Category Archives: Vocabulary

The Hebrew verb בָּטֵל (root: ב-ט-ל) means “to cease,” “to be idle,” “to become null,” or “to be ineffective.” It conveys the idea of stopping an action or rendering something void or powerless. In biblical Hebrew, this verb appears both in literal contexts—such as cessation of labor or activities—and in legal or theological contexts—such as nullifying covenants or abolishing ordinances. בָּטֵל is primarily found in the Niphal (passive/reflexive: “to be nullified”) and Hiphil (causative: “to make void” or “to abolish”) stems, but its Qal form also carries the meaning of “to be idle” or “to cease.”… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בָּטַח (root: ב-ט-ח) means “to trust,” “to be confident,” or “to rely upon.” It is one of the most important and frequently used words in biblical Hebrew for expressing faith, security, and dependence—especially on YHWH. The verb implies a deep sense of assurance or placing one’s confidence in something or someone. בָּטַח appears predominantly in the Qal stem, often followed by the prepositions בְּ (in) or עַל (upon), and is richly used in Psalms, Proverbs, and prophetic literature.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בָּחַר (root: ב-ח-ר) means “to choose,” “to select,” or “to prefer.” It plays a crucial theological role in the Hebrew Bible, often used in relation to divine election—God choosing individuals (like Avraham or David), tribes (like Levi), or the nation of Yisra’el. בָּחַר appears primarily in the Qal binyan, where it describes the simple action of choosing. It is frequently followed by the preposition בְּ (indicating the one who is chosen).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּחַר Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּחַרְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּחַרְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּחַרְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּחַר 3rd person feminine singular בָּחֲרָה 1st person plural בָּחַרְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּחַרְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַרְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּחֲרוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּחֵר Feminine singular בֹּחֶרֶת Masculine plural בּוֹחֲרִים Feminine plural בּוֹחֲרוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְחַר 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְחַר 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְחֲרִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְחַר 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְחַר 1st person plural נִבְחַר 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְחֲרוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְחַרְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְחֲרוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּחַר 2nd person feminine singular בַּחֲרִי 2nd person masculine plural בַּחֲרוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַרְנָה   Usage in Scripture Deuteronomy 7:6 – בְּךָ בָּחַר יְהוָה “The LORD has chosen you…” — referring to the election of Yisra’el.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בּוֹשׁ (root: ב-ו-ש) means “to be ashamed,” “to be confounded,” or “to be disappointed.” It is most commonly used in poetic and prophetic contexts to express emotional distress, embarrassment, or failure. The shame described may be social, moral, or the result of unmet expectations. This verb is primarily used in the Qal binyan, where it expresses a passive state of shame or confusion. It often appears with prepositions like מִן (because of) or עַל (on account of).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בּוֹשׁ Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בּוֹשְׁתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בּוֹשְׁתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בּוֹשְׁתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בּוֹשׁ 3rd person feminine singular בּוֹשָׁה 1st person plural בּוֹשְׁנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בּוֹשְׁתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בּוֹשְׁתֶּן 3rd person plural בּוֹשׁוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בוֹשׁ Feminine singular בוֹשָׁה Masculine plural בוֹשִׁים Feminine plural בוֹשׁוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֵבוֹשׁ 2nd person masculine singular תֵּבוֹשׁ 2nd person feminine singular תֵּבוֹשִׁי 3rd person masculine singular יֵבוֹשׁ 3rd person feminine singular תֵּבוֹשׁ 1st person plural נֵבוֹשׁ 2nd person masculine plural תֵּבוֹשׁוּ 2nd person feminine plural תֵּבֹשֶׁנָה 3rd person plural יֵבֹשׁוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בּוֹשׁ 2nd person feminine singular בּוֹשִׁי 2nd person masculine plural בּוֹשׁוּ 2nd person feminine plural בּוֹשֶׁנָה   Usage in Scripture Psalm 25:3 – גַּם כָּל־קוֶיךָ לֹא יֵבוֹשׁוּ “Indeed, none who wait for You shall be ashamed.”… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בּוֹא (root: ב-ו-א) is a high-frequency irregular verb that means “to come,” “to go in,” “to enter,” or “to arrive.” It occurs in narrative, legal, and poetic contexts and is essential for expressing movement toward a place or event. It frequently appears with prepositions like אֶל (“to”) or בְּ (“in”). Because it is a hollow verb (middle root is ו), its forms are highly irregular in some tenses and must be memorized. It appears most frequently in the Qal binyan, with some occurrences in Hiphil (causative: “to bring in”).… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בָּהַל (root: ב-ה-ל) means “to terrify,” “to alarm,” “to hasten in fear,” or “to panic.” It typically describes sudden emotional or mental disturbance—such as fear, confusion, or urgency—often in response to shocking or overwhelming circumstances. This verb is used in poetic, prophetic, and narrative contexts in the Hebrew Bible. It is most commonly found in the Qal binyan and sometimes in the Niphal (passive or reflexive, “to be terrified”) or Piel (intensive causative, “to cause terror”).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּהַל Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּהַלְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּהַלְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּהַלְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּהַל 3rd person feminine singular בָּהֲלָה 1st person plural בָּהַלְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּהַלְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּהַלְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּהֲלוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּהֵל Feminine singular בֹּהֶלֶת Masculine plural בֹּהֲלִים Feminine plural בֹּהֲלוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְהַל 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְהַל 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְהֲלִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְהַל 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְהַל 1st person plural נִבְהַל 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְהֲלוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְהַלְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְהֲלוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּהַל 2nd person feminine singular בַּהֲלִי 2nd person masculine plural בַּהֲלוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּהַלְנָה   Usage in Scripture Daniel 5:6 – וְהִתְבַּהֲלוּ מְתַנֵּה “His limbs were terrified…” — describing the sudden fear of King Belshazzar when he saw the handwriting on the wall.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בָּדַק (root: ב-ד-ק) means “to examine,” “to inspect,” “to test,” or “to investigate.” It appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, especially in contexts involving the inspection of persons (e.g., for disease), objects, and buildings, particularly within priestly or ritual contexts. Most often it occurs in the Qal binyan, where it denotes the simple action of examining or checking. Occasionally, it appears in the Pual or Hophal stems in passive constructions.   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּדַק Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּדַקְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּדַקְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּדַקְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּדַק 3rd person feminine singular בָּדְקָה 1st person plural בָּדַקְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּדַקְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּדַקְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּדְקוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּדֵק Feminine singular בֹּדֶקֶת Masculine plural בּוֹדְקִים Feminine plural בּוֹדְקוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְדֹּק 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְדֹּק 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְדְּקִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְדֹּק 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְדֹּק 1st person plural נִבְדֹּק 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְדְּקוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְדֹּקְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְדְּקוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּדֹק 2nd person feminine singular בִּדְקִי 2nd person masculine plural בִּדְקוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּדֹקְנָה   Usage in Scripture Leviticus 13:3 – וְרָאָה אֹתוֹ הַכֹּהֵן וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּגַע בְּעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר “The priest shall examine the sore…” – describing a ritual inspection for skin disease.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb אָשַׁר (root: א-ש-ר) has several shades of meaning depending on context and binyan (verbal stem). In its core sense, it can mean “to go straight,” “to walk uprightly,” “to approve,” or “to confirm.” It appears in both literal and figurative contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible. In the Qal form, it can mean “to go straight” or “to be blessed/upright” (though this is rare), and in the Piel form, it commonly means “to approve,” “to confirm,” or “to pronounce blessed.”… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb אָשַׁם (root: א-ש-ם) carries the core meaning of “to be guilty,” “to offend,” or “to bear guilt.” It is used frequently in the Hebrew Bible in both legal and cultic contexts. This verb is particularly important in discussions of sin, responsibility, atonement, and offerings, such as the אָשָׁם (guilt offering) described in Leviticus. In the Qal binyan, it typically denotes the state of being guilty or having incurred guilt. In some forms, it may also express passive nuance—“to become guilty.”… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb אָסַר (root: א-ס-ר) means “to bind,” “to tie,” or “to imprison.” It is found frequently in both narrative and legal sections of the Hebrew Bible. In literal contexts, it refers to physical binding with cords or imprisonment. In figurative contexts, it can refer to restrictions or prohibitions, including vows and obligations. This verb is primarily used in the Qal binyan for active voice and in the Niphal for passive or reflexive meanings (“to be bound”).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of אָסַר Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אָסַרְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular אָסַרְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular אָסַרְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular אָסַר 3rd person feminine singular אָסְרָה 1st person plural אָסַרְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural אֲסַרְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural אֲסַרְתֶּן 3rd person plural אָסְרוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular אוֹסֵר Feminine singular אוֹסֶרֶת Masculine plural אוֹסְרִים Feminine plural אוֹסְרוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶאֱסֹר 2nd person masculine singular תֶּאֱסֹר 2nd person feminine singular תֶּאֱסְרִי 3rd person masculine singular יֶאֱסֹר 3rd person feminine singular תֶּאֱסֹר 1st person plural נֶאֱסֹר 2nd person masculine plural תֶּאֱסְרוּ 2nd person feminine plural תֶּאֱסֹרְנָה 3rd person plural יֶאֱסְרוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular אֱסֹר 2nd person feminine singular אִסְרִי 2nd person masculine plural אִסְרוּ 2nd person feminine plural אֱסֹרְנָה   Usage in Scripture The verb אָסַר appears in numerous legal, narrative, and poetic contexts: Genesis 39:20 – וַיִּקַּח אֲדֹנֵי יוֹסֵף אֹתוֹ וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ אֶל־בֵּית הַסֹּהַר מְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אֲסוּרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲסוּרִים “So Yosep’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound.”… Learn Hebrew