Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Joel 4:17 – Nominal Clauses and Future Negation

וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם שֹׁכֵ֖ן בְּצִיֹּ֣ון הַר־קָדְשִׁ֑י וְהָיְתָ֤ה יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ קֹ֔דֶשׁ וְזָרִ֥ים לֹא־יַֽעַבְרוּ־בָ֖הּ עֹֽוד׃ And you shall know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Tsiyyon, my holy mountain, and Yerushalayim shall be holiness, and strangers shall not … Continue reading

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The Poetic Use of Parallelism and the Syntax of Distress in Lamentations 4:4

Introduction to Lamentations 4:4 Lamentations 4:4 presents a vivid depiction of suffering during the siege of Jerusalem, emphasizing the plight of infants and children who lack food and water. The verse uses parallelism—a fundamental feature of Hebrew poetry—to contrast physical … Continue reading

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The Narrative Function and Theological Force of the Wayyiqtol in Genesis 4:3

Introduction: Context and Theological Prelude to Genesis 4:3 Genesis 4:3 initiates the Cain and Hevel narrative, one of the earliest and most theologically rich portrayals of human worship, sin, and divine response in the Hebrew Bible. The verse marks a … Continue reading

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Turning the Cheek: Volitional Imperfects and Theological Submission in Lamentations 3:30

יִתֵּ֧ן לְמַכֵּ֛הוּ לֶ֖חִי יִשְׂבַּ֥ע בְּחֶרְפָּֽה׃ Contextual Introduction Lamentations 3:30 stands amid a poetic and theological meditation on suffering, justice, and divine discipline. The speaker, often identified with the suffering servant or representative of Israel, moves from complaint to hope, and … Continue reading

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The Definite Construct Chain and Appositional Precision in Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to 2 Kings 4:1 This verse opens with the heartfelt cry of a widow, introducing a remarkable construction: אִשָּׁ֣ה אַחַ֣ת מִנְּשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־הַנְּבִיאִים. The phrase is a finely layered construct chain embedded with specificity and grammatical hierarchy. This lesson focuses … Continue reading

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Distributive Parallelism and Instrumentality in Proverbs 26:3

Introduction to Proverbs 26:3: Wisdom in the Whip and the Word Proverbs 26:3 is a striking example of proverbial instruction employing both poetic symmetry and metaphorical economy. The verse connects three subjects (horse, donkey, fool) with three corresponding tools (whip, … Continue reading

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Imperative and Cohortative Forms in Ruth 4:4

Introduction to Ruth 4:4 Ruth 4:4 records Boaz’s formal negotiation regarding the redemption of Naomi’s land and the levirate marriage to Ruth. The passage features legal terminology and speech formulas used in contracts and public declarations. A key grammatical aspect … Continue reading

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The Symbolism of Garment Removal and the Grammatical Function of Imperative and Perfect Verbs in Divine Purification in Zechariah 3:4

Introduction to Zechariah 3:4 Zechariah 3:4 presents a vision of divine purification, where the High Priest Yehoshua stands before the angel of YHWH and has his filthy garments removed as a sign of divine atonement. The verse consists of a … Continue reading

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Wayyiqtol Chains and Subordination in 2 Samuel 15:2: The Politics of Grammar in Absalom’s Strategy

Introduction: Narrative Strategy and Court Intrigue in 2 Samuel 15:2 2 Samuel 15:2 opens the account of Absalom’s calculated attempt to usurp David’s throne. The verse is syntactically rich, reflecting the subtlety of Absalom’s deception through a complex chain of … Continue reading

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Verb Repetition, Intensification, and Poetic Personification in Lamentations 2:5

Introduction to Lamentations 2:5: Syntax of Divine Wrath in Poetic Personification Lamentations 2:5 uses powerful Hebrew poetic techniques—especially repetition of verbs, intensification through paronomasia, and personification of YHWH—to depict the catastrophic judgment upon the kingdom of Judah. The grammar conveys … Continue reading

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