Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Conditional Syntax and the Language of Belief in Exodus 4:8

וְהָיָה֙ אִם־לֹ֣א יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ לָ֔ךְ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּ לְקֹ֖ל הָאֹ֣ת הָרִאשֹׁ֑ון וְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּ לְקֹ֖ל הָאֹ֥ת הָאַחֲרֹֽון׃ (Exodus 4:8) And it shall be, if they do not believe you and do not listen to the voice of the first sign, then they shall believe the voice of the latter sign. Signs, Skepticism, and Theological Assurance Exodus 4:8 captures a divine anticipation of Israel’s skeptical response to Moshe’s mission. God provides Moshe with miraculous signs and predicts their effects using a conditional structure that weaves together belief, hearing, and persuasion.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Syntax, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on Conditional Syntax and the Language of Belief in Exodus 4:8

Imperative Syntax and the Economics of Wisdom in Proverbs 4:7

רֵאשִׁ֣ית חָ֭כְמָה קְנֵ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה וּבְכָל־֝קִנְיָנְךָ֗ קְנֵ֣ה בִינָֽה׃ (Proverbs 4:7) The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; and with all your acquisition, get understanding. Wisdom as Commodity and Command Proverbs 4:7 is a pivotal statement in the wisdom tradition, combining instructional tone with poetic parallelism. It exhorts the learner to prioritize wisdom above all possessions, using the language of acquisition and possession. This verse is both poetic and didactic. It emphasizes not the abstract value of wisdom, but the practical and existential necessity of actively acquiring it.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on Imperative Syntax and the Economics of Wisdom in Proverbs 4:7

Divine Interrogatives and Emotional Discourse in Genesis 4:6

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־קָ֑יִן לָ֚מָּה חָ֣רָה לָ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה נָפְל֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃ (Genesis 4:6) And the LORD said to Qayin, “Why are you angry? And why has your face fallen?” Divine Engagement and Internal Conflict in the Cain Narrative Genesis 4:6 introduces YHWH’s first verbal response to Qayin (Cain) after his offering is rejected. Rather than immediate punishment or condemnation, God addresses Qayin’s emotional state with pastoral interrogation. This brief exchange is rich in theological and grammatical meaning. The divine address uses interrogative syntax not to gather information but to invite self-reflection.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Syntax, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on Divine Interrogatives and Emotional Discourse in Genesis 4:6

Divine Initiative and Cohortative Syntax in Micah 4:6: Grammar of Restoration

בַּיֹּ֨ום הַה֜וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה אֹֽסְפָה֙ הַצֹּ֣לֵעָ֔ה וְהַנִּדָּחָ֖ה אֲקַבֵּ֑צָה וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר הֲרֵעֹֽתִי׃ (Micah 4:6) In that day, declares YHWH, I will gather the lame and I will assemble the outcast—even those whom I have afflicted. Prophetic Reversal and the Margins Restored Micah 4:6 begins a prophetic oracle of hope and reversal, contrasting with the judgment warnings that precede it. It introduces YHWH’s promise to restore the marginalized and broken of Israel. This verse centers on divine initiative, expressed through volitional and cohortative verb forms.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on Divine Initiative and Cohortative Syntax in Micah 4:6: Grammar of Restoration

The Hebrew Verb בָּחַן: To Test, Examine, or Try

The Hebrew verb בָּחַן (root: ב-ח-ן) means “to test,” “to examine,” or “to scrutinize.” It is used in both literal and metaphorical contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible. Often appearing in wisdom literature and prophetic books, it describes the testing of hearts, intentions, and individuals to reveal what is true or genuine. This verb primarily occurs in the Qal binyan and often takes YHWH as the subject—indicating divine examination of human beings.   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּחַן Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּחַנְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּחַנְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּחַנְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּחַן 3rd person feminine singular בָּחֲנָה 1st person plural בָּחַנּוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּחַנְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַנְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּחֲנוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּחֵן Feminine singular בֹּחֶנֶת Masculine plural בּוֹחֲנִים Feminine plural בּוֹחֲנוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְחַן 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְחַן 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְחֲנִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְחַן 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְחַן 1st person plural נִבְחַן 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְחֲנוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְחַנְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְחֲנוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּחַן 2nd person feminine singular בַּחֲנִי 2nd person masculine plural בַּחֲנוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַנְנָה   Usage in Scripture Psalm 139:23 – בְּחָנֵנִי אֵל וְדַע לְבָבִי “Search me, O God, and know my heart.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on The Hebrew Verb בָּחַן: To Test, Examine, or Try

Genesis 4:5 – Emotion Verbs and the Use of וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו

וְאֶל־קַ֥יִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָתֹ֖ו לֹ֣א שָׁעָ֑ה וַיִּ֤חַר לְקַ֨יִן֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ פָּנָֽיו׃ (Genesis 4:5) But to Qayin and to his offering He did not look with favor, and Qayin was very angry, and his face fell. Explanation of Feature This verse from Genesis 4:5 contains two noteworthy grammatical features: 1. Emotion verbs with לְ (lamed) – as seen in וַיִּחַר לְקַיִן, “Qayin became angry.” In Hebrew, anger is often described with the verb חָרָה (“to burn”) used impersonally with a lamed preposition marking the subject: “it burned to Qayin.”… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Genesis 4:5 – Emotion Verbs and the Use of וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו

Definiteness and Participial Titles in Cultic Legal Hebrew

וְלָקַ֛ח הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֑ר וְהֵבִ֥יא אֹתֹ֖ו אֶל־אֹ֥הֶל מֹועֵֽד׃ (Leviticus 4:5) And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it to the Tent of Meeting. This verse describes part of the sin offering ritual: the anointed priest takes the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting. What stands out grammatically is the noun phrase הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ (“the anointed priest”), which combines a definite noun with a definite participle. This construction highlights a specific cultic role and reflects the way Biblical Hebrew uses definite participial titles in legal and priestly texts.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Definiteness and Participial Titles in Cultic Legal Hebrew

Jussive Negation with אַל and the Function of Double Prohibition

אַ֥ךְ אִ֛ישׁ אַל־יָרֵ֖ב וְאַל־יֹוכַ֣ח אִ֑ישׁ וְעַמְּךָ֖ כִּמְרִיבֵ֥י כֹהֵֽן׃ (Hosea 4:4) Yet let no man contend, and let no man rebuke, for your people are like those who contend with a priest. Hosea 4:4 stands at the beginning of a prophetic indictment. It opens with a forceful double prohibition, warning against judgmental contention, followed by a striking comparison between the people and the priest. The grammatical structure uses the particle אַל to negate jussive verbs twice in parallel, creating a rhetorical double command.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Jussive Negation with אַל and the Function of Double Prohibition

Volitive Forms and Rhetorical Irony in Zephaniah 3:7: A Grammatical Theology of Rejected Correction

אָמַ֜רְתִּי אַךְ־תִּירְאִ֤י אֹותִי֙ תִּקְחִ֣י מוּסָ֔ר וְלֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֣ת מְעֹונָ֔הּ כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־פָּקַ֖דְתִּי עָלֶ֑יהָ אָכֵן֙ הִשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ הִשְׁחִ֔יתוּ כֹּ֖ל עֲלִילֹותָֽם׃ I said, “Surely you will fear Me, you will accept correction.” Then her dwelling would not be cut off—[not] all that I had appointed against her. But they rose early—they corrupted all their deeds. Divine Expectation and Human Defiance in Prophetic Discourse Zephaniah 3:7 is a striking verse in the prophet’s closing oracle of judgment, where YHWH reflects on His prior disciplinary intent and Israel’s refusal to respond.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Volitive Forms and Rhetorical Irony in Zephaniah 3:7: A Grammatical Theology of Rejected Correction

The Syntax of Legal Hypotheticals and Priestly Responsibility in Leviticus 4:3

אִ֣ם הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ יֶחֱטָ֖א לְאַשְׁמַ֣ת הָעָ֑ם וְהִקְרִ֡יב עַ֣ל חַטָּאתֹו֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטָ֜א פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֥ר תָּמִ֛ים לַיהוָ֖ה לְחַטָּֽאת׃ (Leviticus 4:3) If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt upon the people, then he shall bring for his sin that he has committed a bull of the herd without blemish to the LORD as a sin offering. Legal Instruction and Theological Stakes in Leviticus 4:3 Leviticus 4:3 introduces the procedures for sin offerings (חַטָּאת) in the case of unintentional sin by the anointed priest. This passage inaugurates one of the most structurally detailed sacrificial regulations in the Torah.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Syntax, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on The Syntax of Legal Hypotheticals and Priestly Responsibility in Leviticus 4:3