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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
Hebrew Parallelism: Synonymous, Antithetical, and Synthetic Structures in Biblical Poetry
One of the most defining and recognizable features of Biblical Hebrew poetry is parallelism—the structured arrangement of poetic lines that mirror, contrast, or expand upon each other in meaning. Unlike rhyme and meter in Western poetry, Hebrew poetry often relies on semantic balance and rhythmic repetition to create emphasis, beauty, and rhetorical force.
Understanding the different types of parallelism is essential for interpreting Psalms, Proverbs, prophetic oracles, and other poetic texts. In this article, we explore the three major categories of Hebrew parallelism—synonymous, antithetical, and synthetic—with detailed examples and interpretive implications.… Learn Hebrew
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The Suffix that Binds: Construct State and Apposition in Genealogical Phrases
וּבְנֵ֖י יִצְהָ֑ר קֹ֥רַח וָנֶ֖פֶג וְזִכְרִֽי׃
(Exodus 6:21)
And the sons of Yitshar: Qoraḥ and Nefeg and Zikhri
Introduction: Genealogy as Grammar
Biblical genealogies are more than historical lists—they’re structured expressions of belonging, lineage, and narrative economy. A deceptively short verse like Exodus 6:21, listing the sons of Yitshar, is packed with morphological precision. The phrase וּבְנֵ֖י יִצְהָ֑ר (“and the sons of Yitshar”) features a classic example of construct state (סמיכות) in Biblical Hebrew, a grammatical phenomenon where two nouns are joined to express possession or close relationship.… Learn Hebrew
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Hebrew Idiomatic Expressions: Unlocking the Figurative Depth of Biblical Language
Idiomatic expressions are among the most vivid and culturally revealing elements of any language. In Biblical Hebrew, idioms often carry rich theological, historical, and emotional connotations that resist word-for-word translation. Whether in prose narrative, poetry, or prophecy, Hebrew idioms compress complex ideas into compact, figurative language. Misunderstanding them can distort interpretation; recognizing them opens the door to deeper exegetical insight.
This article surveys a selection of key idiomatic expressions in Biblical Hebrew—highlighting their literal meanings, figurative uses, and interpretive significance. We will also explore the cultural metaphors underlying these phrases, many of which reflect ancient Near Eastern life, covenantal thinking, and embodied experience.… Learn Hebrew
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Binyanim in Crisis: The Verbs of Reverence and Relocation in 1 Samuel 6:20
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲנְשֵׁי בֵית־שֶׁמֶשׁ מִי יוּכַל לַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי יְהוָה הָאֱלֹהִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ הַזֶּה וְאֶל־מִי יַעֲלֶה מֵעָלֵינוּ׃
And the men of Beit-Shemesh said who is able to stand before YHWH the holy God and to whom shall He go up from upon us (1 Samuel 6:20)
Introduction: Verbs at the Threshold of Holiness
When the ark of YHWH returns to Beit-Shemesh, it is not a joyful moment—it becomes terrifying. After YHWH strikes down many of the people, a desperate question erupts: Who can even stand before this holy God? … Learn Hebrew
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The Binyanim of Hospitality: How Actions Become Sacred in Judges 6:19
וְגִדְעֹ֣ון בָּ֗א וַיַּ֤עַשׂ גְּדִֽי־עִזִּים֙ וְאֵיפַת־קֶ֣מַח מַצֹּ֔ות הַבָּשָׂר֙ שָׂ֣ם בַּסַּ֔ל וְהַמָּרַ֖ק שָׂ֣ם בַּפָּר֑וּר וַיֹּוצֵ֥א אֵלָ֛יו אֶל־תַּ֥חַת הָאֵלָ֖ה וַיַּגַּֽשׁ׃
(Judges 6:19)
And Gidʿon came and made a young goat and an ephah of flour unleavened bread the meat he placed in a basket and the broth he placed in a pot and he brought it out to him under the terebinth and he approached
A Meal Made of Verbs
This seemingly domestic scene—Gidʿon preparing food—belies a moment charged with sacred suspense. As Gidʿon unwittingly prepares a meal for an angel of YHWH, the Hebrew verbs narrating his actions use carefully chosen binyanim.… Learn Hebrew
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The Definite Article הַ and Its Effect on Meaning
Among the many small but powerful tools in Biblical Hebrew, the definite article הַ stands out for its consistent grammatical function and its far-reaching interpretive impact. Though it appears as a prefix attached to nouns and adjectives, the article modifies the semantic force, syntactic behavior, and discourse status of its host. Understanding the mechanics and nuances of הַ is essential for exegesis, grammar, and theology.
This article explores how the Hebrew definite article operates morphologically, syntactically, and pragmatically. We draw from standard reference grammars such as Waltke & O’Connor (1990) and Joüon & Muraoka (2006) to illustrate how the article shapes meaning in context.… Learn Hebrew
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How Hebrew Constructs Narratives
Biblical Hebrew narrative is a rich and carefully crafted form of storytelling that employs distinctive syntactic, morphological, and pragmatic structures. Unlike modern Western storytelling, which tends to rely on chronological sequencing and a proliferation of subordinated clauses, Biblical Hebrew narratives achieve cohesion, foregrounding, and temporal movement using a highly structured verbal system and pragmatic cues embedded in its discourse grammar.
This article explores how Hebrew constructs narratives through the lens of discourse analysis and pragmatics, examining the roles of the verbal system (especially wayyiqtol and qatal), syntactic structuring, topic-focus dynamics, and discourse markers.… Learn Hebrew
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“Peace, Peace”—The Syntax and Irony of Faux Healing
וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁלֹ֣ום שָׁלֹ֑ום וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֹֽום׃
(Jeremiah 6:14)
And they healed the fracture of My people lightly saying “Peace, peace” but there is no peace
The Grammar of Denial
Jeremiah 6:14 is a damning indictment of false prophets and shallow leadership. It weaves together deceptive speech, superficial healing, and syntactic irony—all in a single verse. At the heart of this verse lies a deceptive healing verb וַיְרַפְּאוּ, a construct chain שֶׁבֶר עַמִּי, and a disjunctive negation וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם.… Learn Hebrew
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The Sons of Noah: Morphological Patterns and Narrative Precision in Genesis 6:10
וַיֹּ֥ולֶד נֹ֖חַ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים אֶת־שֵׁ֖ם אֶת־חָ֥ם וְאֶת־יָֽפֶת׃
Just before the deluge reshapes the world, we are given a quiet genealogical statement that carries immense theological weight. In Genesis 6:10, the text pauses to inform us that Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. This verse stands at the threshold of divine judgment and human renewal—a moment where language must carry both history and hope.
We will explore one non-obvious grammatical phenomenon embedded in this verse: the use of the definite marker אֶת before each son’s name, even though they appear for the first time in the narrative.… Learn Hebrew
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“I Sent Before You Moses, Aaron, and Miriam”: The Grammar of Triadic Leadership in Micah 6:4
כִּ֤י הֶעֱלִתִ֨יךָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וּמִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִ֖ים פְּדִיתִ֑יךָ וָאֶשְׁלַ֣ח לְפָנֶ֔יךָ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה אַהֲרֹ֥ן וּמִרְיָֽם׃
In the prophetic indictment of Michah 6:4, God recalls the foundational acts of redemption that bound Him to Israel. Among these, one phrase stands out for its grammatical distinctiveness:
וָאֶשְׁלַח לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת־מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם
“And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”
This triad — Moses, Aaron, and Miriam — is unique in Biblical Hebrew. But even more striking than the inclusion of Miriam is the verb form used: וָאֶשְׁלַח — a first-person common singular imperfect with vav-consecutive, indicating past action from a divine speaker.… Learn Hebrew