Category Archives: Grammar

Lesson on Nouns and Their Inflection in Biblical Hebrew Nouns in Biblical Hebrew provide critical information about gender, number, and syntactic relationships. Mastering noun inflection helps readers grasp nuances in the Tanakh, as small changes can have significant interpretive implications. Overview of Biblical Hebrew Nouns Biblical Hebrew is part of the Northwest Semitic language family, closely related to ancient languages like Aramaic, Phoenician, and Ugaritic. As with many Semitic languages, Biblical Hebrew nouns inflect for gender (masculine or feminine), number (singular, plural, or dual), and state (absolute or construct).… Learn Hebrew

Course Title: Biblical Hebrew Course Overview This course offers a thorough exploration of Biblical Hebrew, focusing on foundational grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and textual analysis, while providing deeper engagement with the cultural, historical, and theological context of the Hebrew Bible. Emphasis will be on both the linguistic structure and the real-world application of Biblical Hebrew within Jewish and Christian traditions. The course will also incorporate advanced tools and methodologies, including digital resources and modern approaches to textual criticism.   Course Objectives Read and write Biblical Hebrew with understanding of Masoretic vowel points and diacritical signs.… Learn Hebrew

Biblical Hebrew conjunctions are essential for understanding the syntactic structure and literary flow of the Hebrew Bible. They do more than connect phrases; they shape narrative, emphasize ideas, and even alter verb tenses. This lesson will provide a detailed guide to conjunctions, including practical examples, poetic and emphatic usage, and additional exercises to reinforce learning. 1. Primary Conjunctions 1.1 The Conjunction וְ (Vav / Waw) The conjunction וְ (vav or waw) is highly versatile and can mean “and,” “but,” “then,” “so,” or even “or.”… Learn Hebrew

Wayyiqtol is a verb form in Biblical Hebrew that has intrigued scholars and students for centuries. Its structure and usage are unique to Biblical texts, especially in narrative contexts. In this article, we’ll break down what wayyiqtol is, why it’s significant, and how it functions, using clear examples from the Hebrew Bible. 1. What is Wayyiqtol? In Biblical Hebrew, verbs change form to convey tense (past, present, future), aspect (completed or ongoing action), and mood (imperative, indicative, etc.). Wayyiqtol, often referred to as the consecutive preterite, is a specific verb form used in narrative to indicate a sequence of actions, generally in the past tense.… Learn Hebrew

The vav disjunctive (וְ) operates as a syntactic boundary marker in Biblical Hebrew, connecting independent clauses not through temporal or sequential logic, but by introducing background, contrast, or parenthetical commentary. Unlike the vav consecutive, which advances narrative through wayyiqtol verb chains, the disjunctive typically fronts a noun or participle to signal thematic shifts, circumstantial contexts, or evaluative breaks. It plays vital roles across genres—from narrative pause (Genesis 37:3) to legal framing (Exodus 21:29) and poetic contrast (Psalm 1:2)—with formal distinctions in clause type, verb placement, and vowel marking.… Learn Hebrew