Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

“For Judgment Is for You”: Vocative Structure and Second-Person Plural Indictment in Hosea 5:1

Introduction to Hosea 5:1: A Multi-Level Call to Account Hosea 5:1 opens with a sharp prophetic rebuke structured around three vocatives and a climactic declaration of judgment. The verse strategically builds tension by summoning three key leadership groups—priests, the house … Continue reading

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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Ruth 4:18

וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ תֹּולְדֹ֣ות פָּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ הֹולִ֥יד אֶת־חֶצְרֹֽון׃ 1. Narrative Formula and Literary Structure: וְאֵלֶּה תֹּולְדֹות The phrase וְאֵלֶּה תֹּולְדֹות (“and these are the generations of…”) is a recurring genealogical formula found throughout the Torah (cf. Genesis 2:4; 5:1; 10:1). It introduces … Continue reading

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“You Have Strengthened Knees That Were Bowing”: Causative Stems and Parallelism in Job 4:4

Introduction to Job 4:4: Eliphaz and the Power of Speech Job 4:4 is part of Eliphaz’s opening speech, where he reminds Job of his past influence and moral strength. The verse praises Job for encouraging the weak, using evocative imagery … Continue reading

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Ezekiel 43:3 – Repetition with כ and אֲשֶׁר in Comparative Clauses

וּכְמַרְאֵ֨ה הַמַּרְאֶ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֗יתִי כַּמַּרְאֶ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֨יתִי֙ בְּבֹאִי֙ לְשַׁחֵ֣ת אֶת־הָעִ֔יר וּמַרְאֹ֕ות כַּמַּרְאֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי אֶל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר וָאֶפֹּ֖ל אֶל־פָּנָֽי׃ And like the appearance of the vision that I saw, like the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city, and … Continue reading

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“There Is No Truth, No Mercy, No Knowledge”: The Covenant Lawsuit and the Triple אֵין־ Construction in Hosea 4:1

Introduction to Hosea 4:1: A Prophetic Legal Complaint Hosea 4:1 marks the beginning of a formal prophetic rīv—a covenant lawsuit in which YHWH takes legal action against Yisra’el for violating the covenant. This verse is grammatically structured as a declaration … Continue reading

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From Afar to Forever: Verb Forms and Covenant Love in Jeremiah 31:3

מֵרָחֹ֕וק יְהוָ֖ה נִרְאָ֣ה לִ֑י וְאַהֲבַ֤ת עֹולָם֙ אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ עַל־כֵּ֖ן מְשַׁכְתִּ֥יךְ חָֽסֶד׃ Contextual Introduction Jeremiah 31:3 is a centerpiece of hope within the so-called “Book of Consolation” (Jeremiah 30–33), where the prophet records YHWH’s promises of restoration after judgment. In stark contrast … Continue reading

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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Ruth 3:18

וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ שְׁבִ֣י בִתִּ֔י עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽדְעִ֔ין אֵ֖יךְ יִפֹּ֣ל דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשְׁקֹט֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ כִּֽי־אִם־כִּלָּ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַיֹּֽום׃ 1. Narrative Verb and Direct Speech: וַתֹּ֨אמֶר The verse opens with וַתֹּאמֶר (“and she said”), a standard narrative wayyiqtol form from the root אָמַר … Continue reading

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The Edict of Cyrus: Royal Proclamation and Volitional Syntax in 2 Chronicles 36:23

2 Chronicles 36:23 כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר כֹּ֣ורֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֗ס כָּל־מַמְלְכֹ֤ות הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ נָ֣תַן לִ֗י יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְהֽוּא־פָקַ֤ד עָלַי֙ לִבְנֹֽות־לֹ֣ו בַ֔יִת בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה מִֽי־בָכֶ֣ם מִכָּל־עַמֹּ֗ו יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהָ֛יו עִמֹּ֖ו וְיָֽעַל׃ Royal Read more […]

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The Use of שֹׁולֵ֨חַ in Prophetic Commission Formulas

Introduction to Ezekiel 2:3 Ezekiel 2:3 is part of the divine commission of Ezekiel as a prophet to Israel. This verse marks the beginning of God’s charge to Ezekiel, in which He commands him to deliver a message to the … Continue reading

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“Is It Not for You to Know Justice?”: Infinitive Obligation and Rhetorical Syntax in Micah 3:1

Introduction to Micah 3:1: Addressing the Leaders of Yisra’el Micah 3:1 opens a sharp rebuke directed at the leaders of Yisra’el. The prophet confronts the רָאשֵׁי יַעֲקֹב (“chiefs of Yaʿaqov”) and קְצִינֵי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל (“rulers of the house of Yisra’el”), … Continue reading

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