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Recent Articles
- Differences Between Synonyms in Biblical Hebrew (e.g., יָדָע vs. בָּרַךְ for “Bless”)
- Morphology in Biblical Hebrew: Word Formation & Inflection
- Proverbs and Their Grammatical Structure
- Descending into Night: Time Expressions and Poetic Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew
- The Tiberian Vowel System
- When God Speaks: The Syntax of Divine Speech Frames in Biblical Hebrew
- The Role of Gutturals (א, ה, ח, ע) in Verb Conjugation
- “Into the Ark Together”: Order, Gender, and Cause in the LXX Rendering of Noah’s Entry
- Burning Beneath the Pot: Simile Syntax and Semantic Force in Ecclesiastes 7:6
- Gutturals in Biblical Hebrew
- Guarded by Grammar: Purpose Clauses and Verbal Suffixes in Proverbs 7:5
- And They Fled Before the Men of ʿAi”: A Hebrew Battle Surprise
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Category Archives: Grammar
The Cloudy Day of YHWH: Temporal Markers and Prophetic Syntax in Ezekiel 30:3
כִּֽי־קָרֹ֣וב יֹ֔ום וְקָרֹ֥וב יֹ֖ום לַֽיהוָ֑ה יֹ֣ום עָנָ֔ן עֵ֥ת גֹּויִ֖ם יִֽהְיֶֽה׃
Contextual Introduction
Ezekiel 30:3 comes within a prophetic oracle against Mitsrayim (Egypt), where YHWH speaks of an impending judgment not only upon Egypt but on all surrounding nations. This verse forms the crescendo of the opening movement of Ezekiel 30 and functions as a theologically charged proclamation of the Day of YHWH. The phraseology is dense, poetic, and structured to evoke awe and dread. From a linguistic perspective, the verse is a treasure trove of temporal markers, ellipsis, repetition, and eschatological syntax.… Learn Hebrew
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Encircling Holiness: Grammatical Ornamentation in Exodus 30:3
וְצִפִּיתָ֨ אֹתֹ֜ו זָהָ֣ב טָהֹ֗ור אֶת־גַּגֹּ֧ו וְאֶת־קִירֹתָ֛יו סָבִ֖יב וְאֶת־קַרְנֹתָ֑יו וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ לֹּ֛ו זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב׃
Contextual Introduction
Exodus 30:3 is situated within YHWH’s instructions to Moshe regarding the construction of the מִזְבַּח קְטֹרֶת (altar of incense). This verse specifically details the gold overlay and decorative features of the altar. As with much of the Tabernacle narrative (Exodus 25–31), the language is ritualistic, highly ordered, and deeply symbolic. The precise grammatical constructions used to describe these physical components reflect theological ideas about sanctity, symmetry, and divine presence.… Learn Hebrew
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On the Knees of Grammar: Syntactic and Theological Implications of Genesis 30:3
וַתֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה אֲמָתִ֥י בִלְהָ֖ה בֹּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יהָ וְתֵלֵד֙ עַל־בִּרְכַּ֔י וְאִבָּנֶ֥ה גַם־אָנֹכִ֖י מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
Contextual Introduction
Genesis 30:3 occurs in the emotionally charged narrative of the rivalry between Rachel and Leah, wives of יָעֲקֹב (Yaʿaqov), as they contend for honor and fertility in the patriarchal household. Rachel, barren and desperate, proposes that her maidservant בִּלְהָה act as a surrogate mother so that she may symbolically bear children through her. This verse is pivotal, introducing the complex concept of childbearing by proxy in Ancient Israel and encapsulating themes of identity, legitimacy, and divine providence.… Learn Hebrew
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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Isaiah 63:7
חַֽסְדֵ֨י יְהוָ֤ה אַזְכִּיר֙ תְּהִלֹּ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה כְּעַ֕ל כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־גְּמָלָ֖נוּ יְהוָ֑ה וְרַב־טוּב֙ לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־גְּמָלָ֥ם כְּֽרַחֲמָ֖יו וּכְרֹ֥ב חֲסָדָֽיו׃
1. Opening with a Construct Chain: חַסְדֵי יְהוָה
The verse begins with the construct phrase חַסְדֵי יְהוָה—“the mercies of the LORD.” Grammatically, חַסְדֵי is the masculine plural construct form of חֶסֶד, linking directly to the Divine Name. This construct chain not only grammatically binds the word “mercies” to YHWH but theologically identifies the very nature of divine mercy as originating in His character. It is not general kindness, but covenantal ḥesed—steadfast, loyal love.… Learn Hebrew
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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Psalm 97:8
שָׁמְעָ֬ה וַתִּשְׂמַ֨ח צִיֹּ֗ון וַ֭תָּגֵלְנָה בְּנֹ֣ות יְהוּדָ֑ה לְמַ֖עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃
1. Verb Forms and Theological Resonance
The verse opens with שָׁמְעָ֬ה (“she has heard”), a Qal perfect 3rd person feminine singular. The perfect form, often indicating completed action, is striking here. Zion’s hearing is not hypothetical or potential—it has already occurred, perhaps alluding to Israel’s historical receptivity to God’s deeds or judgments. The verb conveys a sense of rootedness in past revelation, suggesting that divine justice has not only been proclaimed but received.… Learn Hebrew
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Psalm 29:3 – Parallelism and Prepositional Phrases with עַל
קֹ֥ול יְהוָ֗ה עַל־הַ֫מָּ֥יִם אֵֽל־הַכָּבֹ֥וד הִרְעִ֑ים יְ֝הוָ֗ה עַל־מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃
The voice of YHWH is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders—YHWH upon many waters.
Explanation of Feature
This verse from Psalm 29:3 beautifully showcases two literary and grammatical features common in Hebrew poetry:
1. Poetic parallelism – where the second line echoes or intensifies the meaning of the first.
2. The use of the preposition עַל (“upon”) in prepositional phrases, which can express location, dominion, or movement across.
Both lines describe YHWH’s dominion over waters, reinforcing divine power in the storm imagery.… Learn Hebrew
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Exodus 29:3 – Direct Object Marker and Suffix Pronouns
וְנָתַתָּ֤ אֹותָם֙ עַל־סַ֣ל אֶחָ֔ד וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּסָּ֑ל וְאֶ֨ת־הַפָּ֔ר וְאֵ֖ת שְׁנֵ֥י הָאֵילִֽם׃
And you shall place them on one basket, and you shall bring them near in the basket, and the bull and the two rams.
Explanation of Feature
In Exodus 29:3, two related grammatical features are prominent: the use of the direct object marker אֵת (’et) and pronominal suffixes attached to it—specifically אֹותָם (’otam, “them”).
The particle אֵת is used in Biblical Hebrew to mark a definite direct object. When a pronoun serves as the direct object, it merges with a variant form of אֵת—typically אוֹת (’ot) + suffix.… Learn Hebrew
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Job 29:3 – Temporal Clause with Infinitive Construct and Preposition
בְּהִלֹּ֣ו נֵ֭רֹו עֲלֵ֣י רֹאשִׁ֑י לְ֝אֹורֹו אֵ֣לֶךְ חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃
When his lamp shone upon my head, by his light I walked through darkness.
Explanation of Feature
In Job 29:3, the phrase בְּהִלֹּ֣ו demonstrates a temporal clause using a preposition + infinitive construct + pronominal suffix. This is a common Biblical Hebrew construction to express “when [someone] did something.”
The preposition בְּ (“in,” “when”) is attached to the infinitive construct of the verb הָלַל (“to shine”)—here in the Hifʿil stem, meaning “to cause to shine.”… Learn Hebrew
Jeremiah 29:3 – Construct State and Genitive Relationships
בְּיַד֙ אֶלְעָשָׂ֣ה בֶן־שָׁפָ֔ן וּגְמַרְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁלַ֜ח צִדְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה אֶל־נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֛ר מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל בָּבֶ֥לָה לֵאמֹֽר
By the hand of Elʿasah son of Shafan and Gemaryah son of Ḥilqiyyah, whom Tsidqiyyah king of Yehudah sent to Nevukhadnetstsar king of Bavel, to Bavel, saying:
Explanation of Feature
This verse from Jeremiah 29:3 features several examples of the construct state (s’mikhut, סמיכות) — a grammatical relationship where two nouns are paired to express possession or close association. In Hebrew, the first noun is placed in a shortened or modified form (called construct state) and is immediately followed by the second noun, which is the possessor.… Learn Hebrew
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Genesis 29:3 – Waw-Consecutive and Wayyiqtol Verbs in Narrative
וְנֶאֶסְפוּ־שָׁ֣מָּה כָל־הָעֲדָרִ֗ים וְגָלֲל֤וּ אֶת־הָאֶ֨בֶן֙ מֵעַל֙ פִּ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וְהִשְׁק֖וּ אֶת־הַצֹּ֑אן וְהֵשִׁ֧יבוּ אֶת־הָאֶ֛בֶן עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִמְקֹמָֽהּ׃
Explanation of Feature
In Genesis 29:3, we observe a chain of verbs in the wayyiqtol form, each preceded by the waw-consecutive (וְ). This construction is a key feature in Biblical Hebrew narrative and is used to express sequential past actions.
The wayyiqtol form is derived from the imperfect (yiqtol) conjugation but takes on a past-tense narrative function when prefixed with waw and accompanied by a shift in stress and vowel.… Learn Hebrew
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