Category Archives: Grammar

וְעַתָּה֙ לְכ֣וּ עִבְד֔וּ וְתֶ֖בֶן לֹא־יִנָּתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם וְתֹ֥כֶן לְבֵנִ֖ים תִּתֵּֽנּוּ׃ So now, go, work! And straw shall not be given to you, but the quota of bricks you must give. Explanation of Feature This verse from Exodus 5:18 contains: 1. Imperative verbs: לְכוּ (“Go!”) and עִבְדוּ (“Work!”), direct commands in the second person plural form. 2. A passive verb in the imperfect: יִנָּתֵן (“shall be given”) using the Nifʿal binyan. 3. A concessive structure: although no straw is provided, the required production remains unchanged.… Learn Hebrew

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר נִרְפִּ֥ים אַתֶּ֖ם נִרְפִּ֑ים עַל־כֵּן֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹֽמְרִ֔ים נֵלְכָ֖ה נִזְבְּחָ֥ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃ And he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to YHWH.’” Explanation of Feature This verse from Exodus 5:17 demonstrates two key grammatical and rhetorical features: 1. Repetition for emphasis – the phrase נִרְפִּים אַתֶּם נִרְפִּים (“you are idle, idle!”) repeats the same verb to heighten accusation and intensity. 2. The use of עַל־כֵּן (“therefore”) as a causal connector, introducing the consequence or result of a perceived condition.… Learn Hebrew

וַיֻּכּ֗וּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣מוּ עֲלֵהֶ֔ם נֹגְשֵׂ֥י פַרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֡וּעַ לֹא֩ כִלִּיתֶ֨ם חָקְכֶ֤ם לִלְבֹּן֙ כִּתְמֹ֣ול שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם גַּם־תְּמֹ֖ול גַּם־הַיֹּֽום׃ The Blow That Speaks Exodus 5:14 plunges us into the machinery of oppression. Hebrew overseers are beaten by Egyptian taskmasters for failing to meet impossible brick quotas. Yet it is not merely the act of violence that conveys injustice — it is the syntax. This verse layers a passive causative verb, a relative clause, embedded speech, rhetorical interrogation, and temporal repetition. The result is a grammar of systemic cruelty: the very structure of the verse mimics the machinery of slavery — complex, faceless, recursive, and relentless.… Learn Hebrew