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Recent Articles
- “Even in Your Thoughts”: The Subtle Hebrew Wisdom of Ecclesiastes 10:20
- The Silence of Wisdom: Verbal Restraint and Hebrew Syntax in Proverbs 10:19
- Intercession in Action: The Hebrew Flow of Exodus 10:18
- Endless Trials: Exploring the Hebrew of Job 10:17
- “I Have Sinned”: The Grammar of Urgency and Confession in Exodus 10:16
- Order in Motion: Nethanʾel son of Tsuʿar and the March of Issachar
- The Grammar of Vision: Enumerative Syntax and Symbolic Order in Ezekiel 10:14
- The Grammar of Divine Meteorology: Syntax and Pragmatic Force in Jeremiah 10:13
- When the Sun Stood Still: Syntax and Command in Joshua 10:12
- Woven with Wonder: Syntax and Embodied Imagery in Job 10:11
- The Wink and the Wound: Syntax, Parallelism, and Irony in Proverbs 10:10
- The Grammar of Surprise: The Wayyiqtol Chain and Temporal Progression in Joshua 10:9
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Category Archives: Grammar
The Rhetorical Question and Parallelism in Job 11:2
Introduction to Job 11:2
Job 11:2 is part of Zophar’s first speech, in which he rebukes Job for his words and insists that Job’s suffering is the result of his sin. The verse employs a rhetorical question and parallel structure, both of which are common features in Hebrew poetry. The interrogative particle הֲ introduces a rhetorical question, while the parallelism between the two clauses reinforces Zophar’s argument that excessive speech does not justify innocence.
This study will analyze the syntax, grammatical features, and literary function of Job 11:2.… Learn Hebrew
Deceptive Weights and Divine Justice: Analyzing מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה in Proverbs 11:1
Introduction to Proverbs 11:1: The Scales of Righteousness
Proverbs 11:1 presents a powerful moral and theological declaration about honesty in commerce and divine justice. The phrase מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה (moznê mirmāh, “deceitful scales”) serves as a metaphor for fraudulent business practices, which are described as an abomination to YHWH. This verse contrasts dishonest dealings with righteous weights, demonstrating that economic ethics are fundamentally linked to divine favor or disapproval.
מֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭רְמָה תֹּועֲבַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וְאֶ֖בֶן שְׁלֵמָ֣ה רְצֹונֹֽו׃
The Weight of Words: Understanding מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה
מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה תֹּועֲבַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה
מֹאזְנֵי (moznê) – “Scales” (plural construct form of מֹאזְנַיִם, moznayim, “balances, scales”).… Learn Hebrew
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Infinitives, Verbal Parallelism, and Philosophical Irony in Ecclesiastes 10:19
לִשְׂחֹוק֙ עֹשִׂ֣ים לֶ֔חֶם וְיַ֖יִן יְשַׂמַּ֣ח חַיִּ֑ים וְהַכֶּ֖סֶף יַעֲנֶ֥ה אֶת־הַכֹּֽל׃
Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
Wisdom Discourse and Literary Ambiguity in Qohelet
Ecclesiastes 10:19 is a compact yet theologically and grammatically dense aphorism. As with much of Qohelet, its ambiguity is deliberate, and its grammar is tightly structured to allow multiple interpretive layers. The verse reads:
This verse concludes a section reflecting on folly and wisdom in political and social life. It is syntactically structured in a triadic form: each clause presents a subject, a verb, and an object or complement.… Learn Hebrew
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Iron, Effort, and Wisdom: Poetic Economy and Syntax in Ecclesiastes 10:10
אִם־קֵהָ֣ה הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהוּא֙ לֹא־פָנִ֣ים קִלְקַ֔ל וַחֲיָלִ֖ים יְגַבֵּ֑ר וְיִתְרֹ֥ון הַכְשֵׁ֖יר חָכְמָֽה׃
(Ecclesiastes 10:10)
If the iron is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must strengthen with force; but the advantage of success is wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 presents a metaphor of labor and effort: a dull iron blade, extra exertion, and the wisdom required to succeed. It fits within the broader themes of Qohelet, where wisdom is praised, yet human limitations and futility are acknowledged. This verse invites reflection on the balance between brute force and strategic thinking.… Learn Hebrew
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The Joy and Sorrow of a Son: Analyzing יְשַׂמַּח in Proverbs 10:1
Introduction to Proverbs 10:1: Wisdom and Folly in the Household
Proverbs 10:1 marks the beginning of a new literary section—the collected sayings of Solomon. This verse presents a stark contrast between wisdom and folly, framed within the parental relationship. The verb יְשַׂמַּח (yəsammaḥ), “he makes glad,” plays a central role, revealing the power of a child’s actions to shape the emotional world of the family.
מִשְׁלֵ֗י שְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה פ בֵּ֣ן חָ֭כָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָ֑ב וּבֵ֥ן כְּ֝סִ֗יל תּוּגַ֥ת אִמֹּֽו׃
Examining the Core Structure: The Parallelism of Joy and Sorrow
The two-part parallelism of this verse is clear:
בֵּ֣ן חָ֭כָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָ֑ב
בֵּן (bēn) – “A son” (subject).… Learn Hebrew
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“For I Have Known Him”: The Grammar of Covenantal Command in Genesis 18:19
כִּ֣י יְדַעְתִּ֗יו לְמַעַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצַוֶּ֜ה אֶת־בָּנָ֤יו וְאֶת־בֵּיתֹו֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות צְדָקָ֖ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט לְמַ֗עַן הָבִ֤יא יְהוָה֙ עַל־אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֖ר עָלָֽיו׃
In one of the most intimate moments of divine reflection, God speaks not only about Abraham but to Himself — or perhaps to the heavenly court. In Bereishit 18:19, He declares:
כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו
“For I have known him, because he will command his sons and his household after him.”
This verse does more than affirm Abraham’s righteousness — it defines the very purpose of divine election through a grammatical structure that is both precise and profound.… Learn Hebrew
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The House that Wisdom Built: Analyzing בָּנְתָה in Proverbs 9:1
Introduction to Proverbs 9:1: The Architecture of Wisdom
Proverbs 9:1 presents one of the most striking images in biblical poetry—Wisdom, personified as a master architect, building her house with seven pillars. The verb בָּנְתָה (bāntāh), “she has built,” is not merely a grammatical structure; it is a theological and poetic blueprint, revealing how divine wisdom constructs the very foundations of knowledge, righteousness, and creation itself.
חָ֭כְמֹות בָּנְתָ֣ה בֵיתָ֑הּ חָצְבָ֖ה עַמּוּדֶ֣יהָ שִׁבְעָֽה׃
The Foundation of the Text: What is Being Built?
At the heart of this verse is a grand metaphor: Wisdom builds her house—but what does this house symbolize?… Learn Hebrew
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Infinitive Purpose: The Hidden Aim of Wisdom in Proverbs 19:8
קֹֽנֶה־֭לֵּב אֹהֵ֣ב נַפְשֹׁ֑ו שֹׁמֵ֥ר תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה לִמְצֹא־טֹֽוב׃
Proverbs 19:8 offers more than a praise of self-care—it offers a tightly woven grammatical chain that climaxes in the infinitive phrase לִמְצֹא־טֹוב, “to find good.” The proverb joins two clauses, each with its own participle, and ends with an infinitive construct that expresses purpose or result. This structure showcases one of Biblical Hebrew’s elegant tools: the infinitive construct with a prefixed לְ to express intention or outcome.
Literal Meaning
“One who acquires heart loves his soul; one who keeps understanding [does so] to find good.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Poetic Call of Wisdom: Analyzing תִקְרָא in Proverbs 8:1
Introduction to Proverbs 8:1: When Wisdom Speaks
Proverbs 8:1 stands as a grand overture to one of the most elevated poetic personifications in biblical literature—Wisdom (חָכְמָה, ḥokhmāh). Unlike the enticing voice of folly in earlier chapters, here Wisdom herself takes center stage, raising her voice, summoning all who would heed her call. The verb תִקְרָא (tiqrāʾ)—”she calls”—is not merely a grammatical function but a powerful rhetorical device that invites the reader to step into an oratory where divine instruction resonates.
הֲלֹֽא־חָכְמָ֥ה תִקְרָ֑א וּ֝תְבוּנָ֗ה תִּתֵּ֥ן קֹולָֽהּ׃
Unraveling the Hebrew: The Cry of Wisdom
At first glance, the parallelism of this verse is unmistakable: Wisdom (חָכְמָה, ḥokhmāh) and Understanding (תְבוּנָה, təvūnāh) are active—they call, they give voice.… Learn Hebrew
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Mercy That Subdues: Verbal Repetition, Piel Imperatives, and Ocean Imagery in Micah 7:19
Micah 7:19
יָשׁ֣וּב יְרַֽחֲמֵ֔נוּ יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ עֲוֹֽנֹתֵ֑ינוּ וְתַשְׁלִ֛יךְ בִּמְצֻלֹ֥ות יָ֖ם כָּל־חַטֹּאותָֽם׃
Mercy Repeated: יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ
יָשׁוּב — Qal imperfect 3ms of שׁ־ו־ב, “he will return.”
This may refer either to God returning to His people or resuming His compassion. It echoes previous covenantal language where divine wrath is replaced by divine mercy.
יְרַחֲמֵנוּ — Piel imperfect 3ms + 1cp suffix of ר־ח־ם, “to show compassion.”
The Piel intensifies: “He will have compassion on us deeply.” The pronominal suffix makes the object explicit: “on us.”… Learn Hebrew
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