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.

Returning the Unjust Gain: Syntax and Restitution in Leviticus 5:23

Posted on May 23, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

וְהָיָה֮ כִּֽי־יֶחֱטָ֣א וְאָשֵׁם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֨יב אֶת־הַגְּזֵלָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּזָ֗ל אֹ֤ו אֶת־הָעֹ֨שֶׁק֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׁ֔ק אֹ֚ו אֶת־הַפִּקָּדֹ֔ון אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָפְקַ֖ד אִתֹּ֑ו אֹ֥ו אֶת־הָאֲבֵדָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָצָֽא׃ (Leviticus 5:23) Legal Syntax, Moral Structure Leviticus 5:23 (Eng. 6:4) operates at the intersection of confession and reparation. Its syntax reveals a legal formula designed to enumerate the possibilities of theft or dishonesty while directing the offender to restitution. The verse’s layered clause structure and repetitive patterns convey both comprehensive legal coverage and didactic emphasis. Syntax here serves jurisprudence. Clause Structure: Conditional Framework with Coordinated Restitution The verse begins with a conditional introductory formula: – וְהָיָה כִּי־יֶחֱטָא וְאָשֵׁם (“And it shall be when he sins and becomes guilty”) This is a type of conditional clause using כִּי + yiqtol (יִחֱטָא), followed by a vav-conjoined perfect וְאָשֵׁם (“and he bears guilt”)—a slightly unusual yet common legal idiom in priestly texts.… Learn Hebrew

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Divine Gifts: Tripartite Blessings and Comparative Syntax in 1 Kings 5:9

Posted on May 9, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

1 Kings 5:9 וַיִּתֵּן֩ אֱלֹהִ֨ים חָכְמָ֧ה לִשְׁלֹמֹ֛ה וּתְבוּנָ֖ה הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְרֹ֣חַב לֵ֔ב כַּחֹ֕ול אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיָּֽם׃ Divine Action: וַיִּתֵּן אֱלֹהִים חָכְמָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה וַיִּתֵּן (“and He gave”) is a Qal wayyiqtol 3ms from נ־ת־ן (“to give”), a typical narrative verb form indicating completed divine action. אֱלֹהִים is the subject, emphasizing that Solomon’s wisdom originates from God. חָכְמָה (“wisdom”) is the direct object, and לִשְׁלֹמֹה (“to Solomon”) marks the recipient using the preposition לְ. Expansion of Blessing: וּתְבוּנָה הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד וּתְבוּנָה (“and understanding”) continues the list of gifts.… Learn Hebrew

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A Royal Menu: Quantifiers and Species in 1 Kings 5:3

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

1 Kings 5:3 עֲשָׂרָ֨ה בָקָ֜ר בְּרִאִ֗ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים בָּקָ֛ר רְעִ֖י וּמֵ֣אָה צֹ֑אן לְ֠בַד מֵֽאַיָּ֤ל וּצְבִי֙ וְיַחְמ֔וּר וּבַרְבֻּרִ֖ים אֲבוּסִֽים׃ Numerals and Nouns: עֲשָׂרָ֨ה בָקָ֜ר The phrase עֲשָׂרָ֨ה בָקָ֜ר (“ten fattened oxen”) demonstrates the masculine plural numeral עֲשָׂרָה agreeing in gender with בָקָר (“cattle, oxen”), which though singular in form is treated as a collective or plural in sense. The numeral precedes the noun, which is typical in Hebrew counting expressions. Similarly, וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים בָּקָ֛ר רְעִ֖י (“and twenty grazing oxen”) follows the same syntactic pattern with עֶשְׂרִים (“twenty”).… Learn Hebrew

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“For Judgment Is for You”: Vocative Structure and Second-Person Plural Indictment in Hosea 5:1

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Hosea 5:1: A Multi-Level Call to Account Hosea 5:1 opens with a sharp prophetic rebuke structured around three vocatives and a climactic declaration of judgment. The verse strategically builds tension by summoning three key leadership groups—priests, the house of Yisra’el, and the royal house—and declares that the judgment (מִשְׁפָּט) pertains directly to them. The syntax reflects careful rhetoric: imperative verbs, escalating audience focus, and metaphorical accusations (snare, net). This article analyzes the grammatical construction of the vocative forms, second-person plural usage, and poetic metaphor to show how the verse functions as both legal indictment and rhetorical strategy.… Learn Hebrew

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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Ruth 4:18

Posted on April 18, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ תֹּולְדֹ֣ות פָּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ הֹולִ֥יד אֶת־חֶצְרֹֽון׃ 1. Narrative Formula and Literary Structure: וְאֵלֶּה תֹּולְדֹות The phrase וְאֵלֶּה תֹּולְדֹות (“and these are the generations of…”) is a recurring genealogical formula found throughout the Torah (cf. Genesis 2:4; 5:1; 10:1). It introduces a transition or literary boundary marker, often leading to a genealogy or important narrative shift. תֹּולְדֹות is a feminine plural noun from the root יָלַד (“to bear, beget”), referring to genealogical records, descendants, or historical developments stemming from a person. The prefixed וְ (“and”) ties the verse back to the previous context, providing continuity from the story of Ruth and Boaz to the Davidic line.… Learn Hebrew

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“You Have Strengthened Knees That Were Bowing”: Causative Stems and Parallelism in Job 4:4

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Job 4:4: Eliphaz and the Power of Speech Job 4:4 is part of Eliphaz’s opening speech, where he reminds Job of his past influence and moral strength. The verse praises Job for encouraging the weak, using evocative imagery of stumbling and bowed knees. The focus of this study is the poetic structure and the grammatical form תְּאַמֵּֽץ, a Piel stem that adds causative force to the meaning of the verb “to be strong.” This article explores how Hebrew poetry combines verbal morphology and parallelism to create emotional and theological impact.… Learn Hebrew

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Ezekiel 43:3 – Repetition with כ and אֲשֶׁר in Comparative Clauses

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

וּכְמַרְאֵ֨ה הַמַּרְאֶ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֗יתִי כַּמַּרְאֶ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֨יתִי֙ בְּבֹאִי֙ לְשַׁחֵ֣ת אֶת־הָעִ֔יר וּמַרְאֹ֕ות כַּמַּרְאֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי אֶל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר וָאֶפֹּ֖ל אֶל־פָּנָֽי׃ And like the appearance of the vision that I saw, like the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city, and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the River Kevar, and I fell upon my face. Explanation of Feature This verse from Ezekiel 43:3 highlights two key grammatical features: 1. Repetitive comparative clauses using the particle כְּ (“like/as”) combined with אֲשֶׁר (“which/that”) to form descriptive comparisons.… Learn Hebrew

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We Are Utterly Ruined”: Syntax of Satire and Loss in Micah 2:4

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction: Prophetic Mockery and the Breakdown of Inheritance Micah 2:4 delivers a sharp prophetic rebuke through the vehicle of ironic lamentation. The verse mimics the traditional form of a mourning song but redirects its grief toward those who defrauded others of land, now themselves dispossessed by divine judgment. The syntax plays with lament forms, prophetic speech, and distributive verbs of inheritance: בַּיֹּ֨ום הַה֜וּא יִשָּׂ֧א עֲלֵיכֶ֣ם מָשָׁ֗ל וְנָהָ֨ה נְהִי נִֽהְיָה֙ אָמַר֙ שָׁדֹ֣וד נְשַׁדֻּ֔נוּ חֵ֥לֶק עַמִּ֖י יָמִ֑יר אֵ֚יךְ יָמִ֣ישׁ לִ֔י לְשֹׁובֵ֥ב שָׂדֵ֖ינוּ יְחַלֵּֽק׃ On that day one will raise a parable against you, and he will wail a lament with grief, saying: “We are utterly ruined!… Learn Hebrew

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“There Is No Truth, No Mercy, No Knowledge”: The Covenant Lawsuit and the Triple אֵין־ Construction in Hosea 4:1

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Hosea 4:1: A Prophetic Legal Complaint Hosea 4:1 marks the beginning of a formal prophetic rīv—a covenant lawsuit in which YHWH takes legal action against Yisra’el for violating the covenant. This verse is grammatically structured as a declaration of indictment, with the divine voice naming the charges in legal-poetic form. The centerpiece of the verse is the triplet of negative nominal clauses, all beginning with אֵין, stating what is missing from society. These three nouns—אֱמֶת, חֶסֶד, and דַּעַת אֱלֹהִים—represent core covenantal values.… Learn Hebrew

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From Afar to Forever: Verb Forms and Covenant Love in Jeremiah 31:3

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew

מֵרָחֹ֕וק יְהוָ֖ה נִרְאָ֣ה לִ֑י וְאַהֲבַ֤ת עֹולָם֙ אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ עַל־כֵּ֖ן מְשַׁכְתִּ֥יךְ חָֽסֶד׃ Contextual Introduction Jeremiah 31:3 is a centerpiece of hope within the so-called “Book of Consolation” (Jeremiah 30–33), where the prophet records YHWH’s promises of restoration after judgment. In stark contrast to earlier messages of doom, this verse expresses eternal love and covenantal faithfulness. It contains some of the most theologically charged Hebrew poetry in prophetic literature and demonstrates how verb forms and syntax can intensify emotional and spiritual meaning. Grammatical Focus: Verb Tenses, Covenant Constructs, and Poetic Syntax 1.… Learn Hebrew

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