Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Proverbs 18:6 – Parallelism and Construct Chains with Abstract Nouns

שִׂפְתֵ֣י כְ֭סִיל יָבֹ֣אוּ בְרִ֑יב וּ֝פִ֗יו לְֽמַהֲלֻמֹ֥ות יִקְרָֽא׃ The lips of a fool come with strife, and his mouth calls for blows. Explanation of Feature This proverb from Proverbs 18:6 features: Construct chains such as שִׂפְתֵי כְסִיל (“the lips of a … Continue reading

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The Use of Existential יֵשׁ and the Construct Chain in Ecclesiastes 6:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 6:1 Ecclesiastes 6:1 introduces an observation about human suffering using the existential particle יֵשׁ (yesh), which signifies existence or presence. The verse also employs a construct chain (רָעָה אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי, “an evil which I have seen”) to … Continue reading

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Desolation Described: Prepositions, Relative Clauses, and Poetic Imagery in Lamentations 5:18

Lamentations 5:18 עַ֤ל הַר־צִיֹּון֙ שֶׁשָּׁמֵ֔ם שׁוּעָלִ֖ים הִלְּכוּ־בֹֽו׃ Desolation’s Location: עַל הַר־צִיּוֹן עַל (“upon”) is a preposition introducing the place affected. הַר־צִיּוֹן — “Mount Tsiyon (Zion),” a construct phrase with the article prefixed to הַר (“mountain”) and bound to צִיּוֹן (Zion) … Continue reading

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The Imperative and Infinitive Construct in Ecclesiastes 5:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 5:1 Ecclesiastes 5:1 presents a moral and spiritual exhortation regarding proper conduct when approaching the בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים (beit ha-Elohim, “house of God”). This verse features key grammatical structures such as the imperative form (שְׁמֹר, “guard”) and the … Continue reading

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Joshua 18:4 – Imperatives, Coordinated Wayyiqtol Verbs, and Infinitive Purpose

הָב֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה אֲנָשִׁ֖ים לַשָּׁ֑בֶט וְאֶשְׁלָחֵ֗ם וְיָקֻ֜מוּ וְיִֽתְהַלְּכ֥וּ בָאָ֛רֶץ וְיִכְתְּב֥וּ אֹותָ֛הּ לְפִ֥י נַֽחֲלָתָ֖ם וְיָבֹ֥אוּ אֵלָֽי׃ Provide for yourselves three men for each tribe, and I will send them, and they shall arise and walk through the land and write it … Continue reading

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Construct Chains and Administrative Roles in 1 Kings 4:3

Introduction: Historical and Literary Context of 1 Kings 4:3 1 Kings 4:3 occurs within the administrative list of officials under King Shelomoh’s reign, a passage that emphasizes the structure and stability of his kingdom. The verse reads: אֱלִיחֹ֧רֶף וַאֲחִיָּ֛ה בְּנֵ֥י … Continue reading

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The Use of Construct Chains and Measurement Syntax in 2 Chronicles 4:1

Introduction to 2 Chronicles 4:1 2 Chronicles 4:1 describes the construction of a מִזְבַּח נְחֹשֶׁת (mizbeaḥ neḥoshet, “bronze altar”) in Solomon’s Temple. This verse is notable for its use of construct chains (smikhut), which indicate possessive or descriptive relationships between … Continue reading

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Hebrew Grammar Lesson: Cohortative and Prepositions with Divine Names (Habakkuk 3:18)

Overview Hebrew Verse Literal Translation Morphological Analysis Syntax and Word Order Verb Forms: Imperfect & Cohortative Prepositions with Divine Names Lexical Study: גִּיל and עָלַז Theological and Literary Insight Exercises Summary Overview This Biblical Hebrew grammar lesson focuses exclusively on … Continue reading

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The Use of the Hifil Stem in Judges 3:1

Introduction to Judges 3:1 Judges 3:1 introduces a list of nations that YHWH left in the land to test Israel. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the Hifil (causative) verb הִנִּיחַ (hinni’aḥ), which comes from the root נוח … Continue reading

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The Cry of Endurance: Analyzing עַד־אָנָה in Job 19:2

Introduction to Job 19:2: The Rhetoric of Lament Job 19:2 is part of one of the most emotionally charged speeches in the Book of Job, where Job responds to his friends’ repeated accusations and moral judgments. His words are deeply … Continue reading

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