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Recent Articles
- The Grammar of Divine Meteorology: Syntax and Pragmatic Force in Jeremiah 10:13
- When the Sun Stood Still: Syntax and Command in Joshua 10:12
- Woven with Wonder: Syntax and Embodied Imagery in Job 10:11
- The Wink and the Wound: Syntax, Parallelism, and Irony in Proverbs 10:10
- The Grammar of Surprise: The Wayyiqtol Chain and Temporal Progression in Joshua 10:9
- The Birth of Power: The Grammar of Beginning and Becoming in Genesis 10:8
- Genealogical Syntax and the Grammar of Nations in Genesis 10:7
- Do Not Mourn as Others Do: Restraint and Reverence in the Aftermath of Fire
- The Blast and the Camp: Exploring Hebrew Commands and Movement in Numbers 10:5
- If You Refuse: The Threat of the Locusts in Translation
- Trumpet Blasts and Assembly Syntax in Numbers 10:3
- Right and Left: A Beginner’s Guide to Hebrew Word Order in Ecclesiastes 10:2
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Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew
Iron, Effort, and Wisdom: Poetic Economy and Syntax in Ecclesiastes 10:10
אִם־קֵהָ֣ה הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהוּא֙ לֹא־פָנִ֣ים קִלְקַ֔ל וַחֲיָלִ֖ים יְגַבֵּ֑ר וְיִתְרֹ֥ון הַכְשֵׁ֖יר חָכְמָֽה׃
(Ecclesiastes 10:10)
If the iron is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must strengthen with force; but the advantage of success is wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 presents a metaphor of labor and effort: a dull iron blade, extra exertion, and the wisdom required to succeed. It fits within the broader themes of Qohelet, where wisdom is praised, yet human limitations and futility are acknowledged. This verse invites reflection on the balance between brute force and strategic thinking.… Learn Hebrew
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The Joy and Sorrow of a Son: Analyzing יְשַׂמַּח in Proverbs 10:1
Introduction to Proverbs 10:1: Wisdom and Folly in the Household
Proverbs 10:1 marks the beginning of a new literary section—the collected sayings of Solomon. This verse presents a stark contrast between wisdom and folly, framed within the parental relationship. The verb יְשַׂמַּח (yəsammaḥ), “he makes glad,” plays a central role, revealing the power of a child’s actions to shape the emotional world of the family.
מִשְׁלֵ֗י שְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה פ בֵּ֣ן חָ֭כָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָ֑ב וּבֵ֥ן כְּ֝סִ֗יל תּוּגַ֥ת אִמֹּֽו׃
Examining the Core Structure: The Parallelism of Joy and Sorrow
The two-part parallelism of this verse is clear:
בֵּ֣ן חָ֭כָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָ֑ב
בֵּן (bēn) – “A son” (subject).… Learn Hebrew
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When Heaven Answers with Song: Sound, Response, and Divine Dialogue in Exodus 19:19 (Targum Jonathan)
וְהַוָּה קַל שׁוֹפָרָא אָזִיל וְתַקִּיף לַחֲדָא משֶׁה הֲוָה מְמַלֵּיל וּמִן קֳדָם יְיָ הֲוָה מִתְעַנֵי בְקַל נָעִים וּמְשַׁבַּח וּנְעִימָתָא מַלְיָא
And the sound of the shofar kept going and becoming very strong; Moshe was speaking, and from before YHWH, there came a pleasant voice responding and praising—full of melody.
Poetic Reflection: The Mountain that Listened
The giving of the Torah was not only law—it was music. Targum Jonathan’s rendering of Exodus 19:19 transforms Sinai from a site of thunder into a place of harmony.… Learn Hebrew
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The House that Wisdom Built: Analyzing בָּנְתָה in Proverbs 9:1
Introduction to Proverbs 9:1: The Architecture of Wisdom
Proverbs 9:1 presents one of the most striking images in biblical poetry—Wisdom, personified as a master architect, building her house with seven pillars. The verb בָּנְתָה (bāntāh), “she has built,” is not merely a grammatical structure; it is a theological and poetic blueprint, revealing how divine wisdom constructs the very foundations of knowledge, righteousness, and creation itself.
חָ֭כְמֹות בָּנְתָ֣ה בֵיתָ֑הּ חָצְבָ֖ה עַמּוּדֶ֣יהָ שִׁבְעָֽה׃
The Foundation of the Text: What is Being Built?
At the heart of this verse is a grand metaphor: Wisdom builds her house—but what does this house symbolize?… Learn Hebrew
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Infinitive Purpose: The Hidden Aim of Wisdom in Proverbs 19:8
קֹֽנֶה־֭לֵּב אֹהֵ֣ב נַפְשֹׁ֑ו שֹׁמֵ֥ר תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה לִמְצֹא־טֹֽוב׃
Proverbs 19:8 offers more than a praise of self-care—it offers a tightly woven grammatical chain that climaxes in the infinitive phrase לִמְצֹא־טֹוב, “to find good.” The proverb joins two clauses, each with its own participle, and ends with an infinitive construct that expresses purpose or result. This structure showcases one of Biblical Hebrew’s elegant tools: the infinitive construct with a prefixed לְ to express intention or outcome.
Literal Meaning
“One who acquires heart loves his soul; one who keeps understanding [does so] to find good.”… Learn Hebrew
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Leading the Praise: One Passive Binyan That Sings from the Shadows
וְהַלְוִיִּ֗ם יֵשׁ֧וּעַ בִּנּ֛וּי קַדְמִיאֵ֥ל שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֣ה מַתַּנְיָ֑ה עַֽל־הֻיְּדֹ֖ות ה֥וּא וְאֶחָֽיו׃ (Nehemiah 12:8)
And the Lĕwiyyim Yeshua Binnui Qadmīʾel Shērēvyah Yehudah Mattanyah over the thanksgivings he and his brothers
Introduction: A Verse with Sparse Verbs and Deep Reverberations
At first glance, Nehemiah 12:8 appears to be a list of Levitical names and duties. Only one verb surfaces—yet it carries the entire functional weight of the verse. This verb, hidden in a rare binyan, shapes the worship structure of the Second Temple. Let’s explore how one carefully chosen verbal stem—the Hophal—carries theological resonance and grammatical beauty.… Learn Hebrew
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The Poetic Call of Wisdom: Analyzing תִקְרָא in Proverbs 8:1
Introduction to Proverbs 8:1: When Wisdom Speaks
Proverbs 8:1 stands as a grand overture to one of the most elevated poetic personifications in biblical literature—Wisdom (חָכְמָה, ḥokhmāh). Unlike the enticing voice of folly in earlier chapters, here Wisdom herself takes center stage, raising her voice, summoning all who would heed her call. The verb תִקְרָא (tiqrāʾ)—”she calls”—is not merely a grammatical function but a powerful rhetorical device that invites the reader to step into an oratory where divine instruction resonates.
הֲלֹֽא־חָכְמָ֥ה תִקְרָ֑א וּ֝תְבוּנָ֗ה תִּתֵּ֥ן קֹולָֽהּ׃
Unraveling the Hebrew: The Cry of Wisdom
At first glance, the parallelism of this verse is unmistakable: Wisdom (חָכְמָה, ḥokhmāh) and Understanding (תְבוּנָה, təvūnāh) are active—they call, they give voice.… Learn Hebrew
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Mercy That Subdues: Verbal Repetition, Piel Imperatives, and Ocean Imagery in Micah 7:19
Micah 7:19
יָשׁ֣וּב יְרַֽחֲמֵ֔נוּ יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ עֲוֹֽנֹתֵ֑ינוּ וְתַשְׁלִ֛יךְ בִּמְצֻלֹ֥ות יָ֖ם כָּל־חַטֹּאותָֽם׃
Mercy Repeated: יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ
יָשׁוּב — Qal imperfect 3ms of שׁ־ו־ב, “he will return.”
This may refer either to God returning to His people or resuming His compassion. It echoes previous covenantal language where divine wrath is replaced by divine mercy.
יְרַחֲמֵנוּ — Piel imperfect 3ms + 1cp suffix of ר־ח־ם, “to show compassion.”
The Piel intensifies: “He will have compassion on us deeply.” The pronominal suffix makes the object explicit: “on us.”… Learn Hebrew
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Syntax at the Shore: Unfolding the Structure of Exodus 15:19
כִּ֣י בָא֩ ס֨וּס פַּרְעֹ֜ה בְּרִכְבֹּ֤ו וּבְפָרָשָׁיו֙ בַּיָּ֔ם וַיָּ֧שֶׁב יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵהֶ֖ם אֶת־מֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּתֹ֥וךְ הַיָּֽם׃
(Exodus 15:19)
Scene and Syntax: A Thematic Overture
Exodus 15:19 is not merely a narrative summary but a carefully structured retelling that contrasts two paths and two destinies—Pharaoh’s cavalry in chaos and Yisraʾel in salvation. The syntax reflects this dualism, moving from cause to climax, from motion to miracle, through vivid verbal placement and contrastive clauses.
Word Order: Dual Narratives, Parallel Paths
The verse begins with the conjunction כִּ֣י, often used to introduce temporal or causal background.… Learn Hebrew
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The Imperative of Breath: Syntax and Prophetic Command in Ezekiel 37:9
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־הָר֑וּחַ הִנָּבֵ֣א בֶן־֠אָדָם וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֶל־הָר֜וּחַ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה מֵאַרְבַּ֤ע רוּחֹות֙ בֹּ֣אִי הָר֔וּחַ וּפְחִ֛י בַּהֲרוּגִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְיִֽחְיֽוּ׃
(Ezekiel 37:9)
Layered Commands and Prophetic Dialogue
Ezekiel 37:9 is a masterclass in syntactic layering—commands within commands, speech within speech. It showcases the dynamic interaction between divine voice, prophetic agency, and the personified “spirit” or “breath” (רוּחַ). The syntax reflects both divine initiative and human participation, emphasizing prophetic obedience and the movement of life-giving breath.
Verbal Sequence and Imperative Chains
This verse opens with a chain of imperatives directed at Ezekiel:
– הִנָּבֵ֖א אֶל־הָר֑וּחַ — “Prophesy to the breath”
– הִנָּבֵ֣א בֶן־אָדָם — “Prophesy, son of man”
– וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ אֶל־הָרוּחַ — “And say to the breath…”
Each clause issues a distinct command, forming a cascade of instructions that build rhetorical weight and urgency.… Learn Hebrew
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