Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

The Collapse Without Wisdom: Verb Themes and Syntax in Job 4:21

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

הֲלֹא־נִסַּ֣ע יִתְרָ֣ם בָּ֑ם יָ֝מ֗וּתוּ וְלֹ֣א בְחָכְמָֽה׃ (Job 4:21) Is not their tent cord pulled up within them? They die, and not with wisdom. Focus on the Passive Niphal: נִסַּ֣ע The verb נִסַּ֣ע is in the Niphal stem, which often expresses passive or reflexive action. Derived from the root נ־ס־ע (“to journey,” “to depart,” or “to pull up tent pegs”), the Niphal form here implies “was pulled away” or “was removed.” This metaphor evokes the image of a tent being uprooted — a powerful symbol of impermanence in Biblical Hebrew, especially in wisdom literature like Job.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar | Tagged Job 4:21 | Comments Off

Grammatical Deception: Mood, Syntax, and Speech in Judges 4:20

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֔יהָ עֲמֹ֖ד פֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֑הֶל וְהָיָה֩ אִם־אִ֨ישׁ יָבֹ֜וא וּשְׁאֵלֵ֗ךְ וְאָמַ֛ר הֲיֵֽשׁ־פֹּ֥ה אִ֖ישׁ וְאָמַ֥רְתְּ אָֽיִן׃ (Judges 4:20) And he said to her, “Stand at the entrance of the tent, and it shall be, if any man comes and asks you and says, ‘Is there a man here?’ then you shall say, ‘There is none.’” Focus on Imperatives: עֲמֹ֖ד The word עֲמֹד is the imperative masculine singular form of the root ע־מ־ד, meaning “to stand.” Here, it is a direct command: “Stand!” or more idiomatically, “Stand at the entrance!”… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar | Tagged Judges 4:20 | Comments Off

Stumbling in Darkness: Imagery, Negation, and Parallelism in Proverbs 4:19

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

דֶּ֣רֶךְ רְ֭שָׁעִים כָּֽאֲפֵלָ֑ה לֹ֥א יָ֝דְע֗וּ בַּמֶּ֥ה יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ: (Proverbs 4:19) The path of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:19 forms part of a wisdom contrast between the path of the righteous and that of the wicked. While the previous verse (v.18) compares the way of the righteous to the shining light of dawn, this verse paints the way of the wicked as enveloped in darkness. The stark imagery is matched by a concise and rhythmic syntactic structure.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged Proverbs 4:19 | Comments Off

Negative Imperative with Jussive Verbs and Genitive Apposition

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

אַל־תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ אֶת־שֵׁ֖בֶט מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת הַקְּהָתִ֑י מִתֹּ֖וךְ הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (Numbers 4:18) Do not cut off the tribe of the Kohathite families from among the Levites. This verse is part of a divine command to preserve the lives of the Qehatite clan among the Levites, who were tasked with transporting the most sacred objects. The verse uses a negative imperative with a jussive verb, which is a common grammatical structure in Biblical Hebrew for expressing prohibitions. It also features an example of genitive apposition, where one noun defines another.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar | Tagged Numbers 4:18 | Comments Off

Sequential Devastation: Narrative Syntax and Theological Catastrophe in 1 Samuel 4:17

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

וַיַּ֨עַן הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָ֤ס יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְגַ֛ם מַגֵּפָ֥ה גְדֹולָ֖ה הָיְתָ֣ה בָעָ֑ם וְגַם־שְׁנֵ֨י בָנֶ֜יךָ מֵ֗תוּ חָפְנִי֙ וּפִ֣ינְחָ֔ס וַאֲרֹ֥ון הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָֽחָה׃ (1 Samuel 4:17) And the bearer of tidings answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and also there has been a great slaughter among the people; and also your two sons, Ḥofni and Pinḥas, are dead, and the Ark of God has been captured.” News of Defeat and the Grammar of National Collapse 1 Samuel 4:17 records the devastating news brought to Eli after the defeat of Israel by the Philistines.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged 1 Samuel 4:17 | Comments Off

“He Shall Be Your Mouth”: Syntax of Mediation and Divine Authority in Exodus 4:16

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

וְדִבֶּר־ה֥וּא לְךָ֖ אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וְהָ֤יָה הוּא֙ יִֽהְיֶה־לְּךָ֣ לְפֶ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לֹּ֥ו לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃ (Exodus 4:16) And he shall speak for you to the people; and it shall be that he will be as a mouth for you, and you shall be as God to him. Delegated Speech and Theological Role Inversion Exodus 4:16 is part of YHWH’s response to Moshe’s protest that he is “not a man of words” (Exod. 4:10). In reply, YHWH designates Aharon, Moshe’s brother, as his spokesperson. This verse defines the functional relationship between Moshe and Aharon in symbolic and hierarchical terms.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged Exodus 4:16 | Comments Off

The Mark of Mercy: Legal Syntax and Divine Protection in Genesis 4:15

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר לֹ֣ו יְהוָ֗ה לָכֵן֙ כָּל־הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקָּ֑ם וַיָּ֨שֶׂם יְהוָ֤ה לְקַ֨יִן֙ אֹ֔ות לְבִלְתִּ֥י הַכֹּות־אֹתֹ֖ו כָּל־מֹצְאֹֽו׃ (Genesis 4:15) And YHWH said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Qayin, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And YHWH placed a sign for Qayin, so that no one who found him would strike him. Justice, Restraint, and the Grammar of Protection Genesis 4:15 follows Qayin’s lament over his punishment after murdering his brother Hevel. In response, YHWH declares a protective measure, both judicial and symbolic.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar | Tagged Genesis 4:15 | Comments Off

Teaching the Law: Syntax of Instruction and Inheritance in Deuteronomy 4:14

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

וְאֹתִ֞י צִוָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔וא לְלַמֵּ֣ד אֶתְכֶ֔ם חֻקִּ֖ים וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֑ים לַעֲשֹׂתְכֶ֣ם אֹתָ֔ם בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם עֹבְרִ֥ים שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ (Deuteronomy 4:14) And YHWH commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you may do them in the land which you are crossing over to possess. Mediated Revelation and Covenant Continuity Deuteronomy 4:14 presents Moshe’s retrospective account of receiving and transmitting YHWH’s law to Israel in preparation for entering the promised land. The verse sits at the intersection of memory and mandate, summarizing Israel’s calling to obedience through the lens of Moshe’s divine commission.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar, Syntax, Theology | Tagged Deuteronomy 4:14 | Comments Off

Dream Syntax and Divine Communication: Structural Layers in Job 4:13

Posted on April 13, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

בִּ֭שְׂעִפִּים מֵחֶזְיֹנֹ֣ות לָ֑יְלָה בִּנְפֹ֥ל תַּ֝רְדֵּמָ֗ה עַל־אֲנָשִֽׁים׃ (Job 4:13) In troubling thoughts from night visions, when deep sleep falls on men, Visionary Fragments and Nocturnal Revelation in Joban Dialogue Job 4:13 occurs within the first speech of Elifaz, in which he recounts a mysterious, fearsome nocturnal revelation that offers theological perspective on divine justice. This verse introduces the setting and medium of that revelation, emphasizing its obscurity and psychological power: This verse is a prelude to a divine message delivered in verse 14ff.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged Job 4:13 | Comments Off

Concealing the Sacred: Sequential Syntax and Ritual Handling in Numbers 4:12

Posted on April 12, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew

וְלָקְחוּ֩ אֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵ֨י הַשָּׁרֵ֜ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־בָ֣ם בַּקֹּ֗דֶשׁ וְנָֽתְנוּ֙ אֶל־בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵ֔לֶת וְכִסּ֣וּ אֹותָ֔ם בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה עֹ֣ור תָּ֑חַשׁ וְנָתְנ֖וּ עַל־הַמֹּֽוט׃ (Numbers 4:12) And they shall take all the service vessels with which they minister in the sanctuary, and place them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of tachash leather, and place them on the carrying frame. Order, Reverence, and Sanctity in the Wilderness Tabernacle Numbers 4:12 forms part of the priestly instructions for transporting the most sacred items of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) during the wilderness journeys.… Learn Hebrew

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged Numbers 4:12 | Comments Off