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Recent Articles
- 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
- The Birth of Power: The Grammar of Beginning and Becoming in Genesis 10:8
- Genealogical Syntax and the Grammar of Nations in Genesis 10:7
- Do Not Mourn as Others Do: Restraint and Reverence in the Aftermath of Fire
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Category Archives: Vocabulary
The Hebrew Verb אָחַז – “To Seize” or “To Grasp”
The Hebrew verb אָחַז (ʾāḥaz) is a common and important root in Biblical Hebrew. It means “to seize,” “to grasp,” or “to take hold of,” and is used in various contexts throughout the Tanakh—from grasping physical objects like weapons and hands to metaphorical uses such as being seized by fear or emotions. It follows standard Qal verb patterns and appears in a wide range of forms. Below is a comprehensive table of its conjugation in past, present, future, imperative, and infinitive forms.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb אָחַד – “To Unite”
The Hebrew root א־ח־ד gives rise to the familiar adjective אֶחָד meaning “one.” However, in rare cases, this root also functions as a verb in the Qal stem: אָחַד – “to unite.” While it appears very infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, some forms are attested or can be reconstructed using standard Qal paradigms. Below is a comprehensive overview of the conjugation and forms of this rare but meaningful verb.
Past Tense (Perfect) – Qal
Person
Singular
Plural
1st
אָחַדְתִּי (aḥadti) – I united
אָחַדְנוּ (aḥadnu) – we united
2nd m
אָחַדְתָּ (aḥadta) – you (m) united
אָחַדְתֶּם (aḥadtem) – you (m.… Learn Hebrew
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The Qal Imperfect Verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ in Jeremiah 1:7
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אַל־תֹּאמַ֖ר נַ֣עַר אָנֹ֑כִי כִּ֠י עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוְּךָ֖ תְּדַבֵּֽר׃
(Jeremiah 1:7)
And YHWH said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak.”
Jeremiah 1:7 records YHWH’s response to the prophet’s hesitation, reassuring him that his youth does not disqualify him from divine commission. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the verb אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ (ʾeshlaḥăkha), which appears in the Qal imperfect form.… Learn Hebrew
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The Verb יֶהְגֶּה in Psalm 1:2
כִּ֤י אִ֥ם בְּתֹורַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה חֶ֫פְצֹ֥ו וּֽבְתֹורָתֹ֥ו יֶהְגֶּ֗ה יֹומָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃
(Psalm 1:2)
But his delight is in the Torah of YHWH, and in His Torah he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2 describes the delight of the righteous in the Torah of YHWH, emphasizing continuous meditation on divine instruction. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the verb יֶהְגֶּה (yehgeh), which conveys the action of meditation or murmuring. This analysis will explore its morphological structure, syntactic role, and semantic nuances in Biblical Hebrew.… Learn Hebrew
The Meaning of כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים הַסְתֵּ֣ר דָּבָ֑ר in Proverbs 25:2
Proverbs 25:2 in Hebrew
כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים הַסְתֵּ֣ר דָּבָ֑ר וּכְבֹ֥ד מְ֝לָכִ֗ים חֲקֹ֣ר דָּבָֽר׃
Introduction to the Verse
Proverbs 25:2 presents a contrast between divine and royal wisdom, highlighting the nature of hidden and revealed knowledge. The verse states:
כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים הַסְתֵּ֣ר דָּבָ֑ר – “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter.”
וּכְבֹ֥ד מְ֝לָכִ֗ים חֲקֹ֣ר דָּבָֽר – “But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
A key phrase in this verse is כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים (kəvōd ʾĕlōhīm), which highlights the difference between divine wisdom and human governance.… Learn Hebrew
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The Meaning of הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגֹּולָה in Ezra 2:1
Ezra 2:1 in Hebrew
וְאֵ֣לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י הַמְּדִינָ֗ה הָֽעֹלִים֙ מִשְּׁבִ֣י הַגֹּולָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֛ה נבוכדנצור מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל לְבָבֶ֑ל וַיָּשׁ֛וּבוּ לִירוּשָׁלִַ֥ם וִֽיהוּדָ֖ה אִ֥ישׁ לְעִירֹֽו׃
Introduction to the Verse
Ezra 2:1 introduces the list of Israelites returning from exile, emphasizing the fulfillment of divine restoration. The verse states:
וְאֵ֣לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י הַמְּדִינָ֗ה – “And these are the people of the province.”
הָֽעֹלִים֙ מִשְּׁבִ֣י הַגֹּולָ֔ה – “Who came up from the captivity of the exile.”
אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֛ה נבוכדנצור מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל – “Whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, had exiled.”
A key phrase in this verse is הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגֹּולָה (haʿolim mišebi haggōlah), which highlights the significance of returning from Babylonian exile.… Learn Hebrew
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The Meaning of יְהוָ֥ה אֶחָֽד in Deuteronomy 6:4
Deuteronomy 6:4 in Hebrew
שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה אֶחָֽד׃
Introduction to the Verse
Deuteronomy 6:4 is one of the most foundational verses in the Torah, known as the Shema. It declares the absolute unity and exclusivity of YHWH in Israelite faith. The verse states:
שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל – “Hear, Yisra’el.”
יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ – “YHWH is our God.”
יְהוָ֥ה אֶחָֽד – “YHWH is one.”
A key phrase in this verse is יְהוָ֥ה אֶחָֽד (YHWH eḥad), which is crucial for understanding biblical monotheism.… Learn Hebrew
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The Meaning of תֵּבַת גֹּ֔מֶא in Exodus 2:3
Exodus 2:3 in Hebrew
וְלֹא־יָכְלָ֣ה עֹוד֮ הַצְּפִינֹו֒ וַתִּֽקַּֽח־לֹו֙ תֵּ֣בַת גֹּ֔מֶא וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה בַחֵמָ֖ר וּבַזָּ֑פֶת וַתָּ֤שֶׂם בָּהּ֙ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד וַתָּ֥שֶׂם בַּסּ֖וּף עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיְאֹֽר׃
Introduction to the Verse
Exodus 2:3 describes the moment when Moshe’s mother placed him in a basket to protect him from Pharaoh’s decree. The verse states:
וְלֹא־יָכְלָ֣ה עֹוד֮ הַצְּפִינֹו֒ – “And when she could no longer hide him.”
וַתִּֽקַּֽח־לֹו֙ תֵּ֣בַת גֹּ֔מֶא – “She took for him a basket of papyrus reeds.”
וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה בַחֵמָ֖ר וּבַזָּ֑פֶת – “And she coated it with clay and pitch.”… Learn Hebrew
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The Meaning of עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם in Genesis 34:30
Genesis 34:30 in Hebrew
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־שִׁמְעֹ֣ון וְאֶל־לֵוִי֮ עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִי֒ לְהַבְאִישֵׁ֨נִי֙ בְּיֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י וּבַפְּרִזִּ֑י וַאֲנִי֙ מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר וְנֶאֶסְפ֤וּ עָלַי֙ וְהִכּ֔וּנִי וְנִשְׁמַדְתִּ֖י אֲנִ֥י וּבֵיתִֽי׃
Introduction to the Verse
Genesis 34:30 records Yaʿaqov’s rebuke of Shimʿon and Levi after their attack on Shekhem. The verse states:
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־שִׁמְעֹ֣ון וְאֶל־לֵוִי֮ – “Then Yaʿaqov said to Shimʿon and Levi.”
עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִי֒ – “You have troubled me.”
לְהַבְאִישֵׁ֨נִי֙ בְּיֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ – “To make me odious among the inhabitants of the land.”
A key word in this verse is עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם (ʿaḵartem), which helps us understand Yaʿaqov’s fear and distress.… Learn Hebrew
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The Meaning of דֹּדֶיךָ in Song of Songs 1:2
Song of Songs 1:2 in Hebrew
יִשָּׁקֵ֨נִי֙ מִנְּשִׁיקֹ֣ות פִּ֔יהוּ כִּֽי־טֹובִ֥ים דֹּדֶ֖יךָ מִיָּֽיִן׃
Introduction to the Verse
Song of Songs 1:2 is a poetic expression of love and longing, beginning the book with an intimate request:
יִשָּׁקֵ֨נִי֙ מִנְּשִׁיקֹ֣ות פִּ֔יהוּ – “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.”
כִּֽי־טֹובִ֥ים דֹּדֶ֖יךָ מִיָּֽיִן – “For your love is better than wine.”
A key term in this verse is דֹּדֶיךָ (dōḏêḵā), which plays a crucial role in understanding biblical expressions of love and affection.… Learn Hebrew
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