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Recent Articles
- Fear, Dominion, and Syntax: A Grammar Lesson from Genesis 9:2
- “And Job Answered and Said”: A Hebrew Lesson on Job 9:1
- Syntax of Covenant Obedience: The Altar of Uncut Stones in Joshua 8:31
- Unlock the Secrets of the Tanakh: Why Hebrew Morphology is the Key
- The Poetics of Verbal Repetition in Proverbs 8:30
- Syntax of the Wave Offering: Moses and the Breast Portion in Leviticus 8:29
- Firm Skies and Deep Springs: Grammar in Proverbs 8:28
- Only the Spoil: A Hebrew Lesson on Joshua 8:27
- Binyanim Under Pressure: Exodus 8:26
- When Service Ends: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:25
- Consecration Through Syntax: The Priestly Ritual in Leviticus 8:24
- “A Three-Day Journey”: The Syntax of Volition and Deixis in Exodus According to Targum Onkelos
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Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew
They Divide My Garments: Syntax of Humiliation and Prophetic Foreshadowing in Psalm 22:19
יְחַלְּק֣וּ בְגָדַ֣י לָהֶ֑ם וְעַל־לְבוּשִׁ֗י יַפִּ֥ילוּ גֹורָֽל׃
(Psalm 22:19)
They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Lament and the Poetics of Degradation
Psalm 22 is a profound expression of suffering and divine distance, often described as a “passion psalm.” Verse 19 (18 in most English Bibles) presents a vivid and symbolic scene of social degradation and loss of dignity:
The verse uses poetic parallelism and action-oriented verbs to convey humiliation and abandonment. In later theological tradition, it has also been understood as a prophetic foreshadowing of the crucifixion of Yeshuʿ (Jesus), whose garments were divided by Roman soldiers (cf.… Learn Hebrew
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Fire from My Anger: Divine Wrath and Total Destruction in Deuteronomy 32:22
כִּי־אֵשׁ֙ קָדְחָ֣ה בְאַפִּ֔י וַתִּיקַ֖ד עַד־שְׁאֹ֣ול תַּחְתִּ֑ית וַתֹּ֤אכַל אֶ֨רֶץ֙ וִֽיבֻלָ֔הּ וַתְּלַהֵ֖ט מֹוסְדֵ֥י הָרִֽים׃
(Deuteronomy 32:22)
For a fire has been kindled in my nose; it burns to the lowest Sheol, and it consumes the land and its produce, and it scorches the foundations of the mountains.”
Contextual Introduction
Deuteronomy 32:22 forms part of the Shirat Ha’azinu, the Song of Moshe, which is both a poetic prophecy and covenantal indictment against Israel’s disobedience. This verse vividly describes the fury of YHWH’s wrath using the imagery of fire.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Septuagint Studies
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Offering Gold with Willing Hearts: Narrative Action, Appositive Lists, and Participial Highlights in Exodus 35:22
וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים עַל־הַנָּשִׁ֑ים כֹּ֣ל נְדִ֣יב לֵ֗ב הֵ֠בִיאוּ חָ֣ח וָנֶ֜זֶם וְטַבַּ֤עַת וְכוּמָז֙ כָּל־כְּלִ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכָל־אִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵנִ֛יף תְּנוּפַ֥ת זָהָ֖ב לַיהוָֽה׃
(Exodus 35:22)
And the men came with the women. Every willing-hearted one brought nose-ring and earring and signet-ring and pendant, every article of gold. And every man who waved a wave-offering of gold to YHWH.
Contextual Introduction
Exodus 35:22 describes the Israelites’ generous response to Moshe’s call for materials for the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The verse portrays men and women alike bringing offerings of gold, willingly and joyfully.… Learn Hebrew
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“Watch Your Step”: The Imperative שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ and Reverence in Worship
שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תֵּלֵךְ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקָרֹ֣וב לִשְׁמֹ֔עַ מִתֵּ֥ת הַכְּסִילִ֖ים זָ֑בַח כִּֽי־אֵינָ֥ם יֹודְעִ֖ים לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות רָֽע׃
(Ecclesiastes 4:17)
Guard your foot when you go to the house of God, and draw near to listen rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know how to do evil.
Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:17: Approaching the House of Elohim with Caution
Ecclesiastes 4:17 (5:1 in English Bibles) opens with a striking imperative: שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ—“guard your feet.” This instruction is not about physical safety, but spiritual posture.… Learn Hebrew
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Coordinated Wayyiqtol Verbs and Procedural Sequencing in Priestly Instruction
וּבָ֨א אַהֲרֹ֤ן וּבָנָיו֙ בִּנְסֹ֣עַ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְהֹורִ֕דוּ אֵ֖ת פָּרֹ֣כֶת הַמָּסָ֑ךְ וְכִ֨סּוּ־בָ֔הּ אֵ֖ת אֲרֹ֥ן הָעֵדֻֽת׃
(Numbers 4:5)
And Aaron and his sons shall come when the camp sets out, and they shall take down the veil of the screen and cover with it the Ark of the Testimony.
Introduction to Numbers 4:5
This verse outlines a ritual procedure to be performed by Aharon and his sons when the Israelite camp sets out. It employs a clear sequence of wayyiqtol verbs to describe actions performed in a fixed order.… Learn Hebrew
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In the Place You Desired: Double Infinitives, Conditional Certainty, and Exile Irony in Jeremiah 42:22
וְעַתָּה֙ יָדֹ֣עַ תֵּֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֗י בַּחֶ֛רֶב בָּרָעָ֥ב וּבַדֶּ֖בֶר תָּמ֑וּתוּ בַּמָּקֹום֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֲפַצְתֶּ֔ם לָבֹ֖וא לָג֥וּר שָֽׁם׃
(Jeremiah 42:22)
And now you shall surely know that by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence you shall die in the place where you have desired to go to dwell there.
Contextual Introduction
Jeremiah 42:22 closes a divine warning against fleeing to Mitsrayim following the Babylonian conquest. After a long appeal through the prophet, YHWH makes clear that disobedience will bring fatal consequences. This verse affirms that death by the sword, famine, and plague awaits those who reject the prophetic word.… Learn Hebrew
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“No Comforter for Them”: Repetition as Grief in Ecclesiastes 4:1
וְשַׁ֣בְתִּֽי אֲנִ֗י וָאֶרְאֶה֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשִׂ֖ים תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְהִנֵּ֣ה דִּמְעַ֣ת הָעֲשֻׁקִ֗ים וְאֵ֤ין לָהֶם֙ מְנַחֵ֔ם וּמִיַּ֤ד עֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙ כֹּ֔חַ וְאֵ֥ין לָהֶ֖ם מְנַחֵֽם׃
(Ecclesiastes 4:1)
And I turned and saw all the oppressed who are done under the sun; and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and there is no comforter for them. And from the hand of their oppressors is power, and there is no comforter for them.
Lament Beneath the Sun
Ecclesiastes 4:1 returns to a central theme in Qohelet’s worldview—the injustice and sorrow experienced under the sun.… Learn Hebrew
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The Shame of Trust: Syntax, Irony, and Political Theology in Isaiah 30:3
וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם מָעֹ֥וז פַּרְעֹ֖ה לְבֹ֑שֶׁת וְהֶחָס֥וּת בְּצֵל־מִצְרַ֖יִם לִכְלִמָּֽה׃
(Isaiah 30:3)
And the stronghold of Pharaoh shall become for you a shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Mitsrayim a disgrace.
Contextual Introduction
Isaiah 30:3 forms part of a prophetic denunciation of Judah’s reliance on Mitsrayim (Egypt) for political and military security. Instead of trusting in YHWH, the leaders of Judah turn to Pharaoh for protection against Assyria, a decision that Isaiah condemns as both faithless and futile. The verse plays on the language of safety and refuge, flipping it into irony and disgrace.… Learn Hebrew
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“Tie It Around Your Neck”: The Imperative קָשְׁרֵ֥ם and Internalizing Loyalty and Truth in Proverbs 3:3
חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֗ת אַֽל־יַעַ֫זְבֻ֥ךָ קָשְׁרֵ֥ם עַל־גַּרְגְּרֹותֶ֑יךָ כָּ֝תְבֵ֗ם עַל־ל֥וּחַ לִבֶּֽךָ׃
Kindness and truth, do not let them leave you; bind them upon your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Introduction to Proverbs 3:3: Where Character Becomes Ornament
In Proverbs 3:3, the speaker urges the hearer to take hold of two foundational virtues: חֶ֥סֶד (loyal love) and אֱמֶ֗ת (truth/faithfulness). These qualities are personified and then treated like precious objects—meant to be bound around the neck and inscribed on the heart. The grammatical imperative קָשְׁרֵ֥ם commands this internalization.… Learn Hebrew
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Testing Israel: Purpose Clauses and Conditional Syntax in Judges 2:22
לְמַ֛עַן נַסֹּ֥ות בָּ֖ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֲשֹׁמְרִ֣ים הֵם֩ אֶת־דֶּ֨רֶךְ יְהוָ֜ה לָלֶ֣כֶת בָּ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר שָׁמְר֥וּ אֲבֹותָ֖ם אִם־לֹֽא׃
(Judges 2:22)
In order to test Israel by them, whether they would keep the way of YHWH, to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not.
Purpose Clause: לְמַעַן נַסֹּות בָּם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל
לְמַעַן (“in order that”) introduces a purpose clause. נַסֹּות is a Piel infinitive construct of נ־ס־ה (“to test, try”), expressing purpose: “to test.” The prepositional phrase בָּם (“in them”) points to Israel as the object of testing, while אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל clarifies Israel as the direct object of the testing action.… Learn Hebrew
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