Category Archives: Beginners

בָּ֭נָיו יְרַצּ֣וּ דַלִּ֑ים וְ֝יָדָ֗יו תָּשֵׁ֥בְנָה אֹונֹֽו׃ (Job 20:10) His sons will seek favor from the poor, and his hands will return his strength. “Each suffix and verb you unpack is another key to hearing Hebrew’s poetic irony.” Word-by-Word Explanation בָּנָיו — “his sons.” From בֵּן (“son”) + plural + suffix -ָיו (“his”). יְרַצּוּ — “they will seek favor / beg.” Qal imperfect 3mp from רָצָה (“to be pleased, accept”). In this poetic context, it conveys humiliation: “seek favor from” or “beg from.”… Learn Hebrew

תִּֽ֭עֲבוּנִי כָּל־מְתֵ֣י סֹודִ֑י וְזֶֽה־֝אָהַ֗בְתִּי נֶהְפְּכוּ־בִֽי׃ (Job 19:19) All the men of my secret counsel abhor me, and those I loved have turned against me. Word-by-Word Explanation תִּֽעֲבוּנִי – “they abhor me”Verb, imperfect form (future-like), from the root ת־ע־ב (“to loathe” or “to abhor”). – תִּֽעֲבוּ = “they will abhor” (3rd person masculine plural, imperfect) – נִי = “me” (1st person singular object suffix) Together: “they abhor me” or “they loathe me.” This expresses deep rejection—Job feels utterly despised. כָּל־ – “all”A common word meaning “every” or “all of.”… Learn Hebrew

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 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

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 May hunger consume his strength, and disaster be ready at his side. This is a poetic curse or expression of ruin. The speaker is calling for physical and emotional destruction upon someone by invoking two forces: hunger and disaster.… Learn Hebrew

מִ֭תַּחַת שָֽׁרָשָׁ֣יו יִבָ֑שׁוּ וּ֝מִמַּ֗עַל יִמַּ֥ל קְצִירֹֽו׃ (Job 18:16) From beneath his roots they dry up, and from above his harvest withers. “Don’t worry if it feels strange—each word you decode is another brick in your Hebrew foundation!” Word-by-Word Explanation מִתַּחַת — “from beneath.” The preposition מִן (“from”) joined to תַּחַת (“under, beneath”). שָׁרָשָׁיו — “his roots.” From שֹׁרֶשׁ (“root”) with plural + possessive suffix -ָיו (“his”). יִבָשׁוּ — “they dry up.” Imperfect 3rd masculine plural from the root meaning “to dry/wither,” with שָׁרָשָׁיו (“his roots”) as the subject.… Learn Hebrew