Author Archives: Biblical 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

The Hebrew form הִנֵּה (root: נ־ה־ה or variant from ה־י־נ) is not a verb in the strict grammatical sense like other action verbs—it functions primarily as an interjection or demonstrative particle. It means “behold,” “look,” “see,” or “here is / here are.” It introduces attention to something presently visible, about to occur, or dramatically revealed. Although derived from older verbal roots (possibly היה or ננה), in biblical Hebrew it functions grammatically as a particle of immediacy or emphasis, not as a fully conjugating verb.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb הָלַךְ (root: ה־ל־ךְ) is a fundamental verb in biblical Hebrew, meaning “to walk,” “to go,” “to travel,” or “to depart.” It describes physical movement, but also serves as a metaphor for lifestyle, conduct, and spiritual journey. In biblical usage, it appears frequently across all genres—from historical narrative to legal texts, wisdom literature, and prophecy. In the Qal stem it refers to simple movement or walking. In the Hithpael stem it can reflect habitual or wandering movement (“to walk about”), and in Hiphil, causative forms like “to bring someone” appear.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb הָיָה (root: ה־י־ה) is one of the most essential and frequently used verbs in the Hebrew Bible. It means “to be,” “to become,” “to happen,” or “to exist.” It expresses states of being, identity, transformation, and occurrence. Though simple in form, its theological and grammatical importance is immense—especially in divine names like יְהוָה (YHWH), which is related etymologically to this root. Unlike many verbs, הָיָה lacks a Qal participle and present-tense forms in biblical Hebrew. Instead, presence is usually implied or expressed with particles or suffixes.… Learn Hebrew