Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew

Genesis 36:6 וַיִּקַּ֣ח עֵשָׂ֡ו אֶת־֠נָשָׁיו וְאֶת־בָּנָ֣יו וְאֶת־בְּנֹתָיו֮ וְאֶת־כָּל־נַפְשֹׁ֣ות בֵּיתֹו֒ וְאֶת־מִקְנֵ֣הוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־בְּהֶמְתֹּ֗ו וְאֵת֙ כָּל־קִנְיָנֹ֔ו אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָכַ֖שׁ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אֶל־אֶ֔רֶץ מִפְּנֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽיו׃ Opening Verb: וַיִּקַּח עֵשָׂו וַיִּקַּח is a Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of ל־ק־ח (“to take”), introducing narrative progression: “Esav took.” The subject עֵשָׂו is explicitly stated for clarity and emphasis. This verb governs a long coordinated list of direct objects, indicating deliberate action. Coordinated Objects: וְאֶת־נָשָׁיו… וְאֶת־כָּל־קִנְיָנֹו This verse contains a tightly constructed series of accusative phrases introduced by אֶת or וְאֶת, each marking a new element Esav took with him: נָשָׁיו — “his wives” בָּנָיו — “his sons” בְּנֹתָיו — “his daughters” כָּל־נַפְשׁוֹת בֵּיתֹו — “all the people of his household” מִקְנֵהוּ — “his livestock” כָּל־בְּהֶמְתּוֹ — “all his animals” כָּל־קִנְיָנוֹ — “all his possessions” This accumulation reflects Esav’s wealth and the completeness of his departure.… Learn Hebrew

Genesis 50:5 אָבִ֞י הִשְׁבִּיעַ֣נִי לֵאמֹ֗ר הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִי֮ מֵת֒ בְּקִבְרִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר כָּרִ֤יתִי לִי֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן שָׁ֖מָּה תִּקְבְּרֵ֑נִי וְעַתָּ֗ה אֶֽעֱלֶה־נָּ֛א וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה אֶת־אָבִ֖י וְאָשֽׁוּבָה׃ Oath Introduction: אָבִי הִשְׁבִּיעַנִי לֵאמֹר אָבִי (“my father”) is the subject of the sentence. הִשְׁבִּיעַנִי is a Hiphil perfect 3ms + 1cs suffix of ש־ב־ע (“to make someone swear”), meaning “he caused me to swear.” לֵאמֹר (“saying”) is the infinitive construct introducing direct speech. This formula is common in narrative Hebrew when quoting an oath or divine word. Quoted Oath: הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מֵת הִנֵּה (“behold”) emphasizes the gravity of the oath.… Learn Hebrew

Genesis 44:4 הֵ֠ם יָֽצְא֣וּ אֶת־הָעִיר֮ לֹ֣א הִרְחִיקוּ֒ וְיֹוסֵ֤ף אָמַר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּיתֹ֔ו ק֥וּם רְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת טֹובָֽה׃ Clause One: הֵם יָצְאוּ אֶת־הָעִיר הֵם (“they”) is the subject pronoun. יָצְאוּ (Qal perfect 3mp of י־צ־א) means “they went out.” The preposition אֶת here functions unusually with a place — אֶת־הָעִיר (“from the city”), which normally takes מִן. This construction likely carries narrative style and idiomatic influence. Negative Perfect: לֹא הִרְחִיקוּ לֹא negates the verb הִרְחִיקוּ (Hiphil perfect 3mp from ר־ח־ק, “to go far”), meaning “they had not gone far.”… Learn Hebrew