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.

The Victory of the Suffering Servant: Verb Patterns and Poetic Syntax in Isaiah 53:12

Posted on August 12, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

Isaiah 53:12 לָכֵ֞ן אֲחַלֶּק־לֹ֣ו בָרַבִּ֗ים וְאֶת־עֲצוּמִים֮ יְחַלֵּ֣ק שָׁלָל֒ תַּ֗חַת אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶעֱרָ֤ה לַמָּ֨וֶת֙ נַפְשֹׁ֔ו וְאֶת־פֹּשְׁעִ֖ים נִמְנָ֑ה וְהוּא֙ חֵטְא־רַבִּ֣ים נָשָׂ֔א וְלַפֹּשְׁעִ֖ים יַפְגִּֽיעַ Focus on the Cohortative and Imperfect: אֲחַלֶּק and יְחַלֵּק The verse begins with אֲחַלֶּק, a cohortative form of the root ח־ל־ק (“to divide,” “to apportion”), conveying volition or resolve — “I will apportion.” This form expresses divine intent. The verb יְחַלֵּק (same root) is a piel imperfect 3ms and shifts the focus to the Servant’s role in distributing the spoils, a poetic inversion of earlier suffering.… Learn Hebrew

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Pegging Hope in Exile: The Syntax and Semantics of לָתֶת and Its Purpose Clauses

Posted on August 9, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

וְעַתָּ֡ה כִּמְעַט־רֶגַע֩ הָיְתָ֨ה תְחִנָּ֜ה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ לְהַשְׁאִ֥יר לָ֨נוּ֙ פְּלֵיטָ֔ה וְלָתֶת־לָ֥נוּ יָתֵ֖ד בִּמְקֹ֣ום קָדְשֹׁ֑ו לְהָאִ֤יר עֵינֵ֨ינוּ֙ אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ וּלְתִתֵּ֛נוּ מִֽחְיָ֥ה מְעַ֖ט בְּעַבְדֻתֵֽנוּ׃ (Ezra 9:8) And now for a brief moment there has been favor from YHWH our God to leave us a remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place to enlighten our eyes our God and to give us a little reviving in our bondage A Syntax of Relief in Exilic Breath Ezra 9:8 is a rich tapestry of emotion, restoration, and covenant memory woven into layered Hebrew syntax.… Learn Hebrew

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“The Whole Commandment”: Analyzing כָּל־הַמִּצְוָה in Deuteronomy 8:1

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Deuteronomy 8:1: Total Obedience and Covenant Continuity Deuteronomy 8:1 begins with a striking phrase: כָּל־הַמִּצְוָה, literally “all the commandment.” This phrase captures the heart of the Mosaic theology of obedience: the call to complete and undivided commitment to YHWH’s instruction. This article will explore the grammatical structure, semantic richness, and covenantal implications of the expression כָּל־הַמִּצְוָה, as it appears at the outset of a charge to Israel to remember, obey, and live. כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיֹּ֖ום תִּשְׁמְר֣וּן לַעֲשֹׂ֑ות לְמַ֨עַן תִּֽחְי֜וּן וּרְבִיתֶ֗ם וּבָאתֶם֙ וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע יְהוָ֖ה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ Grammatical and Syntactical Analysis of כָּל־הַמִּצְוָה The phrase כָּל־הַמִּצְוָה is composed of a construct phrase combining the quantifier כָּל (“all, every”) with the definite noun הַמִּצְוָה (“the commandment”).… Learn Hebrew

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When the Stem Cuts Deep: The Power of Passive and Active Binyanim in Leviticus 7:20

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

וְהַנֶּ֜פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאכַ֣ל בָּשָׂ֗ר מִזֶּ֤בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַיהוָ֔ה וְטֻמְאָתֹ֖ו עָלָ֑יו וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מֵעַמֶּֽיהָ׃ (Leviticus 7:20) And the person who eats flesh from the slaughter-offering of peace which is for YHWH and his impurity is upon him that person shall be cut off from his people Verbal Landscape of the Verse This verse contains two verbs of critical legal and theological weight: 1. תֹּאכַל — “eats” 2. וְנִכְרְתָה — “shall be cut off” Each verb represents a distinct binyan and communicates contrasting grammatical voices—active versus passive.… Learn Hebrew

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Sweetness on the Lips: Simile and Sequential Syntax in Song of Songs 7:10

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

Song of Songs 7:10 וְחִכֵּ֕ךְ כְּיֵ֥ין הַטֹּ֛וב הֹולֵ֥ךְ לְדֹודִ֖י לְמֵישָׁרִ֑ים דֹּובֵ֖ב שִׂפְתֵ֥י יְשֵׁנִֽים׃ Simile Construction: וְחִכֵּךְ כְּיֵין הַטֹּוב וְחִכֵּךְ (“and your palate”) is the noun חֵךְ (“palate, roof of the mouth, taste”) with the 2fs pronominal suffix ־ךְ (“your”). The simile כְּיֵין הַטֹּוב (“like good wine”) uses the preposition כְּ (“like, as”) to draw a poetic comparison between the beloved’s taste/speech and the finest wine. הַטֹּוב (“the good”) functions adjectivally, enhancing the imagery of richness and delight. Dynamic Description: הֹולֵךְ לְדֹודִי לְמֵישָׁרִים הֹולֵךְ is a Qal participle masculine singular of ה־ל־ךְ (“to walk, to go”), functioning verbally: “going.”… Learn Hebrew

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Interrogative Syntax and Hypothetical Conditional Structures in Wisdom Poetry

Posted on July 3, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Job 37:20 This verse is part of Elihu’s speech, highlighting humanity’s unworthiness to speak before or about God. It consists of rhetorical and conditional clauses, structured to express fear and silence. The verse uses interrogative particles and hypothetical conditional syntax with particles such as אִם (“if”) and כִּי (“when, that, for”), illustrating the layered, poetic style of Job. This lesson focuses on how interrogative and conditional constructions are structured in Biblical Hebrew, particularly in Wisdom Literature. הַֽיְסֻפַּר־֭לֹו כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אִֽם־אָ֥מַר אִ֝֗ישׁ כִּ֣י יְבֻלָּֽע׃ Analysis of Key Words and Structures הַֽיְסֻפַּר־לֹו (hayesuppar-lo) – “Shall it be told to him?”… Learn Hebrew

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“She Has Played the Harlot”: Analyzing זָנְתָה in Hosea 2:7

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Hosea 2:7: The Language of Infidelity and Rebellion In Hosea 2:7, the prophet presents a startling accusation against Israel in the form of familial metaphor: “for their mother has played the harlot”. The verb זָנְתָה, drawn from the root זָנָה (zānah), carries not only its literal sexual connotation but functions as a powerful theological term describing spiritual betrayal and covenant disloyalty. This article examines the grammatical structure, semantic field, and prophetic use of the verb זָנְתָה in this poetic declaration of judgment.… Learn Hebrew

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Joshua 20:6 – Temporal Clauses with עַד and Legal Conditional Structure

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

וְיָשַׁ֣ב בָּעִ֣יר הַהִ֗יא עַד־עָמְדֹ֞ו לִפְנֵ֤י הָעֵדָה֙ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט עַד־מֹות֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ול אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֑ם אָ֣ז יָשׁ֣וּב הָרֹצֵ֗חַ וּבָ֤א אֶל־עִירֹו֙ וְאֶל־בֵּיתֹ֔ו אֶל־הָעִ֖יר אֲשֶׁר־נָ֥ס מִשָּֽׁם׃ And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the High Priest who will be in those days; then the manslayer may return and enter his city and his house—to the city from which he fled. Explanation of Feature This verse from Joshua 20:6 exhibits two key grammatical features often found in legal Hebrew: 1.… Learn Hebrew

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Syntax of Righteous Restraint: Ezekiel 18:6 as a Moral Sentence Structure

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

אֶל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ לֹ֣א אָכָ֔ל וְעֵינָיו֙ לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔א אֶל־גִּלּוּלֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאֶת־אֵ֤שֶׁת רֵעֵ֨הוּ֙ לֹ֣א טִמֵּ֔א וְאֶל־אִשָּׁ֥ה נִדָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יִקְרָֽב׃ (Ezekiel 18:6) Introduction: The Syntax of Not Doing Ezekiel 18:6 is part of a larger legal-moral catalogue describing the behaviors of the righteous individual. Its power lies in what is not done. The verse structures a series of prohibitive actions using parallel negative clauses, each syntactically framed to communicate personal discipline, ritual purity, and covenantal loyalty. Here, syntax doesn’t describe action—it defines righteousness through grammatical restraint.… Learn Hebrew

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Binyanim and Redemption: The Verbal Architecture of Micah 6:4

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

כִּ֤י הֶעֱלִתִ֨יךָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וּמִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִ֖ים פְּדִיתִ֑יךָ וָאֶשְׁלַ֣ח לְפָנֶ֔יךָ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה אַהֲרֹ֥ן וּמִרְיָֽם׃ (Micah 6:4) For I brought you up from the land of Mitsrayim and from the house of slavery I redeemed you and I sent before you Moshe Aharon and Miryam Introduction: Three Verbs, Three Movements of Redemption Micah 6:4 delivers a divine reminder, not through theological argument, but through verbs. Each verb is a milestone of redemption: bringing up, redeeming, and sending. And each verb arrives via a different binyan, each chosen not by accident, but by the deep currents of Hebrew verbal nuance.… Learn Hebrew

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