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Recent Articles
- The Hebrew Verb בָּקַר: To Seek, Inquire, or Inspect
- The Mark of Mercy: Legal Syntax and Divine Protection in Genesis 4:15
- The Hebrew Verb בָּצַע: To Cut Off, Break Open, or Gain Unjustly
- Teaching the Law: Syntax of Instruction and Inheritance in Deuteronomy 4:14
- The Hebrew Verb בָּנָה: To Build, Construct, or Establish
- Dream Syntax and Divine Communication: Structural Layers in Job 4:13
- The Hebrew Verb בָּלַע: To Swallow, Devour, or Destroy
- Concealing the Sacred: Sequential Syntax and Ritual Handling in Numbers 4:12
- The Hebrew Verb בָּלַט: To Slip Away, Be Secret, or Move Stealthily
- Appositional Syntax and Dynastic Integration in 1 Kings 4:11
- Conditional Syntax and Communal Anthropology in Ecclesiastes 4:11
- The Hebrew Verb בָּכָה: To Weep or Cry
Categories
Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew
Poetic Word Order and Fronting in Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Job 28:3 Job 28:3 forms part of a poetic discourse reflecting on human attempts to search out hidden things. What makes this verse grammatically compelling is its poetic word order and the fronting of key words for emphasis. … Continue reading
Cause and Comparison in Prophetic Narrative: The Syntax of 2 Chronicles 28:3
Introduction to 2 Chronicles 28:3: Imitation of the Nations and Divine Displeasure This verse documents a horrific act: the burning of children as sacrifices in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom by a king of Judah, mirroring the abominations of the surrounding … Continue reading
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The Hebrew Verb אָמַר: To Say, Speak, or Declare
The Hebrew verb אָמַר is one of the most common and essential verbs in the Hebrew Bible, occurring over 5,000 times. It means “to say,” “to speak,” or “to declare,” and is typically used in the Qal binyan. It is … Continue reading
Coordinated Prepositions and Syntactic Stacking in Jeremiah 27:3
Introduction to Jeremiah 27:3: A Diplomatic Web of Judgments This verse from Jeremiah sets the stage for a prophetic message delivered not only to Judah but to neighboring kingdoms through a dramatic diplomatic gesture. The verse is packed with repeated … Continue reading
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Sequential Action and Leadership: The Wayyiqtol Chain in Judges 3:27
Introduction to Judges 3:27: Trumpets, Terrain, and Tactical Leadership This verse describes the pivotal moment when Ehud, after escaping from Eglon, mobilizes the Israelites by sounding the shofar in the hill country of Ephraim. The structure of this verse is … Continue reading
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Internal Monologue and Root-Derived Wordplay in Obadiah 1:3
Introduction to Obadiah 1:3: The Language of Arrogance and Illusion Obadiah 1:3 confronts the arrogant mindset of Edom, using highly expressive Hebrew grammar to portray internal thought, deceptive self-assurance, and false elevation. The verse employs reflexive causative verbs and embeds … Continue reading
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Temporal Clauses and Narrative Framing in Numbers 26:1
Introduction to Numbers 26:1: Marking Time After Crisis This verse opens the chapter detailing the second wilderness census. It sets the context with a temporal clause and then presents a divine speech formula addressed to both Moshe and Eleʿazar. The … Continue reading
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The Hebrew Verb אִמֵּץ: To Strengthen and Encourage
The Hebrew verb אִמֵּץ (from the root א-מ-ץ) means “to strengthen,” “to make firm,” or “to encourage.” It appears primarily in the Piel binyan, where it takes on an intensive or causative meaning. The verb is used both in literal … Continue reading
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Negative Imperatives and Prohibitions in Leviticus 26:1
Introduction to Leviticus 26:1: Syntax of Covenant Prohibitions Leviticus 26:1 opens the chapter of blessings and curses with a firm reminder of Israel’s exclusive devotion to YHWH. The verse is structured as a series of prohibitions using negative imperatives, paired … Continue reading
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Sequential Perfects and Future Conditionals in Deuteronomy 26:1
Introduction to Deuteronomy 26:1: Legal Conditional Syntax and Sequential Events This verse marks the beginning of a legal ritual that is to be performed upon entering the land of YHWH. The grammar is especially rich with perfect verbs used to … Continue reading
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