Category Archives: Binyanim

The Seven Binyanim (Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, Hiphil, Hophal, Hitpael)

Strength in Repetition: The Binyanim Behind Divine Encouragement

וְעַתָּ֣ה חֲזַ֣ק זְרֻבָּבֶ֣ל נְאֻם־יְהוָ֡ה וַחֲזַ֣ק יְהֹושֻׁ֣עַ בֶּן־יְהֹוצָדָק֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן הַגָּדֹ֜ול וַחֲזַ֨ק כָּל־עַ֥ם הָאָ֛רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י אִתְּכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹֽות׃ (Haggai 2:4) But now, be strong, Zerubbabel—declares YHWH—and be strong, Yehoshua son of Yehotsadaq, the high priest, and be strong, all the people of the land—declares YHWH—and work! For I am with you—declares YHWH of Hosts. Divine Grammar in Triplets The Hebrew of Haggai 2:4 builds intensity through grammatical repetition. Three consecutive imperatives of the verb חזק (“be strong”) frame YHWH’s address to three distinct groups.… Learn Hebrew
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Walk, Write, Return: The Binyanim of Obedient Action in Joshua 18:8

וַיָּקֻ֥מוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיְצַ֣ו יְהֹושֻׁ֡עַ אֶת־הַהֹלְכִים֩ לִכְתֹּ֨ב אֶת־הָאָ֜רֶץ לֵאמֹ֗ר לְ֠כוּ וְהִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ בָאָ֜רֶץ וְכִתְב֤וּ אֹותָּהּ֙ וְשׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלַ֔י וּ֠פֹה אַשְׁלִ֨יךְ לָכֶ֥ם גֹּורָ֛ל לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃ (Joshua 18:8) And the men arose and went, and Yehoshua commanded those going to describe the land, saying, “Go and walk through the land and write it, and return to me, and here I will cast lots for you before YHWH in Shiloh.” Introduction: Mobilizing the Tribal Surveyors In this verse, Yehoshua instructs a group of men to map the land of Yisraʾel in preparation for its distribution.… Learn Hebrew
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From Fire to Form: How the Binyanim Elevate Sacrifice in Psalm 66:15

עֹ֘לֹ֤ות מֵחִ֣ים אַעֲלֶה־֭לָּךְ עִם־קְטֹ֣רֶת אֵילִ֑ים אֶ֥עֱשֶֽׂה בָקָ֖ר עִם־עַתּוּדִ֣ים סֶֽלָה׃ (Psalm 66:15) Burnt offerings of fat animals I will offer to you with the smoke of rams I will prepare cattle with male goats Selah. Introduction: Verbal Stems in Worship’s Highest Flame Psalm 66:15 voices a crescendo of worship: burnt offerings, incense, and choice animals. But behind the sensory images are two binyanim that shape the worshipper’s approach. The psalmist doesn’t just do sacrifice—he elevates it, with verbs chosen for theological emphasis.… Learn Hebrew
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Binyanim in Motion: How Verbal Stems Drive the Tension in Ruth 3:18

וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ שְׁבִ֣י בִתִּ֔י עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽדְעִ֔ין אֵ֖יךְ יִפֹּ֣ל דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשְׁקֹט֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ כִּֽי־אִם־כִּלָּ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַיֹּֽום׃ (Ruth 3:18) And she said sit my daughter until you know how the matter will fall for the man will not rest unless he has completed the matter today Introduction: When Verbs Set the Stage Ruth 3:18 comes at a moment of high emotional tension. Naomi urges Ruth to wait while Boaz resolves a matter that could change her life. But this waiting is filled with motion—not outward, but inward.… Learn Hebrew
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iThe Binyanim That Brought Life Back: A Morphological Revival in Genesis 45:27

וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֵ֣ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֤י יֹוסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֲגָלֹ֔ות אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח יֹוסֵ֖ף לָשֵׂ֣את אֹתֹ֑ו וַתְּחִ֕י ר֖וּחַ יַעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶֽם׃ When Verbs Carry Emotion and Resurrection Genesis 45:27 captures the moment Yaʿaqov hears—and believes—that Yosef is alive. But this belief doesn’t come through argument or proof; it arrives through verbs. Speaking, seeing, sending, carrying, reviving—each action is wrapped in a carefully chosen binyan. From Qal to Piel, from causative motion to emotional ignition, this verse becomes a miniature narrative of linguistic resurrection. Layer by Layer: Binyanim Behind the Revival 1.… Learn Hebrew
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Written in Stone: The Binyanim That Chronicle Kings

וְיֶ֨תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י בַעְשָׁ֛א וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה וּגְבֽוּרָתֹ֑ו הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (1 Kings 16:5) And the rest of the acts of Baʿsha and what he did and his might—are they not written on the scroll of the chronicles of the kings of Yisraʾel? Overview: A Verse That Closes a Reign This verse comes from the formulaic closing lines used throughout Kings to wrap up a monarch’s story. Though seemingly simple, the verbs here carry narrative weight: they summarize action, emphasize remembrance, and close the curtain.… Learn Hebrew
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Grammatical Choreography: The Binyanim Behind Boaz’s Generous Gesture

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָ֠בִי הַמִּטְפַּ֧חַת אֲשֶׁר־עָלַ֛יִךְ וְאֶֽחֳזִי־בָ֖הּ וַתֹּ֣אחֶז בָּ֑הּ וַיָּ֤מָד שֵׁשׁ־שְׂעֹרִים֙ וַיָּ֣שֶׁת עָלֶ֔יהָ וַיָּבֹ֖א הָעִֽיר׃ (Ruth 3:15) And he said bring the cloak that is on you and hold it and she held it and he measured six measures of barley and placed it on her and he came to the city. Scene Overview: Action-Packed Verbs Ruth 3:15 narrates a moment filled with small but meaningful actions. Boaz, ever deliberate and generous, instructs Ruth, and then personally ensures she leaves with a gift.… Learn Hebrew
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Plots and Stems: The Binyanim That Build Gallows

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לֹו֩ זֶ֨רֶשׁ אִשְׁתֹּ֜ו וְכָל־אֹֽהֲבָ֗יו יַֽעֲשׂוּ־עֵץ֮ גָּבֹ֣הַּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּה֒ וּבַבֹּ֣קֶר אֱמֹ֣ר לַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְיִתְלוּ אֶֽת־מָרְדֳּכַי֙ עָלָ֔יו וּבֹֽא־עִם־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֶל הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה שָׂמֵ֑חַ וַיִּיטַ֧ב הַדָּבָ֛ר לִפְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָעֵֽץ׃ (Esther 5:14) Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let them make a tree fifty cubits high, and in the morning say to the king and let them hang Mordokhai on it. Then go with the king to the banquet joyful.” And the thing was pleasing in the eyes of Haman, and he made the tree Setting the Stage In this darkly ironic scene from Esther, evil schemes are made to look light-hearted, and verbs do the dirty work.… Learn Hebrew
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Binyanim of Collapse and Defiance: Morphological Resistance in 2 Chronicles 13:7

וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ עָלָ֗יו אֲנָשִׁ֤ים רֵקִים֙ בְּנֵ֣י בְלִיַּ֔עַל וַיִּֽתְאַמְּצ֖וּ עַל־רְחַבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וּרְחַבְעָ֗ם הָ֤יָה נַ֨עַר֙ וְרַךְ־לֵבָ֔ב וְלֹ֥א הִתְחַזַּ֖ק לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ And worthless men gathered against him sons of worthlessness and they strengthened themselves against Reḥavʿam son of Shelomoh and Reḥavʿam was a youth and soft of heart and he did not strengthen himself before them. (2 Chronicles 13:7) Introduction: Weak Hearts, Strong Verbs This verse portrays a pivotal political fracture: rebellious men embolden themselves while a young king fails to stand firm. But beneath the rebellion lies a stunning use of Hebrew binyanim, shaping both the aggressors’ momentum and the monarch’s hesitation.… Learn Hebrew
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