Category Archives: Grammar

Biblical Hebrew Grammar

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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Joel 4:17 – Nominal Clauses and Future Negation

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

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 pass through her again. Explanation of Feature This verse from Joel 4:17 (Hebrew numbering; English Joel 3:17) illustrates two core grammatical features: 1. The nominal clause without a verb, used in the phrase אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, and 2. The future negation using לֹא + yiqtol in לֹא־יַעַבְרוּ (“they shall not pass”).… Learn Hebrew

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

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

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 thirst and hunger, intensifying the emotional impact. This passage consists of two parallel clauses: The first clause describes a thirsty infant, whose tongue clings to the roof of its mouth. The second clause portrays hungry children asking for bread, but no one gives it to them.… Learn Hebrew

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

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

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 transition from genealogical narration to a dramatic theological episode. It reads: וַֽיְהִ֖י מִקֵּ֣ץ יָמִ֑ים וַיָּבֵ֨א קַ֜יִן מִפְּרִ֧י הָֽאֲדָמָ֛ה מִנְחָ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃ And it came to pass at the end of days that Qayin brought from the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD.… Learn Hebrew

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

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew

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 here advocates a radical ethic of humility and submission. This verse calls for yielding to physical and social humiliation—”let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him; let him be filled with reproach.” It is echoed famously in later Jewish and Christian texts, including the words of Yeshuʿ in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:39).… Learn Hebrew

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The Definite Construct Chain and Appositional Precision in Biblical Hebrew

Posted on March 28, 2015 by 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 on how definiteness in construct chains, especially those involving multiple levels (e.g., “one woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets”), operates in Biblical Hebrew and contributes to both syntactic accuracy and rhetorical impact. וְאִשָּׁ֣ה אַחַ֣ת מִנְּשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־֠הַנְּבִיאִים צָעֲקָ֨ה אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֜ע לֵאמֹ֗ר עַבְדְּךָ֤ אִישִׁי֙ מֵ֔ת וְאַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתָּ כִּ֣י עַבְדְּךָ֔ הָיָ֥ה יָרֵ֖א אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְהַ֨נֹּשֶׁ֔ה בָּ֗א לָקַ֜חַת אֶת־שְׁנֵ֧י יְלָדַ֛י לֹ֖ו לַעֲבָדִֽים׃ Analysis of Key Words and Structures אִשָּׁ֣ה אַחַ֣ת (ishah aḥat) – “One woman.”… Learn Hebrew

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