Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Ambition and Envy: Comparative Syntax and Existential Critique in Ecclesiastes 4:4

וְרָאִ֨יתִֽי אֲנִ֜י אֶת־כָּל־עָמָ֗ל וְאֵת֙ כָּל־כִּשְׁרֹ֣ון הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כִּ֛י הִ֥יא קִנְאַת־אִ֖ישׁ מֵרֵעֵ֑הוּ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃ Contextual Introduction Ecclesiastes 4:4 is a striking commentary on human labor and motivation. In typical Qohelet fashion, the verse exposes the futility not only of toil … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Ambition and Envy: Comparative Syntax and Existential Critique in Ecclesiastes 4:4

Flood Imagery, Verbal Aspect, and Prophetic Rhetoric in Jeremiah 47:2

Introduction: Poetic Oracle and Judgment Symbolism in Jeremiah 47:2 Jeremiah 47 begins a poetic oracle concerning the Philistines. Verse 2 introduces the divine speech that employs cataclysmic flood imagery to depict military invasion. The verse reads: כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה הִנֵּה־מַ֜יִם … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on Flood Imagery, Verbal Aspect, and Prophetic Rhetoric in Jeremiah 47:2

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

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Do Not Forsake Instruction: Imperatives, Construct Chains, and Didactic Syntax in Proverbs 4:2

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

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Destined Judgment: Disjunctive Questions and Lexical Contrast in Job 31:3

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

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Exodus 3:14

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

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on Verbless Clauses, Pronouns, and Theological Identity in Ezekiel 34:31

The Silence of the Winepress: Sound, Loss, and Syntax in Jeremiah 48:33

Jeremiah 48:33 וְנֶאֶסְפָ֨ה שִׂמְחָ֥ה וָגִ֛יל מִכַּרְמֶ֖ל וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֹואָ֑ב וְיַ֨יִן֙ מִיקָבִ֣ים הִשְׁבַּ֔תִּי לֹֽא־יִדְרֹ֣ךְ הֵידָ֔ד הֵידָ֖ד לֹ֥א הֵידָֽד׃ Niphal Perfect with Vav-Consecutive: וְנֶאֶסְפָה וְנֶאֶסְפָה is a Niphal perfect 3fs form of אָסַף (“to gather, remove”), here meaning “has been removed.” With the … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on The Silence of the Winepress: Sound, Loss, and Syntax in Jeremiah 48:33

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

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Deuteronomy 24:3 – Conditional Clauses and Sequential Waw

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

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on Wayyiqtol Verbs and Royal Death Formulae in 1 Kings 2:10

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

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Exodus 24:2 – Verb Conjugation: Yiqtol vs. Wayyiqtol and Contrastive Negation