Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

The Hebrew Verb אָזַן in the Hebrew Bible

Understanding the Verb אָזַן The Hebrew verb אָזַן (ʾāzan) is a significant term in the Hebrew Bible, meaning “to listen attentively” or “to give ear.” It differs from the common verb for hearing, שָׁמַע (shāmaʿ), in that אָזַן conveys the sense of careful and deliberate listening. This verb is most frequently used in its Hifil stem (הִאזִין, hē’ĕzīn), which means “to cause to listen” or “to give heed.” The root א-ז-ן is also associated with the noun אֹזֶן (ʾōzen), meaning “ear,” and the plural form מאֹזְנַיִם (moʾznayim), meaning “balances” or “scales,” suggesting an ancient conceptual link between listening and weighing or measuring.… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of Poetic Imagery in Jonah 2:5

Jonah 2:5 in Hebrew אֲפָפ֤וּנִי מַ֨יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ תְּהֹ֖ום יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי ס֖וּף חָב֥וּשׁ לְרֹאשִֽׁי׃ Introduction to Jonah’s Prayer Jonah 2:5 is part of Jonah’s prayer from within the fish, using vivid poetic imagery to describe his distress. The verse states: אֲפָפ֤וּנִי מַ֨יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ – “The waters surrounded me up to my soul.” תְּהֹ֖ום יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי – “The deep engulfed me.” ס֖וּף חָב֥וּשׁ לְרֹאשִֽׁי – “Seaweed was wrapped around my head.” These phrases depict Jonah’s near-death experience, emphasizing his entrapment and desperation. Understanding the Poetic Expressions 1.… Learn Hebrew
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The Meaning of שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון in Leviticus 25:4

Leviticus 25:4 in Hebrew וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗ת שַׁבַּ֤ת שַׁבָּתֹון֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָאָ֔רֶץ שַׁבָּ֖ת לַיהוָ֑ה שָֽׂדְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תִזְרָ֔ע וְכַרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִזְמֹֽר׃ Introduction to שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון Leviticus 25:4 introduces the Sabbatical Year (שְׁמִטָּה, Shemittah), in which the land is to rest every seven years. The key phrase in this verse is: שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ – “A Sabbath of complete rest shall be for the land.” The repetition of שַׁבַּת (Shabbat) and שַׁבָּתֹון (Shabbaton) emphasizes the sacred nature of this rest. Understanding שַׁבַּת and שַׁבָּתֹון 1.… Learn Hebrew
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Hebrew Idioms and Metaphors in Proverbs 23:5

Proverbs 23:5 in Hebrew הֲתָעִיף עֵינֶ֥יךָ בֹּ֗ו וְֽאֵ֫ינֶ֥נּוּ כִּ֤י עָשֹׂ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לֹּ֣ו כְנָפַ֑יִם כְּ֝נֶ֗שֶׁר וָעִ֥יף הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ Introduction to Hebrew Idioms in Proverbs Proverbs 23:5 uses vivid metaphorical language and idiomatic expressions to describe the fleeting nature of wealth. The verse states: הֲתָעִיף עֵינֶ֥יךָ בֹּ֗ו וְֽאֵ֫ינֶ֥נּוּ – “Will you set your eyes upon it, and it is gone?” כִּ֤י עָשֹׂ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לֹּ֣ו כְנָפַ֑יִם – “For it will surely make wings for itself.” כְּנֶ֗שֶׁר וָעִ֥יף הַשָּׁמָֽיִם – “Like an eagle flying toward the heavens.” These expressions reflect a poetic warning about the transience of riches.… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of Rhetorical Questions and Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew (Habakkuk 3:8)

Habakkuk 3:8 in Hebrew הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י תִרְכַּב֙ עַל־סוּסֶ֔יךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃ Introduction to Rhetorical Questions and Parallelism Habakkuk 3:8 presents a vivid poetic description of God’s power, employing rhetorical questions and parallelism to emphasize divine action. The verse asks: הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה – “Was the LORD angry with the rivers?” אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ – “Was Your wrath against the rivers?” אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ – “Was Your fury against the sea?” These rhetorical questions emphasize that God’s actions are not arbitrary but part of His divine plan.… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of וַיְהִי in Biblical Hebrew Narrative (Ruth 1:1)

Ruth 1:1 in Hebrew וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ שְׁפֹ֣ט הַשֹּׁפְטִ֔ים וַיְהִ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִ֜ישׁ מִבֵּ֧ית לֶ֣חֶם יְהוּדָ֗ה לָגוּר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣י מֹואָ֔ב ה֥וּא וְאִשְׁתֹּ֖ו וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנָֽיו׃ Introduction to וַיְהִי The opening of Ruth 1:1 features the phrase וַיְהִי בִּימֵי (“And it came to pass in the days of…”). The verb וַיְהִי (vayhī) is a common Biblical Hebrew construction that introduces narrative events and often signals the beginning of a new episode. Understanding וַיְהִי in Context – וַיְהִי is the waw-consecutive imperfect form of הָיָה (hayah, “to be” or “to happen”).… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of Rhetorical Questions in Biblical Hebrew (Psalms 94:9)

Psalms 94:9 in Hebrew הֲנֹ֣טַֽע אֹ֭זֶן הֲלֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִֽם־יֹ֥צֵֽר עַ֝֗יִן הֲלֹ֣א יַבִּֽיט׃ Introduction to Rhetorical Questions Psalms 94:9 uses rhetorical questions to emphasize the power and awareness of God. The verse asks: הֲנֹ֣טַֽע אֹ֭זֶן הֲלֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑ע – “The one who planted the ear, does He not hear?” אִֽם־יֹ֥צֵֽר עַ֝֗יִן הֲלֹ֣א יַבִּֽיט – “If He formed the eye, does He not see?” These are rhetorical questions, meaning they do not expect an answer but instead affirm a truth. Understanding the Rhetorical Structure 1.… Learn Hebrew
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The Parallel Verbs שִׁמְעוּ and הַאֲזִינוּ in Biblical Hebrew (Joel 1:2)

Joel 1:2 in Hebrew שִׁמְעוּ־זֹאת֙ הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ כֹּ֖ל יֹושְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ הֶהָ֤יְתָה זֹּאת֙ בִּֽימֵיכֶ֔ם וְאִ֖ם בִּימֵ֥י אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ Introduction to שִׁמְעוּ and הַאֲזִינוּ In Joel 1:2, two verbs are used in parallel: שִׁמְעוּ (shimʿū, “hear”) and הַאֲזִינוּ (haʾăzīnū, “give ear” or “listen”). These verbs appear frequently in Biblical Hebrew prophetic texts and often carry distinct nuances. Understanding שִׁמְעוּ and הַאֲזִינוּ in Context – שִׁמְעוּ is the imperative plural form of שָׁמַע (šāmaʿ), meaning “to hear” or “to listen.” – הַאֲזִינוּ is the imperative plural form of אָזַן (ʾāzan), meaning “to give ear” or “to pay close attention.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Idiomatic Expression נַפְשִׁי בְכַפִּי in Biblical Hebrew (Judges 12:3)

Judges 12:3 in Hebrew וָֽאֶרְאֶ֞ה כִּֽי־אֵינְךָ֣ מֹושִׁ֗יעַ וָאָשִׂ֨ימָה נַפְשִׁ֤י בְכַפִּי֙ וָֽאֶעְבְּרָה֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֹּ֔ון וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה בְּיָדִ֑י וְלָמָ֞ה עֲלִיתֶ֥ם אֵלַ֛י הַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּ֖ה לְהִלָּ֥חֶם בִּֽי׃ Introduction to נַפְשִׁי בְכַפִּי In Judges 12:3, the phrase נַפְשִׁי בְכַפִּי appears, which can be translated as “I put my life in my hand.” This is an idiomatic expression in Biblical Hebrew that conveys the idea of taking extreme personal risk or putting oneself in danger. Understanding נַפְשִׁי בְכַפִּי in Context – נַפְשִׁי (nafshī) – “my soul” or “my life.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of the Verb יַפְלִא in Biblical Hebrew (Numbers 6:2)

Numbers 6:2 in Hebrew דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אִ֣ישׁ אֹֽו־אִשָּׁ֗ה כִּ֤י יַפְלִא֙ לִנְדֹּר֙ נֶ֣דֶר נָזִ֔יר לְהַזִּ֖יר לַֽיהוָֽה׃ Introduction to יַפְלִא In Numbers 6:2, the verb יַפְלִא appears in the phrase כִּ֤י יַפְלִא֙ לִנְדֹּר֙ נֶ֣דֶר נָזִ֔יר, meaning “when a man or woman makes a special vow of a Nazirite.” The verb יַפְלִא comes from the root פלא, which is associated with the ideas of “being extraordinary,” “separating,” or “distinguishing.” Understanding יַפְלִא in Context – יַפְלִא is in the Hifil stem, which typically expresses causative action.… Learn Hebrew
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