedience and Covenant Geography Deuteronomy 12:1 serves as a formal introduction to a new legal section in the book, transitioning from general covenant exhortations to specific cultic and social regulations. Central to this introductory verse is … Continue reading
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Divine Hiddenness and Reflexive Syntax in Isaiah 64:6: Grammar of Abandonment
Introduction: Lament, Agency, and Theological Crisis in Exilic Prayer Isaiah 64 is a communal lament expressing deep anguish over Israel’s estrangement from YHWH. Verse 6 (English: v.7) articulates both divine silence and human inability. The verse reads: וְאֵין־קֹורֵ֣א בְשִׁמְךָ֔ מִתְעֹורֵ֖ר … Continue reading
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“And You Shall Love”: Analyzing וְאָהַבְתָּ in Deuteronomy 11:1
Introduction to Deuteronomy 11:1: Love as Covenant Loyalty Deuteronomy 11:1 opens with a profound imperative: וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ – “And you shall love the LORD your God.” This verse sets the tone for the entire chapter by linking covenant … Continue reading
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