Category Archives: Beginners

Biblical Hebrew for Beginners

When Service Ends: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:25

וּמִבֶּן֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב מִצְּבָ֣א הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲבֹ֖ד עֹֽוד׃ (Numbers 8:25) And from the age of fifty years he shall return from the service of the work, and shall serve no more. Word-by-Word Explanation וּמִבֶּן — “and from the age of.” Preposition מִן (“from”) + בֵּן (“son”), used idiomatically for age (“years old”). חֲמִשִּׁים — “fifty.” Numeral for the age marker. שָׁנָה — “year.” Noun in singular, completing the phrase: “fifty years old.” יָשׁוּב — “he shall return.” Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular from שׁוּב (“to return, turn back”).… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on When Service Ends: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:25

Disaster That Flies Down: A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:22

וְאֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ יַבִּ֑יט וְהִנֵּ֨ה צָרָ֤ה וַחֲשֵׁכָה֙ מְע֣וּף צוּקָ֔ה וַאֲפֵלָ֖ה מְנֻדָּֽח׃ (Isaiah 8:22) And he will look to the earth, and behold: distress and darkness, flying anguish, and thick darkness upon the driven one. Word-by-Word Explanation וְאֶל־אֶרֶץ — “and to the land/earth.” Preposition אֶל (“to, toward”) + noun אֶרֶץ (“land, earth”). יַבִּיט — “he will look.” Hifil imperfect 3rd masculine singular from נבט (“to look, gaze”). In Hifil, often “cause oneself to look attentively.” וְהִנֵּה — “and behold!” An interjection alerting the listener to what follows.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on Disaster That Flies Down: A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:22

Purified and Presented: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:21

וַיִּֽתְחַטְּא֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם וַֽיְכַבְּסוּ֙ בִּגְדֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּ֨נֶף אַהֲרֹ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם תְּנוּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיְכַפֵּ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם אַהֲרֹ֖ן לְטַהֲרָֽם׃ (Numbers 8:21) And the Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aaron waved them as a wave offering before the LORD; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. Word-by-Word Explanation וַיִּתְחַטְּאוּ — “and they purified themselves.” Hitpael stem (reflexive) of חָטָא (“to sin, to purify”), imperfect with vav consecutive. Subject: “the Levites.” הַלְוִיִּם — “the Levites.” Noun with definite article הַ. וַיְכַבְּסוּ — “and they washed.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on Purified and Presented: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:21

Like the Nations Before You: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Deuteronomy 8:20

כַּגֹּויִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְהוָה֙ מַאֲבִ֣יד מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם כֵּ֖ן תֹאבֵד֑וּן עֵ֚קֶב לֹ֣א תִשְׁמְע֔וּן בְּקֹ֖ול יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (Deuteronomy 8:20) Like the nations that the LORD destroys before you, so shall you perish, because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God. Word-by-Word Explanation כַּגֹּויִם — “like the nations.” The preposition כְּ (“like, as”) + plural גֹּויִם (“nations”). אֲשֶׁר — “that / which.” Relative pronoun introducing a clause. יְהוָה — “YHWH, the LORD.” The divine name. מַאֲבִיד — “is destroying / destroys.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on Like the Nations Before You: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Deuteronomy 8:20

Voices of the Dead or the Living God? A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:19

וְכִֽי־יֹאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיכֶ֗ם דִּרְשׁ֤וּ אֶל־הָאֹבֹות֙ וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים הַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖ים וְהַמַּהְגִּ֑ים הֲלֹוא־עַם֙ אֶל־אֱלֹהָ֣יו יִדְרֹ֔שׁ בְּעַ֥ד הַחַיִּ֖ים אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃ (Isaiah 8:19) And when they say to you, “Seek to the mediums and to the spiritists, who chirp and mutter,” should not a people seek to its God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? “It might seem like a lot, but each verb and suffix you master brings you closer to reading Hebrew as it was first spoken.” Word-by-Word Explanation וְכִי־ — “and when.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on Voices of the Dead or the Living God? A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:19

When the Ground Denies Him: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Job 8:18

אִם־יְבַלְּעֶ֥נּוּ מִמְּקֹומֹ֑ו וְכִ֥חֶשׁ בֹּ֝֗ו לֹ֣א רְאִיתִֽיךָ׃ (Job 8:18) If it swallows him from his place, then it will deny him, saying: “I have not seen you.” Word-by-Word Explanation אִם־ – “if.” A conditional particle that sets up a possibility or situation. יְבַלְּעֶנּוּ – “it swallows him.” From בָּלַע (“to swallow, engulf”), imperfect 3rd masculine singular. The suffix -נּוּ = “him.” מִמְּקֹומֹו – “from his place.” The preposition מִן (“from”) assimilates before מָקוֹם, giving מִמְּקוֹם. The suffix -וֹ = “his.” וְכִחֶשׁ – “and it will deny.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on When the Ground Denies Him: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Job 8:18

From Dust to Gnats: A Hebrew Lesson in Action

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֗ן וַיֵּט֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן אֶת־יָדֹ֤ו בְמַטֵּ֨הוּ֙ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתְּהִי֙ הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה כָּל־עֲפַ֥ר הָאָ֛רֶץ הָיָ֥ה כִנִּ֖ים בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (Exodus 8:17) And they did so, and Aharon stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and it became gnats on man and on beast; all the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Mitsrayim. Word-by-Word Explanation וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן – “and they did so.” From עָשָׂה (“to do, make”), wayyiqtol (narrative past), 3rd person plural.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on From Dust to Gnats: A Hebrew Lesson in Action

“Counsel Is Mine” — Exploring the Voice of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:14

לִֽי־֭עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּ֑ה אֲנִ֥י בִ֝ינָ֗ה לִ֣י גְבוּרָֽה׃ (Proverbs 8:14) Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, strength is mine. Word-by-Word Explanation לִי – “To me” / “Mine”Preposition + Pronoun – לְ = “to” – י = “me” Together, they form a possessive phrase: “is mine” or “belongs to me.” עֵצָה – “Counsel” Noun, feminine singular – Refers to guidance, advice, or strategic insight This word is often associated with wise planning. וְתוּשִׁיָּה – “and sound wisdom” Noun, feminine singular – וְ = “and” – תוּשִׁיָּה = wisdom with stability or resourcefulness A rich term implying practical, effective insight.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on “Counsel Is Mine” — Exploring the Voice of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:14

“Then Bildad the Shuchite Answered and Said”: Hebrew Dialogue in Motion

וַ֭יַּעַן בִּלְדַּ֥ד הַשּׁוּחִ֗י וַיֹאמַֽר׃ (Job 8:1) And Bildad the Shuchite answered and said: Word-by-Word Explanation וַיַּעַן – “And he answered”Verb, 3rd person masculine singular, vav-consecutive form of עָנָה (“to answer”). The וַ prefix connects this to the previous narrative sequence. This verb usually introduces a response or reply in Biblical speech. בִּלְדַּד – “Bildad”Proper noun. One of Job’s three friends. This marks the beginning of his first speech. הַשּׁוּחִי – “the Shuchite”Adjective or gentilic, meaning “from Shuach” (a place or ancestral line).… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Tagged | Comments Off on “Then Bildad the Shuchite Answered and Said”: Hebrew Dialogue in Motion

“His Hands Shall Bring the Fire-Offerings”: Learning Sacred Hebrew Through Priestly Ritual

יָדָ֣יו תְּבִיאֶ֔ינָה אֵ֖ת אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהוָ֑ה אֶת־הַחֵ֤לֶב עַל־הֶֽחָזֶה֙ יְבִיאֶ֔נּוּ אֵ֣ת הֶחָזֶ֗ה לְהָנִ֥יף אֹתֹ֛ו תְּנוּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ (Leviticus 7:30) His hands shall bring the fire-offerings of YHWH, the fat with the breast he shall bring it, the breast, to wave it as a wave offering before YHWH. Word-by-Word Explanation יָדָיו – “his hands”Noun, dual form of יָד (“hand”) with a 3rd person masculine singular suffix ָיו = “his.” Refers to the offerer’s own hands. תְּבִיאֶינָה – “shall bring”Verb, 3rd person feminine plural, imperfect from בּוֹא (“to come/bring”).… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Beginners | Comments Off on “His Hands Shall Bring the Fire-Offerings”: Learning Sacred Hebrew Through Priestly Ritual