Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew

The Hebrew verb זָכָה (root: ז־כ־ה) means “to be innocent,” “to be pure,” “to be acquitted,” or “to attain” or “gain” something. It combines legal, moral, and spiritual connotations. In a legal sense, it refers to being declared clean or righteous; in a spiritual or moral sense, it refers to purity or blamelessness. In some contexts, especially in the Hiphil stem, it can mean “to gain,” “to earn,” or “to merit” a reward or status. The root is also connected to the noun זַכַּי (“innocent one”) and to Modern Hebrew words like זְכוּת (“merit, right”).… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb הָרַס (root: ה־ר־ס) means “to destroy,” “to tear down,” or “to demolish.” It is used in both literal and figurative senses in the Hebrew Bible—referring to the destruction of physical structures (like cities, altars, or houses) and metaphorically to the ruin of plans, pride, or kingdoms. It appears in the Qal stem as a strong verb of physical destruction, and in the Hiphil stem for causative forms like “to bring destruction upon.”   Qal Binyan Conjugation of הָרַס (“to destroy, tear down”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular הָרַסְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular הָרַסְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular הָרַסְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular הָרַס 3rd person feminine singular הָרְסָה 1st person plural הָרַסְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural הֲרַסְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural הֲרַסְתֶּן 3rd person plural הָרְסוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular הוֹרֵס Feminine singular הוֹרֶסֶת Masculine plural הוֹרְסִים Feminine plural הוֹרְסוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶהֱרֹס 2nd person masculine singular תַּהֲרֹס 2nd person feminine singular תַּהֲרְסִי 3rd person masculine singular יֶהֱרֹס 3rd person feminine singular תַּהֲרֹס 1st person plural נֶהֱרֹס 2nd person masculine plural תַּהֲרְסוּ 2nd person feminine plural תַּהֲרֹסְנָה 3rd person plural יֶהֱרְסוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular הֲרֹס 2nd person feminine singular הַרְסִי 2nd person masculine plural הַרְסוּ 2nd person feminine plural הֲרֹסְנָה   Usage in Scripture Judges 6:25 – וְהָרַסְתָּ֗ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֤ח הַבַּ֨עַל֙ “Tear down the altar of Baʿal” — Gideon is commanded to destroy a pagan altar.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb הָרַג (root: ה־ר־ג) means “to kill,” “to slay,” or “to put to death.” It is one of the primary verbs for taking life in the Hebrew Bible and appears in narratives, laws, prophecy, and poetry. It can refer to killing in battle, murder, divine judgment, or judicial execution. This verb appears mainly in the Qal stem for simple action (kill), and sometimes in Niphal (passive — to be killed) or Pual (intensive passive).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of הָרַג (“to kill, slay”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular הָרַגְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular הָרַגְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular הָרַגְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular הָרַג 3rd person feminine singular הָרְגָה 1st person plural הָרַגְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural הֲרַגְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural הֲרַגְתֶּן 3rd person plural הָרְגוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular הוֹרֵג Feminine singular הוֹרֶגֶת Masculine plural הוֹרְגִים Feminine plural הוֹרְגוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶהֱרֹג 2nd person masculine singular תַּהֲרֹג 2nd person feminine singular תַּהֲרְגִי 3rd person masculine singular יֶהֱרֹג 3rd person feminine singular תַּהֲרֹג 1st person plural נֶהֱרֹג 2nd person masculine plural תַּהֲרְגוּ 2nd person feminine plural תַּהֲרֹגְנָה 3rd person plural יֶהֱרְגוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular הֲרֹג 2nd person feminine singular הַרְגִי 2nd person masculine plural הַרְגוּ 2nd person feminine plural הֲרֹגְנָה   Usage in Scripture Exodus 2:12 – וַיַּךְ אֶת־הַמִּצְרִי וַיִּטְמְנֵהוּ בַּחוֹל “He struck down the Egyptian…” — Moshe kills the Egyptian; verb used: הָרַג.… Learn Hebrew