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Recent Articles
- Proverbs and Their Grammatical Structure
- Descending into Night: Time Expressions and Poetic Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew
- The Tiberian Vowel System
- When God Speaks: The Syntax of Divine Speech Frames in Biblical Hebrew
- The Role of Gutturals (א, ה, ח, ע) in Verb Conjugation
- “Into the Ark Together”: Order, Gender, and Cause in the LXX Rendering of Noah’s Entry
- Burning Beneath the Pot: Simile Syntax and Semantic Force in Ecclesiastes 7:6
- Gutturals in Biblical Hebrew
- Guarded by Grammar: Purpose Clauses and Verbal Suffixes in Proverbs 7:5
- And They Fled Before the Men of ʿAi”: A Hebrew Battle Surprise
- Theophoric Names in the Hebrew Bible: Divine Elements in Human Identity
- “Go Out to Meet Ahaz”: A Hebrew Mission in Isaiah 7:3
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Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew
The Rhetorical Structure of Complaint and the Interrogative “Why Does the Way of the Wicked Prosper?” in Jeremiah 12:1
Introduction to Jeremiah 12:1
Jeremiah 12:1 presents a theodicy, where the prophet acknowledges YHWH’s righteousness but still challenges Him regarding the prosperity of the wicked. The structure of this verse reflects a common pattern of lament and complaint in biblical literature, incorporating:
1. A declaration of YHWH’s justice (צַדִּ֤יק אַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה, “You are righteous, O YHWH”).
2. An introductory concessive phrase (כִּ֥י אָרִ֖יב אֵלֶ֑יךָ, “Yet I would argue my case with You”).
3. A direct interrogative challenge (מַדּ֗וּעַ דֶּ֤רֶךְ רְשָׁעִים֙ צָלֵ֔חָה, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?”).… Learn Hebrew
The Prohibition Construction and the Concept of Foreign Influence in 1 Kings 11:2
Introduction to 1 Kings 11:2
1 Kings 11:2 records a divine prohibition against intermarriage with foreign nations, warning that such alliances would lead to idolatry and spiritual corruption. The verse references a past command from YHWH to Israel and highlights Solomon’s failure to obey by forming relationships with foreign women. The prohibition construction (לֹֽא־תָבֹ֣אוּ בָהֶ֗ם, “You shall not enter among them”) and the consequence clause (אָכֵן֙ יַטּ֣וּ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶ֔ם, “Surely they will turn your heart”) demonstrate theological causality between disobedience and spiritual decline.… Learn Hebrew
Flattened Earth, Exalted City: Verb Forms and Geographic Prophecy in Zechariah 14:10
יִסֹּ֨וב כָּל־הָאָ֤רֶץ כָּעֲרָבָה֙ מִגֶּ֣בַע לְרִמֹּ֔ון נֶ֖גֶב יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְֽרָאֲמָה֩ וְיָשְׁבָ֨ה תַחְתֶּ֜יהָ לְמִשַּׁ֣עַר בִּנְיָמִ֗ן עַד־מְקֹ֞ום שַׁ֤עַר הָֽרִאשֹׁון֙ עַד־שַׁ֣עַר הַפִּנִּ֔ים וּמִגְדַּ֣ל חֲנַנְאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד יִקְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
Zechariah 14:10 offers a visionary description of cosmic transformation and urban restoration. This verse is structured around two prophetic verbal themes: the flattening of the land (יִסֹּוב כָּל־הָאָרֶץ כָּעֲרָבָה) and the exaltation and permanence of יְרוּשָׁלַיִם. The grammar is layered with imperfect verbs in prophetic narrative style, construct chains of geographical markers, and clause parallelism that visually maps a restructured holy land.… Learn Hebrew
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The Causative Construction and the Concept of Eternal Judgment in Obadiah 1:10
Introduction to Obadiah 1:10
Obadiah 1:10 pronounces a divine judgment on Edom, emphasizing its violence against Jacob (Israel) as the reason for its shame and permanent destruction. This verse contains a causative construction (מֵחֲמַ֛ס אָחִ֥יךָ יַעֲקֹ֖ב, “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob”) and a passive verb form (וְנִכְרַ֖תָּ, “You shall be cut off”), highlighting both the reason and the consequence of Edom’s judgment.
This study will analyze the grammatical function of causative constructions, the passive verb’s role in divine judgment, and the theological implications of Edom’s permanent downfall.… Learn Hebrew
Purification and Imperfective Syntax in Ezekiel 39:14: Grammar in the Service of Eschatology
Introduction: Ritual Cleanup and Eschatological Renewal
Ezekiel 39:14 describes a strange and solemn task given to a group of designated men after the apocalyptic battle involving Gog: they are to search for and bury corpses in order to purify the land. The verse is part of the broader theological arc of Ezekiel 38–39, which deals with the defeat of foreign invaders and the vindication of YHWH. The verse reads:
וְאַנְשֵׁ֨י תָמִ֤יד יַבְדִּ֨ילוּ֙ עֹבְרִ֣ים בָּאָ֔רֶץ מְקַבְּרִ֣ים אֶת־הָעֹבְרִ֗ים אֶת־הַנֹּותָרִ֛ים עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ לְטַֽהֲרָ֑הּ מִקְצֵ֥ה שִׁבְעָֽה־חֳדָשִׁ֖ים יַחְקֹֽרוּ׃
And men of constant duty shall separate out, passing through the land, burying those who pass through—those left upon the face of the land—to cleanse it; at the end of seven months they shall search.… Learn Hebrew
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The Personification of Jerusalem and the Prophetic Use of Imperative Appeals in Lamentations 1:9
Introduction to Lamentations 1:9
Lamentations 1:9 is part of a poetic lament mourning the fall of Jerusalem, portraying the city as a defiled and abandoned woman. The verse uses personification, metaphors of impurity, and imperative appeals to YHWH, reflecting deep sorrow and theological reflection on divine judgment.
This verse contains two key literary and grammatical features:
1. Personification of Jerusalem as an impure, forgotten woman (טֻמְאָתָ֣הּ בְּשׁוּלֶ֗יהָ, “Her impurity is in her skirts”).
2. Imperative appeal to YHWH for compassion (רְאֵ֤ה יְהוָה֙ אֶת־עָנְיִ֔י, “See, O YHWH, my affliction”).… Learn Hebrew
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Exodus 39:28 – Construct Chains and Adjective Agreement
וְאֵת֙ הַמִּצְנֶ֣פֶת שֵׁ֔שׁ וְאֶת־פַּאֲרֵ֥י הַמִּגְבָּעֹ֖ת שֵׁ֑שׁ וְאֶת־מִכְנְסֵ֥י הַבָּ֖ד שֵׁ֥שׁ מָשְׁזָֽר׃
And the turban of fine linen, and the splendid caps of fine linen, and the linen trousers—of twisted fine linen.
Explanation of Feature
This verse from Exodus 39:28 demonstrates the use of construct state (סמיכות) to indicate possession or close association, and also illustrates adjective agreement in Biblical Hebrew, where adjectives must match their nouns in gender, number, and definiteness.
Each noun phrase refers to part of the priestly garments and is linked to the material used—שֵׁשׁ (shesh, fine linen), followed by מָשְׁזָר (mashzar, twisted).… Learn Hebrew
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The Verb That Turns Purity into Time: A Journey Through Ritual Transition
וְכִבֶּס֩ הַמִּטַּהֵ֨ר אֶת־בְּגָדָ֜יו וְגִלַּ֣ח אֶת־כָּל־שְׂעָרֹ֗ו וְרָחַ֤ץ בַּמַּ֨יִם֙ וְטָהֵ֔ר וְאַחַ֖ר יָבֹ֣וא אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וְיָשַׁ֛ב מִח֥וּץ לְאָהֳלֹ֖ו שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃
In the intricate choreography of ritual purity described in the Torah, language becomes more than a tool for instruction — it is the very mechanism through which metaphysical states are transformed. In this verse from Vayiqra 14:8, we find a striking grammatical phenomenon embedded within the sequence of actions that must be performed by the one who has become pure after contact with impurity. The verbs march forward in perfect coordination — washing, shaving, bathing — but one verb stands apart, not only in form, but in function.… Learn Hebrew
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Comparative Similes and the Imagery of Swiftness in Habakkuk 1:8
Introduction to Habakkuk 1:8
Habakkuk 1:8 describes the unstoppable power and speed of the invading Chaldean army, using comparative similes to evoke fear and devastation. The verse employs three key comparisons:
1. Horses are swifter than leopards (נְמֵרִים)
2. They are fiercer than evening wolves (זְאֵבֵי עֶרֶב)
3. Riders swoop down like an eagle to devour (נֶשֶׁר לֶאֱכֹל)
These similes intensify the image of an army that is both unstoppable and ruthless. This study will analyze the syntactic role of comparative similes, their poetic function, and the theological implications of divine judgment through an invading force.… Learn Hebrew
Construct Chains in Exodus 2:5
Introduction to Exodus 2:5
Exodus 2:5 describes a pivotal moment in the early life of Moshe. Pharaoh’s daughter comes to bathe in the Nile and finds the infant Moshe in the reeds. This verse contains several grammatical features significant in Biblical Hebrew, including verb forms, prepositional phrases, and construct chains. This article will focus on the construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), a fundamental aspect of Hebrew grammar that affects syntax and meaning.
וַתֵּ֤רֶד בַּת־פַּרְעֹה֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ עַל־הַיְאֹ֔ר וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָ הֹלְכֹ֖ת עַל־יַ֣ד הַיְאֹ֑ר וַתֵּ֤רֶא אֶת־הַתֵּבָה֙ בְּתֹ֣וךְ הַסּ֔וּף וַתִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֶת־אֲמָתָ֖הּ וַתִּקָּחֶֽהָ:
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
Exodus 2:5 contains three construct chains:
1.… Learn Hebrew