Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Mouth and Hand: Divine Fulfillment and Liturgical Syntax in 1 Kings 8:15

Posted on August 15, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction: From Promise to Fulfillment in Solomon’s Temple Dedication 1 Kings 8:15 is part of King Shelomoh’s (Solomon’s) public blessing during the dedication of the First Temple. This verse initiates a rich theological reflection on the reliability of YHWH’s promises. It focuses on the fulfillment of a word spoken to David and completed through Shelomoh. The verse reads: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּר֤וּךְ יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר בְּפִ֔יו אֵ֖ת דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י וּבְיָדֹ֥ו מִלֵּ֖א לֵאמֹֽר׃ And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to David my father, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying…” This verse introduces a pivotal moment of covenantal celebration and theological affirmation.… Learn Hebrew

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Divine Anger and Salvation: Rhetorical Questions and Poetic Syntax in Habakkuk 3:8

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

Habakkuk 3:8 הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י תִרְכַּב֙ עַל־סוּסֶ֔יךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃ Opening Rhetorical Question: הֲבִנְהָרִים חָרָה יְהוָה הֲבִנְהָרִים (“was it against the rivers?”) uses the interrogative particle הֲ attached to the noun נְהָרִים (“rivers”). חָרָה is a Qal perfect 3ms of ח־ר־ה (“to burn, be angry”), with יְהוָה (“YHWH”) as subject. The question implies: Was YHWH’s anger directed at inanimate creation (the rivers)? The structure initiates a poetic and theological reflection on divine action. Parallel Question: אִם בַּנְּהָרִים אַפֶּךָ אִם (“or”) introduces an alternative.… Learn Hebrew

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The Syntax of Confrontation and Rhetorical Questioning in Judges 8:1

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Judges 8:1 Judges 8:1 presents a confrontation between Gideon and the men of Ephraim following his victory over Midian. The Ephraimites express anger that they were not called to battle earlier, employing a rhetorical question to challenge Gideon’s actions. This passage contains three distinct syntactic elements: A direct confrontation introduced by speech (וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו, “And they said to him”). A rhetorical question implying grievance (מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔נוּ, “What is this thing you have done to us?”). An expression of hostility (וַיְרִיב֥וּן אִתֹּ֖ו בְּחָזְקָֽה, “And they contended with him strongly”).… Learn Hebrew

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The Syntax of Divine Action and the Structure of Conquest in Deuteronomy 7:1

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Deuteronomy 7:1 Deuteronomy 7:1 is part of Moses’ address to Israel, outlining YHWH’s role in their conquest of the Promised Land. This verse introduces a covenantal promise, stating that God will bring Israel into the land and drive out seven nations greater and mightier than them. This passage consists of two primary clauses: Divine agency in bringing Israel into the land (כִּ֤י יְבִֽיאֲךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ, “When YHWH your God brings you into the land”). Divine action in dispossessing the nations (וְנָשַׁ֣ל גֹּֽויִם־רַבִּ֣ים מִפָּנֶ֡יךָ, “and He will drive out many nations before you”).… Learn Hebrew

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Fire and Fury: Future Movement and Divine Judgment in Isaiah 66:15

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

Isaiah 66:15 כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בָּאֵ֣שׁ יָבֹ֔וא וְכַסּוּפָ֖ה מַרְכְּבֹתָ֑יו לְהָשִׁ֤יב בְּחֵמָה֙ אַפֹּ֔ו וְגַעֲרָתֹ֖ו בְּלַהֲבֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃ Announcement Formula: כִּֽי־הִנֵּה יְהוָה כִּֽי־הִנֵּה (“For behold”) introduces a prophetic announcement with emphasis and urgency. יְהוָה is the divine subject, immediately linked to the coming action. The formula alerts the audience to a decisive intervention by God. Descent in Fire: בָּאֵשׁ יָבֹוא בָּאֵשׁ (“in fire”) uses the preposition בְּ (“in, with”) emphasizing the medium of divine appearance. יָבֹוא is a Qal imperfect 3ms of ב־ו־א (“to come”), describing imminent future action: “He will come.”… Learn Hebrew

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Jeremiah 46:5 – Interrogative, Participles, and Word Order in Dramatic Description

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

מַדּ֣וּעַ רָאִ֗יתִי הֵ֣מָּה חַתִּים֮ נְסֹגִ֣ים אָחֹור֒ וְגִבֹּורֵיהֶ֣ם יֻכַּ֔תּוּ וּמָנֹ֥וס נָ֖סוּ וְלֹ֣א הִפְנ֑וּ מָגֹ֥ור מִסָּבִ֖יב נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ Why have I seen them dismayed and turning back? And their mighty ones are crushed, and they flee in flight and do not turn back—terror on every side, declares YHWH. Explanation of Feature This verse from Jeremiah 46:5 is rich in poetic and rhetorical structures, particularly: 1. The use of the interrogative particle מַדּוּעַ (“Why?”), which introduces a rhetorical question expressing astonishment or lament. 2. Multiple participles and perfect verbs in sequential word order that paint a vivid picture of military collapse.… Learn Hebrew

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The Use of Rhetorical Questions and the Syntax of Seeking in Song of Songs 6:1

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Song of Songs 6:1 Song of Songs 6:1 presents a dialogue of inquiry, where the “daughters of Jerusalem” address the Shulamite, asking where her beloved has gone so they may help her seek him. The verse employs rhetorical questions as a poetic device to express concern, admiration, and solidarity. This passage consists of two parallel questions, each introduced by אָ֚נָה (“where?”), emphasizing: The physical departure of the beloved (אָ֚נָה הָלַ֣ךְ דֹּודֵ֔ךְ, “Where has your beloved gone?”). The direction in which he turned (אָ֚נָה פָּנָ֣ה דֹודֵ֔ךְ, “Where has your beloved turned?”).… Learn Hebrew

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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Psalm 15:5

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

כַּסְפֹּ֤ו לֹא־נָתַ֣ן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ֮ וְשֹׁ֥חַד עַל־נָקִ֗י לֹ֥א לָ֫קָ֥ח עֹֽשֵׂה־אֵ֑לֶּה לֹ֖א יִמֹּ֣וט לְעֹולָֽם׃ 1. Legal and Economic Ethics in Grammar: כַּסְפּוֹ לֹא־נָתַן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ כַּסְפּוֹ (“his silver”) is a masculine singular noun in construct with the pronominal suffix -וֹ (“his”), drawing attention to personal property. The phrase לֹא־נָתַן (“he did not give”) uses the Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular of נָתַן, denoting a completed action—he has not given, and by implication does not give, his money בְּנֶשֶׁךְ (“with interest”). The preposition בְּ introduces the manner or condition: “in interest,” referring to usury, prohibited by the Torah when lending to fellow Israelites (Exodus 22:24; Leviticus 25:36).… Learn Hebrew

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Causal כְּ־ with Comparative Structure and Divine Retribution Syntax

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Ezekiel 35:15 This verse concludes a prophecy of judgment against Mount Seʿir and the nation of Edom. It contrasts Edom’s joy at Israel’s devastation with the devastation that will now come upon Edom. Grammatically, it showcases the use of comparative כְּ־ clauses, divine speech verbs, and word order emphasizing retribution. This lesson will examine the use of causal-comparative כְּ־ constructions and the syntax of judgment declarations in prophetic Hebrew. כְּשִׂמְחָ֨תְךָ֜ לְנַחְלַ֧ת בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמֵ֖מָה כֵּ֣ן אֶעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ שְׁמָמָ֨ה תִֽהְיֶ֤ה הַר־שֵׂעִיר֙ וְכָל־אֱדֹ֣ום כֻּלָּ֔הּ וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ Analysis of Key Words and Structures כְּשִׂמְחָ֨תְךָ֜ (kesimḥatkha) – “As you rejoiced.”… Learn Hebrew

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The Legal Structure of Obligation and the Function of Conditional Clauses in Leviticus 5:1

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

This study will analyze the grammatical structure of conditional clauses, the function of legal obligations in biblical law, and the theological significance of personal responsibility in maintaining justice. וְנֶ֣פֶשׁ כִּֽי־תֶחֱטָ֗א וְשָֽׁמְעָה֙ קֹ֣ול אָלָ֔ה וְה֣וּא עֵ֔ד אֹ֥ו רָאָ֖ה אֹ֣ו יָדָ֑ע אִם־לֹ֥וא יַגִּ֖יד וְנָשָׂ֥א עֲוֹנֹֽו׃ (Leviticus 5:1) When a soul sins and hears a voice of adjuration, and he is a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he does not report it, he shall bear his iniquity. Introduction to Leviticus 5:1 Leviticus 5:1 is part of the Torah’s legal instructions concerning guilt offerings (אָשָׁם) and the responsibility of bearing witness in legal cases.… Learn Hebrew

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