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Recent Articles
- Two Voices, One Mission: The Syntactic Unity of Aaron and Moshe in Hebrew and Greek
- Pointing Them Out: Hebrew Grammar in Exodus 6:26
- The Construct Chain (סְמִיכוּת) and How It Modifies Nouns in Biblical Hebrew
- Use of Interjections in Biblical Hebrew: Emotion, Syntax, and Exegesis
- Names in Parallel: Coordinated Syntax and the Use of Demonstrative Summary
- Masculine vs. Feminine Endings in Hebrew Verbs and Nouns: Patterns of Gender and Agreement
- Deliverance and Distance: How Hiphil Shapes Rescue in Joshua 6:23
- The Echo of Obedience: Waw-Consecutive and the Syntax of Repetition
- Hebrew Parallelism: Synonymous, Antithetical, and Synthetic Structures in Biblical Poetry
- The Suffix that Binds: Construct State and Apposition in Genealogical Phrases
- Hebrew Idiomatic Expressions: Unlocking the Figurative Depth of Biblical Language
- Binyanim in Crisis: The Verbs of Reverence and Relocation in 1 Samuel 6:20
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Category Archives: Beginners
Pointing Them Out: Hebrew Grammar in Exodus 6:26
ה֥וּא אַהֲרֹ֖ן וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ לָהֶ֔ם הֹוצִ֜יאוּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם עַל־צִבְאֹתָֽם׃
(Exodus 6:26)
This verse identifies Aharon and Moshe as the leaders appointed by YHWH to lead the Israelites out of Mitsrayim (Egypt). It’s short, but it packs rich grammar: subject pronouns, relative clauses, direct speech, and imperative verbs. Let’s learn how each piece works together.
English Translation (Clear and Literal)
This is Aharon and Moshe, to whom YHWH said, “Bring out the children of Yisra’el from the land of Mitsrayim according to their divisions.”… Learn Hebrew
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Let’s Walk Through Ruth’s Hebrew Together
וַתֹּאמֶר֩ ר֨וּת הַמֹּואֲבִיָּ֜ה אֶֽל־נָעֳמִ֗י אֵֽלְכָה־נָּ֤א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַאֲלַקֳטָ֣ה בַשִּׁבֳּלִ֔ים אַחַ֕ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַתֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ לְכִ֥י בִתִּֽי׃
(Ruth 2:2)
This beautiful verse from the Book of Ruth shows a conversation between Ruth and Naomi. Let’s explore what each Hebrew word means, how they fit together, and what we can learn about Hebrew grammar from this sentence.
English Translation (Word by Word)
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go, please, to the field and glean among the ears of grain behind someone in whose eyes I find favor.”… Learn Hebrew
Joyful Return: Exploring Isaiah 35:10 in Beginner Hebrew
וּפְדוּיֵ֨י יְהוָ֜ה יְשֻׁב֗וּן וּבָ֤אוּ צִיֹּון֙ בְּרִנָּ֔ה וְשִׂמְחַ֥ת עֹולָ֖ם עַל־רֹאשָׁ֑ם שָׂשֹׂ֤ון וְשִׂמְחָה֙ יַשִּׂ֔יגוּ וְנָ֖סוּ יָגֹ֥ון וַאֲנָחָֽה
(Isaiah 35:10)
This powerful and poetic verse from Isaiah is filled with emotion, movement, and transformation. We’ll use it to explore basic Hebrew grammar, focusing on verbs, nouns, and how Hebrew expresses joy and deliverance using rhythm and repetition.
English Translation (Simple and Clear)
And the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and they shall come to Zion with singing, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.… Learn Hebrew
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Engraved Forever: Hebrew Imagery in Job 19:24
בְּעֵט־בַּרְזֶ֥ל וְעֹפָ֑רֶת לָ֝עַ֗ד בַּצּ֥וּר יֵחָצְבֽוּן׃
(Job 19:24)
This poetic line from the Book of Job expresses a longing for permanence—words written so they could never be erased. It uses vivid imagery of engraving into rock with metal and lead. The verse is beautifully constructed and introduces vocabulary from the world of ancient inscriptions. Let’s dig in!
English Translation (Literal and Clear)
With an iron stylus and lead, forever they would be carved in the rock.
Job wishes his words would be permanently recorded—not just written in ink, but engraved in stone with iron and filled with lead to last forever.… Learn Hebrew
Hunger and Calamity: A Miniature Poem of Judgment in Job 18:12
יְהִי־רָעֵ֥ב אֹנֹ֑ו וְ֝אֵ֗יד נָכֹ֥ון לְצַלְעֹֽו׃
(Job 18:12)
This short poetic verse is part of Bildad’s speech in the Book of Job, describing the fate of the wicked. The verse may look small, but it’s packed with Biblical Hebrew features: jussive verbs (wishes or commands), rare vocabulary, parallel structure, and construct phrases. Let’s learn how it works!
English Translation (Literal and Clear)
May hunger consume his strength, and disaster be ready at his side.
This is a poetic curse or expression of ruin.… Learn Hebrew
Silence Speaks: Learning Hebrew from a Proverb
גַּ֤ם אֱוִ֣יל מַ֭חֲרִישׁ חָכָ֣ם יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב אֹטֵ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֣יו נָבֹֽון׃
(Proverbs 17:28)
Today’s Hebrew lesson takes us into a poetic proverb. With only a few words, this verse reveals deep wisdom—and teaches us a lot about how Hebrew words and sentences work.
English Translation (Plain and Clear)
Even a fool, when he is silent, is considered wise; one who shuts his lips is thought discerning.
This proverb uses poetic parallelism: it says the same idea two different ways. Let’s dive into the Hebrew step by step.… Learn Hebrew
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Inheritance and Intercession: Learning Hebrew from Joshua 17:4
וַתִּקְרַ֡בְנָה לִפְנֵי֩ אֶלְעָזָ֨ר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וְלִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹושֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן וְלִפְנֵ֤י הַנְּשִׂיאִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהוָה֙ צִוָּ֣ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֔ה לָֽתֶת־לָ֥נוּ נַחֲלָ֖ה בְּתֹ֣וךְ אַחֵ֑ינוּ וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֜ם אֶל־פִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ נַֽחֲלָ֔ה בְּתֹ֖וךְ אֲחֵ֥י אֲבִיהֶֽן׃
(Joshua 17:4)
This verse tells the story of women who boldly stood before Israel’s leaders to claim their rightful inheritance. It’s a wonderful passage for beginners because it includes verbs in multiple forms, prepositions, speech formulas, and rich narrative flow. Let’s examine it closely!
English Translation (Plain and Clear)
And they came near before Elʿazar the priest, and before Yehoshua son of Nun, and before the leaders, saying: “YHWH commanded Moshe to give us an inheritance among our brothers.”… Learn Hebrew
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When Not to Enter: Learning Commands, Prohibitions, and Sacred Space in Leviticus 16:2
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה דַּבֵּר֮ אֶל־אַהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִיךָ֒ וְאַל־יָבֹ֤א בְכָל־עֵת֙ אֶל־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ מִבֵּ֖ית לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת אֶל־פְּנֵ֨י הַכַּפֹּ֜רֶת אֲשֶׁ֤ר עַל־הָאָרֹן֙ וְלֹ֣א יָמ֔וּת כִּ֚י בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן אֵרָאֶ֖ה עַל־הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃
(Leviticus 16:2)
This verse offers a powerful combination of divine command, warning, and sacred instruction. It’s full of useful Hebrew grammar, including verbs in imperative and imperfect forms, negative commands, prepositional phrases, and subordinate clauses. Let’s carefully explore how it all fits together.
English Translation (Plain and Faithful)
And the LORD said to Moshe, “Speak to Aharon your brother, that he not come at all times into the sanctuary behind the curtain, before the atonement-cover that is on the ark, so that he not die—for in a cloud I will appear upon the atonement-cover.”… Learn Hebrew
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From the Ground Up: Discovering Hebrew Word Order and Meaning in Genesis 2:9
וַיַּצְמַ֞ח יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כָּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְטֹ֣וב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּתֹ֣וךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת טֹ֥וב וָרָֽע׃
(Genesis 2:9)
This verse brings us into the heart of the Garden of Eden. It’s rich with imagery and grammar—perfect for beginners learning how Hebrew builds meaning through verbs, adjectives, word pairs, and construct chains. Let’s take a close look at how this verse is put together.
English Translation (Simple and Clear)
And YHWH God caused to sprout from the ground every tree that is desirable in appearance and good for food, and the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.… Learn Hebrew
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Buried Commands: A Beginner’s Walkthrough of Jeremiah 13:4
קַ֧ח אֶת־הָאֵזֹ֛ור אֲשֶׁ֥ר קָנִ֖יתָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־מָתְנֶ֑יךָ וְקוּם֙ לֵ֣ךְ פְּרָ֔תָה וְטָמְנֵ֥הוּ שָׁ֖ם בִּנְקִ֥יק הַסָּֽלַע׃
(Jeremiah 13:4)
This verse contains a string of Hebrew commands—strong, clear instructions that show us how verbs and phrases work in Biblical Hebrew. You’ll see verbs in command form, relative clauses, and how prepositions link ideas. Let’s unpack this step by step!
English Translation (Simple and Direct)
“Take the belt that you bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to Perat and hide it there in the crevice of the rock.”… Learn Hebrew
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