Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Definiteness and Participial Titles in Cultic Legal Hebrew

Introduction to Leviticus 4:5 This verse describes part of the sin offering ritual: the anointed priest takes the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting. What stands out grammatically is the noun phrase הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ (“the anointed priest”), which combines … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Definiteness and Participial Titles in Cultic Legal Hebrew

Stative Verbs and Royal Proclamation Syntax in Daniel 4:1 (Aramaic)

Introduction: Royal First-Person Framing in the Aramaic Court Tale Daniel 4:1 (English: 4:4) marks a shift in the narrative structure of the book: Nebuchadnezzar speaks in the first person, delivering a royal proclamation concerning his humiliation and restoration by the … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Stative Verbs and Royal Proclamation Syntax in Daniel 4:1 (Aramaic)

Jussive Negation with אַל and the Function of Double Prohibition

Introduction to Hosea 4:4 Hosea 4:4 stands at the beginning of a prophetic indictment. It opens with a forceful double prohibition, warning against judgmental contention, followed by a striking comparison between the people and the priest. The grammatical structure uses … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Jussive Negation with אַל and the Function of Double Prohibition

Volitive Forms and Rhetorical Irony in Zephaniah 3:7: A Grammatical Theology of Rejected Correction

Introduction: Divine Expectation and Human Defiance in Prophetic Discourse Zephaniah 3:7 is a striking verse in the prophet’s closing oracle of judgment, where YHWH reflects on His prior disciplinary intent and Israel’s refusal to respond. It expresses divine lament and … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Volitive Forms and Rhetorical Irony in Zephaniah 3:7: A Grammatical Theology of Rejected Correction

The Syntax of Legal Hypotheticals and Priestly Responsibility in Leviticus 4:3

Introduction: Legal Instruction and Theological Stakes in Leviticus 4:3 Leviticus 4:3 introduces the procedures for sin offerings (חַטָּאת) in the case of unintentional sin by the anointed priest. This passage inaugurates one of the most structurally detailed sacrificial regulations in … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Comments Off on The Syntax of Legal Hypotheticals and Priestly Responsibility in Leviticus 4:3

The Semantics and Theology of the Nifʿal Imperfect in Isaiah 4:3

Introduction: Contextual and Theological Framing of Isaiah 4:3 Isaiah 4:3 appears at a pivotal juncture in the prophetic literature of Isaiah, marking a thematic shift from divine judgment to purification and restoration. The verse reads: וְהָיָ֣ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּצִיֹּ֗ון וְהַנֹּותָר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on The Semantics and Theology of the Nifʿal Imperfect in Isaiah 4:3

Comparative Particles and Temporal Subordination in Qohelet’s Reasoning

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:2 Ecclesiastes 4:2 presents a comparison between the dead and the living, asserting that the dead are better off. The verse is marked by layered comparative and temporal clauses, joined by particles such as מִן (“than”) and … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Comparative Particles and Temporal Subordination in Qohelet’s Reasoning

Exodus 4:2 – Interrogative Pronoun and Demonstrative Use of מַה־זֶּה

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהוָ֖ה מַה־זֶּה בְיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מַטֶּֽה׃ And YHWH said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” Explanation of Feature This verse from Exodus 4:2 presents a clear example of a Hebrew interrogative clause … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Exodus 4:2 – Interrogative Pronoun and Demonstrative Use of מַה־זֶּה

Deuteronomy 4:1 – Imperative, Infinitive Purpose, and Participial Construction

וְעַתָּ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שְׁמַ֤ע אֶל־הַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְאֶל־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְלַמֵּ֥ד אֶתְכֶ֖ם לַעֲשֹׂ֑ות לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֗וּ וּבָאתֶם֙ וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם׃ And now, Yisra’el, listen to the statutes and to the judgments that Read more […]

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Deuteronomy 4:1 – Imperative, Infinitive Purpose, and Participial Construction

Double Wayyiqtol Narrative Framing in Dialogic Introductions

Introduction to Job 4:1 Job 4:1 marks the beginning of the first response to Job’s lament. The verse introduces the speech of Elifaz the Temani using a formula common in biblical narrative and dialogue: two sequential wayyiqtol verbs, וַיַּעַן (“and … Continue reading

Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Comments Off on Double Wayyiqtol Narrative Framing in Dialogic Introductions