Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Do Not Forsake Instruction: Imperatives, Construct Chains, and Didactic Syntax in Proverbs 4:2

כִּ֤י לֶ֣קַח טֹ֭וב נָתַ֣תִּי לָכֶ֑ם תֹּֽ֝ורָתִ֗י אַֽל־תַּעֲזֹֽבוּ׃ Contextual Introduction Proverbs 4:2 sits within a father’s exhortation to his children to seek wisdom and not abandon her. This verse serves as a justification for heeding instruction, where the speaker (likely representing … Continue reading

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Destined Judgment: Disjunctive Questions and Lexical Contrast in Job 31:3

הֲלֹא־אֵ֥יד לְעַוָּ֑ל וְ֝נֵ֗כֶר לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃ Contextual Introduction Job 31:3 forms part of Job’s final defense—a solemn oath of innocence. In this chapter, Job articulates a series of conditional statements that, if proven false, would justify divine punishment. Verse 3 reflects … Continue reading

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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Exodus 3:14

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כֹּ֤ה תֹאמַר֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ 1. Divine Speech and the Power of the Imperfect The verse begins with וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (“And He said”), a wayyiqtol form of the root אָמַר, marking it … Continue reading

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Verbless Clauses, Pronouns, and Theological Identity in Ezekiel 34:31

Introduction: Divine Shepherdhood and Covenant Reaffirmation Ezekiel 34 concludes a rich metaphorical chapter in which YHWH critiques Israel’s failed shepherds and declares Himself the true Shepherd of His people. The final verse, 34:31, serves as a climactic reassertion of divine … Continue reading

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Deuteronomy 24:3 – Conditional Clauses and Sequential Waw

וּשְׂנֵאָהּ֮ הָאִ֣ישׁ הָאַחֲרֹון֒ וְכָ֨תַב לָ֜הּ סֵ֤פֶר כְּרִיתֻת֙ וְנָתַ֣ן בְּיָדָ֔הּ וְשִׁלְּחָ֖הּ מִבֵּיתֹ֑ו אֹ֣ו כִ֤י יָמוּת֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הָאַחֲרֹ֔ון אֲשֶׁר־לְקָחָ֥הּ לֹ֖ו לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ And the latter man hates her and writes for her a certificate of divorce and gives it into her hand and … Continue reading

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Wayyiqtol Verbs and Royal Death Formulae in 1 Kings 2:10

Introduction: Death and Dynastic Transition in the Deuteronomistic History 1 Kings 2:10 marks the conclusion of King David’s life and the formal transition to Solomon’s reign. The verse reads: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב דָּוִ֖ד עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּעִ֥יר דָּוִֽד׃ And David lay with his … Continue reading

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Exodus 24:2 – Verb Conjugation: Yiqtol vs. Wayyiqtol and Contrastive Negation

וְנִגַּ֨שׁ מֹשֶׁ֤ה לְבַדֹּו֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וְהֵ֖ם לֹ֣א יִגָּ֑שׁוּ וְהָעָ֕ם לֹ֥א יַעֲל֖וּ עִמֹּֽו׃ And Moshe shall approach alone to YHWH, but they shall not approach, and the people shall not go up with him. Explanation of Feature In Exodus 24:2, the contrast … Continue reading

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“I the LORD Have Spoken and Will Do It”: Verbal Paradox and Divine Reversal in Ezekiel 17:24

Introduction to Ezekiel 17:24: Prophecy of Reversal and Sovereignty In Ezekiel 17:24, YHWH concludes a prophetic parable by asserting His absolute sovereignty over history and nature. Through a series of antithetical verb pairs, the verse declares that YHWH humbles the … Continue reading

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“These Are the Heads of the Priests”: Apposition and Leadership Lists in Neḥemyah 12:7

Introduction to Neḥemyah 12:7: Structuring Authority Through Syntactic Chains Neḥemyah 12:7 is part of a carefully preserved genealogical and administrative record. These priestly lists served to validate religious authority and temple function during the post-exilic period. The phrase אֵ֣לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֧י … Continue reading

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“Efrayim Feeds the Wind”: Kinetic Verbs and Prophetic Irony in Hosea 12:2

Introduction to Hosea 12:2: Motion Without Meaning Hosea 12:2 (Hebrew 12:1) presents a poetic and theological critique of Efrayim through a series of verbs describing restless motion and political treachery. The verse’s central metaphor—feeding the wind—highlights the futility of idolatrous pursuits … Continue reading

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