Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Volitive Syntax and Theological Restoration in Lamentations 5:21

Introduction: Hope Through Syntax in the Poetry of Lament Lamentations 5:21 stands near the close of one of the most theologically and emotionally charged books in the Hebrew Bible. After chapters of devastation, confession, and silence, this verse issues a … Continue reading

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“If You Find a Man”: Analyzing אִם in Jeremiah 5:1

Introduction to Jeremiah 5:1: The Search for Justice in a Corrupt City Jeremiah 5:1 opens with an evocative challenge: search the streets of יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Yerushalayim), seek out one just person. At the heart of this challenge is a double conditional … Continue reading

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The Melody of Meaning: Participles and Professions in Genesis 4:21

Genesis 4:21 וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יוּבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י כָּל־תֹּפֵ֥שׂ כִּנֹּ֖ור וְעוּגָֽב׃ Grammatical Focus: The Participial Form תֹּפֵ֥שׂ The word תֹּפֵ֥שׂ is a masculine singular participle from the root ת־פ־שׂ, meaning “to grasp,” “to handle,” or “to wield.” In this context, … Continue reading

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Divine Mystery and Royal Appeal: Syntax of Interpretation in Daniel 4:15

Introduction: Court Language, Crisis, and Prophetic Authority Daniel 4:15 recounts Nebuchadnezzar’s appeal to Belteshazzar (Daniel) to interpret his troubling dream. The verse is a moment of theological tension and narrative climax, as the king publicly acknowledges Daniel’s unique spiritual capacity … Continue reading

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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Isaiah 4:5

וּבָרָ֣א יְהוָ֡ה עַל־כָּל־מְכֹ֨ון הַר־צִיֹּ֜ון וְעַל־מִקְרָאֶ֗הָ עָנָ֤ן יֹומָם֙ וְעָשָׁ֔ן וְנֹ֛גַהּ אֵ֥שׁ לֶהָבָ֖ה לָ֑יְלָה כִּ֥י עַל־כָּל־כָּבֹ֖וד חֻפָּֽה׃ 1. Verb Form and Theological Implication: וּבָרָ֣א יְהוָה The verse opens with וּבָרָ֣א (“and [He] will create”), a Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular from the … Continue reading

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Chains of Crime: Asyndeton, Verb Chains, and Poetic Justice in Hosea 4:2

אָלֹ֣ה וְכַחֵ֔שׁ וְרָצֹ֥חַ וְגָנֹ֖ב וְנָאֹ֑ף פָּרָ֕צוּ וְדָמִ֥ים בְּדָמִ֖ים נָגָֽעוּ׃ Contextual Introduction Hosea 4:2 forms part of YHWH’s indictment against Israel for covenantal infidelity. The prophet lists a litany of violations—oath-breaking, deceit, murder, theft, adultery—before declaring a breakdown of social and … Continue reading

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“If You Return, O Yisra’el”: Analyzing תָּשׁוּב in Jeremiah 4:1

Introduction to Jeremiah 4:1: The Call to Return and Its Conditional Framework Jeremiah 4:1 opens with a passionate invitation from YHWH to Yisra’el, framed by a double occurrence of the verb תָּשׁוּב—“you return.” This verse is structured around a conditional … Continue reading

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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Proverbs 30:3

וְלֹֽא־לָמַ֥דְתִּי חָכְמָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת קְדֹשִׁ֣ים אֵדָֽע׃ 1. Confessional Tone through Verb Forms: לָמַדְתִּי and אֵדָע The first clause begins with וְלֹֽא־לָמַ֥דְתִּי—“And I have not learned.” This is a Qal perfect 1st person singular verb from the root למד (“to learn”). The … Continue reading

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“Would He Return?”: Analyzing הֲיָשׁוּב in Jeremiah 3:1

Introduction to Jeremiah 3:1: Covenant, Divorce, and the Question of Return Jeremiah 3:1 opens with a rhetorical allusion to Deuteronomic law regarding divorce and remarriage (cf. Deut. 24:1–4). The core grammatical and theological tension is framed by the interrogative verb … Continue reading

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“And the Word of the LORD Came to Me”: Analyzing וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר in Jeremiah 2:1

Introduction to Jeremiah 2:1: The Prophetic Speech Formula Jeremiah 2:1 begins with a classic prophetic formula: וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר, “And the word of the LORD came to me, saying.” This formula recurs throughout the prophetic literature and functions not … Continue reading

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