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Recent Articles
- The Hebrew Verb בָּקַר: To Seek, Inquire, or Inspect
- The Mark of Mercy: Legal Syntax and Divine Protection in Genesis 4:15
- The Hebrew Verb בָּצַע: To Cut Off, Break Open, or Gain Unjustly
- Teaching the Law: Syntax of Instruction and Inheritance in Deuteronomy 4:14
- The Hebrew Verb בָּנָה: To Build, Construct, or Establish
- Dream Syntax and Divine Communication: Structural Layers in Job 4:13
- The Hebrew Verb בָּלַע: To Swallow, Devour, or Destroy
- Concealing the Sacred: Sequential Syntax and Ritual Handling in Numbers 4:12
- The Hebrew Verb בָּלַט: To Slip Away, Be Secret, or Move Stealthily
- Appositional Syntax and Dynastic Integration in 1 Kings 4:11
- Conditional Syntax and Communal Anthropology in Ecclesiastes 4:11
- The Hebrew Verb בָּכָה: To Weep or Cry
Categories
Category Archives: Grammar
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Phonology
Biblical Hebrew, the language of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), presents a rich and complex phonological system that evolved significantly over time. Its phonology—concerned with the sound system of the language—offers essential insights into historical linguistics, comparative Semitics, and the reconstruction … Continue reading
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“Forty Stripes He May Give Him, He Shall Not Add”: Legal Limits and Syntactic Boundaries in Deuteronomy 25:3
Introduction to Deuteronomy 25:3: Justice, Mercy, and the Limits of Punishment Deuteronomy 25:3 addresses the punishment of a guilty person by flogging, setting a maximum number of lashes to prevent public degradation. This law encapsulates the Torah’s unique combination of … Continue reading
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“Rising Early to Speak”: Temporal Expressions and Iterative Syntax in Jeremiah 25:3
Introduction to Jeremiah 25:3: Temporal Markers and the Pattern of Prophetic Persistence Jeremiah 25:3 marks a turning point in the prophet’s retrospective lament. It serves as both historical timestamp and theological accusation. The verse spans a 23-year period in which … Continue reading
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“Good of Understanding and Beautiful in Appearance”: Construct Chains and Characterization in 1 Samuel 25:3
Introduction to 1 Samuel 25:3: Grammar as Narrative Theology 1 Samuel 25:3 introduces two central characters in vivid poetic prose: נָבָל and אֲבִיגָיִל. While this verse appears to simply give names and qualities, it uses construct chains, adjective-noun alignment, and … Continue reading
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“He May Not Take Her Again”: Modal Syntax and Moral Defilement in Deuteronomy 24:4
Introduction to Deuteronomy 24:4: Legal Ethics and the Sanctity of the Land Deuteronomy 24:4 presents one of the Torah’s more intricate marital laws, prohibiting a man from remarrying his former wife after she has married another man and become defiled. … Continue reading
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“Sweeping Away All Things”: The Use of Infinitive Absolute for Emphasis in Zephaniah 1:3
Introduction to Zephaniah 1:3: Cosmic Judgment through Grammatical Emphasis Zephaniah 1:3 belongs to the opening judgment oracle of the book, where YHWH declares a sweeping destruction across all creation—humans, beasts, birds, and fish. The verse uses a striking grammatical structure: … Continue reading
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“He Makes My Feet Like the Deer’s”: Simile and Ascent in Habakkuk 3:19
Introduction to Habakkuk 3:19: Divine Enablement in Poetic Triumph Habakkuk 3:19 concludes the prophet’s prayer with an expression of exaltation and movement. The imagery of sure-footedness and elevation captures the essence of divine empowerment amid suffering. This article explores the … Continue reading
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“Do Not Arouse Love Until It Desires”: Volition, Oath, and the Conditional אִם in Song of Songs 2:7
Introduction to Song of Songs 2:7: A Poetic Oath of Restraint This iconic verse from the Song of Songs is the first of three poetic refrains that appear throughout the book (cf. 3:5, 8:4). Here, the female speaker addresses the … Continue reading
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“I Will Not Withhold a Word”: The Cohortative and Prophetic Intention in Jeremiah 42:4
Introduction to Jeremiah 42:4: The Prophet’s Assurance In Jeremiah 42:4, the prophet responds to a plea for divine counsel. His statement is notable for its solemn tone and its careful use of Hebrew verbal forms to express commitment, intention, and … Continue reading
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“But Only Cities to Live In”: The Restrictive Construction כִּי אִם in Joshua 14:4
Introduction to Joshua 14:4: Tribal Allocation and Levitical Exception Joshua 14:4 outlines the distribution of the land among the tribes of Yisra’el, highlighting the unique position of the descendants of Yosef and the tribe of Levi. Most tribes received a … Continue reading
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