Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

The Use of the Hithpael Stem in Biblical Hebrew (Exodus 14:4)

Exodus 14:4 in Hebrew וְחִזַּקְתִּ֣י אֶת־לֵב־פַּרְעֹה֮ וְרָדַ֣ף אַחֲרֵיהֶם֒ וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה בְּפַרְעֹה֙ וּבְכָל־חֵילֹ֔ו וְיָדְע֥וּ מִצְרַ֖יִם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵֽן׃ Introduction to the Hithpael Stem In Exodus 14:4, we find the verb וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה (wəʾikkābədāh), derived from the root כבד (kbd), meaning “to be heavy,” … Continue reading

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The Use of the Definite Direct Object Marker אֵת in Biblical Hebrew (Genesis 1:1)

Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Introduction to אֵת The word אֵת appears twice in Genesis 1:1: – אֵת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם – “the heavens” – וְאֵת הָאָֽרֶץ – “and the earth” In Biblical Hebrew, אֵת functions … Continue reading

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The Usage of the Hebrew Verb אָהַב (ʾāhav) in the Hebrew Bible

The Hebrew verb אָהַב (ʾāhav), meaning “to love”, is one of the most significant and frequently used verbs in the Hebrew Bible. It expresses a wide range of meanings related to love, including affection between people, devotion to God, and … Continue reading

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The Semitic Languages: Origins, Branches, and Grammar

Introduction to the Semitic Language Family The Semitic languages are among the world’s oldest and most enduring linguistic families, with roots tracing back to the early civilizations of the Near East. These languages have played a foundational role in shaping … Continue reading

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The Hebrew Verb אָבַד (ʾābad) – Meaning and Usage

The Hebrew verb אָבַד (ʾābad) appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible with meanings related to perishing, being lost, or being destroyed. It plays a significant role in biblical texts, conveying themes of judgment, destruction, and loss. The word is used … Continue reading

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The Directional ה (He) in Biblical Hebrew: A Comprehensive Analysis

1. Introduction to the Directional He The directional he (also known as he locale or he directive) is a fascinating feature of Biblical Hebrew grammar, often overlooked in introductory courses but playing a significant role in expressing spatial relationships, motion, … Continue reading

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Similarities Between Hebrew and Arabic

Hebrew and Arabic are two major Semitic languages that share a deep linguistic and historical connection. As members of the same language family, they exhibit striking similarities in phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. Both languages developed from a common Semitic … Continue reading

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The Differences Between Hebrew and Arabic

Hebrew and Arabic are two major languages of the Semitic family, each with a long and rich linguistic history. While they share common linguistic roots, they have evolved into distinct languages with significant differences in phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, and writing … Continue reading

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Similarities Between Hebrew and Syriac

Hebrew and Syriac are two closely related Northwest Semitic languages that share deep linguistic, historical, and cultural connections. Both languages originated from the same Semitic language family and have played significant roles in religious traditions, particularly in Judaism and Christianity. … Continue reading

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The Differences Between Hebrew and Syriac

Hebrew and Syriac are two distinct but related languages within the Northwest Semitic family. While Hebrew is the ancient language of the Israelites and the Hebrew Bible, Syriac is a later dialect of Aramaic that became the dominant literary and … Continue reading

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