Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew

About Biblical Hebrew

Learn Biblical Hebrew Online. Studying Biblical Hebrew online opens a direct window into the sacred texts of the Hebrew Bible, allowing readers to engage with Scripture in its original linguistic and cultural context. By learning the language in which much of the Tanakh was written, students can move beyond translations and discover the nuanced meanings, poetic structures, and theological depth embedded in the Hebrew text. Online learning provides flexible and accessible avenues to build these skills, whether through self-paced modules, guided instruction, or interactive resources. As one grows in proficiency, the richness of biblical narratives, laws, prayers, and prophetic visions comes to life with renewed clarity, making the study of Biblical Hebrew not only an intellectual pursuit but a deeply rewarding spiritual and cultural journey.

The Double Authority Structure: Reported Speech and Negation in Exodus 5:10

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
וַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּ נֹגְשֵׂ֤י הָעָם֙ וְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יו וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֶל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֵינֶ֛נִּי נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם תֶּֽבֶן׃ Exodus 5:10 is a vivid example of hierarchical communication in ancient Hebrew narrative. The verse reports the Pharaoh’s command using a chain of reported speech introduced by כֹּה אָמַר, a classic declarative formula of royal or prophetic utterance. Additionally, the direct speech contains the emphatic negative אֵינֶנִּי נֹתֵן—a grammatically intensive construction which emphasizes the king’s absolute refusal to provide straw to the Israelites. This article examines the narrative structure, the use of indirect speech markers, and the function of the compound negative clause to enforce dominance through syntax.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb דִּבֵּר: To Speak, Declare, or Command

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
The Hebrew verb דִּבֵּר (root: ד־ב־ר) means “to speak,” “to declare,” or “to command.” It is one of the most frequent and foundational verbs in the Hebrew Bible, used to describe speech ranging from divine revelation to human conversation. Unlike the verb אָמַר (“to say”), which can introduce dialogue or quotations, דִּבֵּר typically refers to formal, weighty, or purposeful communication—especially that of God. It appears primarily in the Piel stem, indicating intensive or purposeful speech. In contrast, the Qal stem of this root appears in nouns like דָּבָר (“word,” “matter,” “thing”) but not as a verb form in the Hebrew Bible.… Learn Hebrew
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The Interrogative with הֲלֹא: Rebuke and Rhetoric in Nehemiah 5:9

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
ויאמר לֹא־טֹ֥וב הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֑ים הֲלֹ֞וא בְּיִרְאַ֤ת אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙ תֵּלֵ֔כוּ מֵחֶרְפַּ֖ת הַגֹּויִ֥ם אֹויְבֵֽינוּ׃ Nehemiah 5:9 is a direct moral rebuke wrapped in rhetorical craftsmanship. When Nehemiah says, הֲלֹ֞וא בְּיִרְאַ֤ת אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙ תֵּלֵ֔כוּ, he uses a classic Hebrew interrogative structure to confront rather than merely question. The particle הֲלֹא (ha-lō) introduces a rhetorical question expecting a positive answer, designed to intensify the ethical pressure on the listener. In Biblical Hebrew, such rhetorical devices are grammatically simple but emotionally potent. This article examines how הֲלֹא functions in biblical dialogue and how Nehemiah’s syntax heightens the moral appeal by placing יִרְאַת אֱלֹהֵינוּ at the very center of the question.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb דָּבַק: To Cling, Stick, or Cleave

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
The Hebrew verb דָּבַק (root: ד־ב־ק) means “to cling,” “to stick,” “to join closely,” or “to cleave.” It conveys a strong sense of attachment, both physical and emotional. This verb appears frequently in the Tanakh and plays an important role in theological, relational, and covenantal contexts—especially when describing loyalty to God, familial unity, or unwavering pursuit. It primarily appears in the Qal binyan (simple active), and in later Hebrew, also in Niphal and Pual forms (passive or reflexive), often with similar connotations of attachment or adhesion.… Learn Hebrew
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The Edges of Desire — Imperatives and Spatial Metaphor in Biblical Warning

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
הַרְחֵ֣ק מֵעָלֶ֣יהָ דַרְכֶּ֑ךָ וְאַל־֝תִּקְרַ֗ב אֶל־פֶּ֥תַח בֵּיתָֽהּ׃ Unveiling the Boundary Some warnings do not describe danger — they draw maps around it. Proverbs 5:8 sketches a moral geography with two commands: one urging distance, the other forbidding approach. The target is a figure already introduced in the chapter — the forbidden woman — yet she is not directly named here. Instead, her domain is circled with negations and spatial directives. This verse brings into focus a rich linguistic feature: the Hebrew use of paralleled negative imperatives to frame ethical perimeters.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb דָּאַג: To Worry, Be Anxious, or Concerned

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
The Hebrew verb דָּאַג (root: ד־א־ג) means “to worry,” “to be anxious,” or “to be concerned.” It is used to describe emotional unease, often tied to fear, responsibility, or care for others. In the Tanakh, this verb usually expresses internal distress or care for someone’s well-being. The verb is primarily found in the Qal binyan (basic stem), typically describing a state of mind rather than physical action. It is one of the core verbs in biblical and modern Hebrew that expresses psychological or emotional conditions.… Learn Hebrew
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Poetry of Parallelism: The Enigmatic Syntax of Job 5:7

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
כִּֽי־֭אָדָם לְעָמָ֣ל יוּלָּ֑ד וּבְנֵי־֝רֶ֗שֶׁף יַגְבִּ֥יהוּ עֽוּף׃ Job 5:7 stands as one of the most cryptic and evocative verses in the Book of Job. The verse presents two parallel poetic lines that pair abstract metaphors with declarative truths: “For man is born to toil, and the sons of Reshef fly upward.” The poetic force lies not only in the stark imagery but also in the grammar. This article examines the syntactic structure of Hebrew poetry, with special attention to the parallelism between אָדָם לְעָמָל יוּלָּד and וּבְנֵי־רֶשֶׁף יַגְבִּיהוּ עוּף, and what happens when syntax serves mystery rather than clarity.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּשַׁם: To Rain or Cause Rain

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
The Hebrew verb גָּשַׁם (root: ג-ש-ם) means “to rain” or “to pour rain.” It refers to the act of rainfall, both literal and, in prophetic literature, symbolic. The verb is relatively rare in the Tanakh and is most frequently used in poetic or descriptive passages. It is the verbal form of the noun גֶּשֶׁם, meaning “rain.” In biblical usage, it generally appears in the Hiphil binyan (causative stem), meaning “to cause to rain,” indicating divine action in sending rainfall.   Hiphil Binyan Conjugation of גָּשַׁם (“to cause rain”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular הִגְשַׁמְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular הִגְשַׁמְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular הִגְשַׁמְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular הִגְשִׁים 3rd person feminine singular הִגְשִׁימָה 1st person plural הִגְשַׁמְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural הִגְשַׁמְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural הִגְשַׁמְתֶּן 3rd person plural הִגְשִׁימוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular מַגְשִׁים Feminine singular מַגְשִׁימָה Masculine plural מַגְשִׁימִים Feminine plural מַגְשִׁימוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אַגְשִׁים 2nd person masculine singular תַּגְשִׁים 2nd person feminine singular תַּגְשִׁימִי 3rd person masculine singular יַגְשִׁים 3rd person feminine singular תַּגְשִׁים 1st person plural נַגְשִׁים 2nd person masculine plural תַּגְשִׁימוּ 2nd person feminine plural תַּגְשֵׁימְנָה 3rd person plural יַגְשִׁימוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular הַגְשֵׁם 2nd person feminine singular הַגְשִׁימִי 2nd person masculine plural הַגְשִׁימוּ 2nd person feminine plural הַגְשֵׁמְנָה    גָּשַׁם in the Tanakh The root ג־ש־ם appears primarily as the noun גֶּשֶׁם (“rain“).… Learn Hebrew
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The Guilty Soul: Predicate-Subject Inversion and Verbal Emphasis in Numbers 5:6

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
דַּבֵּר֮ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ אִ֣ישׁ אֹֽו־אִשָּׁ֗ה כִּ֤י יַעֲשׂוּ֙ מִכָּל־חַטֹּ֣את הָֽאָדָ֔ם לִמְעֹ֥ל מַ֖עַל בַּיהוָ֑ה וְאָֽשְׁמָ֖ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִֽוא׃ Numbers 5:6 opens a passage dealing with trespass against YHWH, yet its power rests not only in theological content but in grammatical subtlety. The final clause—וְאָשְׁמָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא—contains a classic Biblical Hebrew feature: the predicate precedes the subject. This inversion, far from arbitrary, serves to emphasize the declaration of guilt, casting it like a legal verdict upon the “soul” that transgressed. This article explores the syntactic impact of predicate-subject reversal and the role of the feminine perfect verb אָשְׁמָה as a theological marker in contexts of moral accountability.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גֵּרֵשׁ: To Drive Out, Expel, or Divorce

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
The Hebrew verb גֵּרֵשׁ (root: ג-ר-שׁ) means “to drive out,” “to banish,” “to expel,” or “to divorce.” It appears in both physical and legal contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible—from expelling people from a land to the formal act of sending away a spouse. The verb most commonly appears in the Piel binyan (intensive), indicating strong or forceful expulsion. Less frequently, it appears in the Qal and Niphal stems with similar connotations of removal or separation.   Piel Binyan Conjugation of גֵּרֵשׁ (“to drive out, to expel”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular גֵּרַשְׁתִּי 2nd person masculine singular גֵּרַשְׁתָּ 2nd person feminine singular גֵּרַשְׁתְּ 3rd person masculine singular גֵּרֵשׁ 3rd person feminine singular גֵּרְשָׁה 1st person plural גֵּרַשְׁנוּ 2nd person masculine plural גֵּרַשְׁתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural גֵּרַשְׁתֶּן 3rd person plural גֵּרְשׁוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular מְגָרֵשׁ Feminine singular מְגָרֶשֶׁת Masculine plural מְגָרְשִׁים Feminine plural מְגָרְשׁוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֲגָרֵשׁ 2nd person masculine singular תְּגָרֵשׁ 2nd person feminine singular תְּגָרְשִׁי 3rd person masculine singular יְגָרֵשׁ 3rd person feminine singular תְּגָרֵשׁ 1st person plural נְגָרֵשׁ 2nd person masculine plural תְּגָרְשׁוּ 2nd person feminine plural תְּגָרֵשְׁנָה 3rd person plural יְגָרְשׁוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular גָּרֵשׁ 2nd person feminine singular גָּרְשִׁי 2nd person masculine plural גָּרְשׁוּ 2nd person feminine plural גָּרֵשְׁנָה   Usage in Scripture Genesis 3:24 – וַיְגָרֶשׁ אֶת־הָאָדָם “So He drove out the man.”… Learn Hebrew
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