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Recent Articles
- The Interrogative with הֲלֹא: Rebuke and Rhetoric in Nehemiah 5:9
- The Hebrew Verb דָּבַק: To Cling, Stick, or Cleave
- The Edges of Desire — Imperatives and Spatial Metaphor in Biblical Warning
- The Hebrew Verb דָּאַג: To Worry, Be Anxious, or Concerned
- Poetry of Parallelism: The Enigmatic Syntax of Job 5:7
- The Hebrew Verb גָּשַׁם: To Rain or Cause Rain
- The Guilty Soul: Predicate-Subject Inversion and Verbal Emphasis in Numbers 5:6
- The Hebrew Verb גֵּרֵשׁ: To Drive Out, Expel, or Divorce
- The Demonstrative זֹאת as Subject: Deixis and Emphasis in Ezekiel 5:5
- The Hebrew Verb גָּרַם: To Cause, Bring About, or Result In
- Verbs of Begetting: The Syntax of Sequential Wayyiqtol in Genealogies
- The Hebrew Verb גָּעְגַּע: To Long For, Yearn, or Miss
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Category Archives: Grammar
Open Hand, Open Eyes: Participles and Antithetic Parallelism in Proverbs 28:27
Proverbs 28:27 נֹותֵ֣ן לָ֭רָשׁ אֵ֣ין מַחְסֹ֑ור וּמַעְלִ֥ים עֵ֝ינָ֗יו רַב־מְאֵרֹֽות׃ Qal Participle as Subject: נֹותֵ֣ן לָ֭רָשׁ נֹותֵ֣ן (“one who gives”) is a Qal participle masculine singular from the root נ־ת־ן (“to give”). In Hebrew proverbs, participles often function as nouns — … Continue reading
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“Who Knows the Interpretation?” – Unlocking פֵּ֣שֶׁר דָּבָ֑ר in Ecclesiastes 8:1
Introduction to Ecclesiastes 8:1: Wisdom That Transfigures the Face This exquisite proverb-like reflection in Ecclesiastes 8:1 opens with two rhetorical questions and closes with a poetic image. The key phrase, פֵּ֣שֶׁר דָּבָ֑ר (“the interpretation of a matter”), evokes the ancient … Continue reading
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“Better Than Oil”: The Wisdom of Comparison in טֹ֥וב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן טֹ֑וב
Introduction to Ecclesiastes 7:1: Of Names and Anointing Ecclesiastes 7:1 begins a series of paradoxical proverbs, and it opens with a poetic comparison that captures the essence of legacy: טֹ֥וב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן טֹ֑וב. This proverbial saying not only showcases elegant … Continue reading
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The Law of the Nest: Syntax, Participles, and Imperative Mercy in Deuteronomy 22:6
Deuteronomy 22:6 כִּ֣י יִקָּרֵ֣א קַן־צִפֹּ֣ור לְפָנֶ֡יךָ בַּדֶּ֜רֶךְ בְּכָל־עֵ֣ץ אֹ֣ו עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶפְרֹחִים֙ אֹ֣ו בֵיצִ֔ים וְהָאֵ֤ם רֹבֶ֨צֶת֙ עַל־הָֽאֶפְרֹחִ֔ים אֹ֖ו עַל־הַבֵּיצִ֑ים לֹא־תִקַּ֥ח הָאֵ֖ם עַל־הַבָּנִֽים׃ Conditional Mercy: כִּי יִקָּרֵא קַן־צִפֹּר לְפָנֶיךָ כִּי Read more […]
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Yiqtol Verbs and the Syntax of Righteous Response in Psalm 64:11
Introduction: Poetic Theology of the Righteous in the Psalter Psalm 64 ends with a powerful triadic expression of righteous response to divine justice. Following a description of God’s intervention against evildoers, verse 11 highlights the joy, trust, and praise that … Continue reading
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“There Is an Evil I Have Seen”: The Declarative יֵ֣שׁ + רָעָ֔ה as Philosophical Alarm in Ecclesiastes 6:1
Introduction to Ecclesiastes 6:1: A Refrain of Disturbance Ecclesiastes 6:1 begins with a haunting declaration: יֵ֣שׁ רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ—“There is an evil that I have seen under the sun.” This recurring formula in Qohelet’s discourse is not merely … Continue reading
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Offering Gold with Willing Hearts: Narrative Action, Appositive Lists, and Participial Highlights in Exodus 35:22
וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים עַל־הַנָּשִׁ֑ים כֹּ֣ל נְדִ֣יב לֵ֗ב הֵ֠בִיאוּ חָ֣ח וָנֶ֜זֶם וְטַבַּ֤עַת וְכוּמָז֙ כָּל־כְּלִ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכָל־אִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵנִ֛יף תְּנוּפַ֥ת זָהָ֖ב לַיהוָֽה׃ Contextual Introduction Exodus 35:22 describes the Israelites’ generous response to Moshe’s call for materials for the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The verse Read … Continue reading
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“Watch Your Step”: The Imperative שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ and Reverence in Worship
Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:17: Approaching the House of Elohim with Caution Ecclesiastes 4:17 (5:1 in English Bibles) opens with a striking imperative: שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ—“guard your feet.” This instruction is not about physical safety, but spiritual posture. Qohelet urges the worshiper … Continue reading
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Coordinated Wayyiqtol Verbs and Procedural Sequencing in Priestly Instruction
Introduction to Numbers 4:5 This verse outlines a ritual procedure to be performed by Aharon and his sons when the Israelite camp sets out. It employs a clear sequence of wayyiqtol verbs to describe actions performed in a fixed order. … Continue reading
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In the Place You Desired: Double Infinitives, Conditional Certainty, and Exile Irony in Jeremiah 42:22
וְעַתָּה֙ יָדֹ֣עַ תֵּֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֗י בַּחֶ֛רֶב בָּרָעָ֥ב וּבַדֶּ֖בֶר תָּמ֑וּתוּ בַּמָּקֹום֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֲפַצְתֶּ֔ם לָבֹ֖וא לָג֥וּר שָֽׁם׃ Contextual Introduction Jeremiah 42:22 closes a divine warning against fleeing to Mitsrayim following the Babylonian conquest. After a long appeal through the prophet, YHWH makes clear … Continue reading
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