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Recent Articles
- Scroll Marginalia: Weighted Syntax and Sanctified Measures (Numbers 7:31, Onkelos)
- “His Hands Shall Bring the Fire-Offerings”: Learning Sacred Hebrew Through Priestly Ritual
- Grammar of Offering: Enumerative Syntax and Appositional Closure
- The Nation That Would Not Listen: Relative Clauses, Coordinated Verbs, and Elliptical Judgment
- Wisdom in Layers: Demonstrative Syntax and Infinitive Purpose in Qohelet
- The Syntax of Sacred Prohibition: Blood in Leviticus 7:26
- From Exodus to Exhortation: The Syntax of Divine Persistence
- Gathered for Judgment: Syntactic Accumulation in Joshua 7:24
- Flying into the Trap: Syntactic Irony in Proverbs 7:23
- Little by Little: Divine Delay and Wild Beasts
- “And the Fish Died and the Nile Stank”: A Hebrew Lesson from Egypt’s First Plague
- The Subtle Grammar of Possession in Biblical Hebrew
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Category Archives: Syntax
Grammar of Offering: Enumerative Syntax and Appositional Closure
וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֮ בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַיִם֒ אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַתֻּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן׃
(Numbers 7:29)
And for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs a year old—this was the offering of Eli’av son of Ḥelon.
Syntax as Sacred Inventory
Numbers 7 is among the most repetitive chapters in the Torah, cataloging identical offerings by each tribal leader during the dedication of the altar. Yet each entry is syntactically precise. Numbers 7:29 presents the peace offering of Eliʾav son of Ḥelon, structured through enumerative syntax, noun-numeral pairs, and a summative appositional clause.… Learn Hebrew
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The Nation That Would Not Listen: Relative Clauses, Coordinated Verbs, and Elliptical Judgment
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם זֶ֤ה הַגֹּוי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽוא־שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּקֹול֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔יו וְלֹ֥א לָקְח֖וּ מוּסָ֑ר אָֽבְדָה֙ הָֽאֱמוּנָ֔ה וְנִכְרְתָ֖ה מִפִּיהֶֽם׃
(Jeremiah 7:28)
And you shall say to them: “This is the nation that did not listen to the voice of YHWH its God and did not accept discipline—faithfulness has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.”
A Sentence of Rejection
Jeremiah 7:28 delivers a prophetic indictment in compact, carefully arranged Hebrew syntax. Through the use of relative clauses, coordinated verb sequences, and an evocative final ellipsis (missing subject), the verse builds a structure of national failure.… Learn Hebrew
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Wisdom in Layers: Demonstrative Syntax and Infinitive Purpose in Qohelet
רְאֵה֙ זֶ֣ה מָצָ֔אתִי אָמְרָ֖ה קֹהֶ֑לֶת אַחַ֥ת לְאַחַ֖ת לִמְצֹ֥א חֶשְׁבֹּֽון׃
(Ecclesiastes 7:27)
See, this I have found, said Qohelet—one by one, to find an explanation.
One by One, Thought by Thought
Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) is a book of existential searching, framed by first-person reflection. In this verse, we hear a key claim: “this I have found.” But behind the philosophical tone lies sophisticated grammar—specifically the use of the demonstrative זֶה in object position, the infinitive construct לִמְצֹא as a purpose clause, and a poetic expression אַחַת לְאַחַת that illustrates Hebrew idiomatic syntax.… Learn Hebrew
The Syntax of Sacred Prohibition: Blood in Leviticus 7:26
וְכָל־דָּם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכְל֔וּ בְּכֹ֖ל מֹושְׁבֹתֵיכֶ֑ם לָעֹ֖וף וְלַבְּהֵמָֽה׃
(Leviticus 7:26)
Clause Layout and Logical Flow
This verse is a prohibitive command composed of a negated verbal clause followed by a distributive spatial phrase and a dual object of scope. Its structure articulates an absolute prohibition applicable across all Israelite settlements:
וְכָל־דָּם לֹא תֹאכְלוּ — Main prohibitive clause (“you shall not eat any blood”)
בְּכֹל מֹושְׁבֹתֵיכֶם — Prepositional phrase limiting the command to all dwelling places
לָעֹוף וְלַבְּהֵמָה — Disjunctive phrase qualifying which types of blood are included (birds and beasts)
Syntactic Features and Highlights
Phrase
Syntactic Role
Explanation
וְכָל־דָּם
Subject (fronted)
Definite noun with כָּל emphasizes the totality of the prohibition.… Learn Hebrew
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From Exodus to Exhortation: The Syntax of Divine Persistence
לְמִן־הַיֹּ֗ום אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצְא֤וּ אֲבֹֽותֵיכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֑ה וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח אֲלֵיכֶם֙ אֶת־כָּל־עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים יֹ֖ום הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם וְשָׁלֹֽחַ׃
(Jeremiah 7:25)
Clause Structure Overview
This verse presents a temporal span from the Exodus to Jeremiah’s own day and depicts YHWH’s repeated, intentional action of sending prophets. Its syntax divides neatly into two halves:
Temporal subordinate clause introduced by לְמִן־הַיּוֹם…עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה – setting the time frame.
Main verb clause: וָאֶשְׁלַח…אֶת־כָּל־עֲבָדַי הַנְּבִיאִים – YHWH’s repeated prophetic mission.
Detailed Syntax Analysis
Phrase
Syntactic Role
Notes
לְמִן־הַיֹּום אֲשֶׁר…
Temporal prepositional clause
Introduces the starting point of the timeframe, governed by לְמִן.… Learn Hebrew
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Gathered for Judgment: Syntactic Accumulation in Joshua 7:24
וַיִּקַּ֣ח יְהֹושֻׁ֣עַ אֶת־עָכָ֣ן בֶּן־זֶ֡רַח וְאֶת־הַכֶּ֣סֶף וְאֶת־הָאַדֶּ֣רֶת וְֽאֶת־לְשֹׁ֣ון הַזָּהָ֡ב וְֽאֶת־בָּנָ֡יו וְֽאֶת־בְּנֹתָ֡יו וְאֶת־שֹׁורֹו֩ וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֹ֨ו וְאֶת־צֹאנֹ֤ו וְאֶֽת־אָהֳלֹו֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֹ֔ו וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עִמֹּ֑ו וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם עֵ֥מֶק עָכֹֽור׃
(Joshua 7:24)
Syntax of Indictment
This verse captures the solemn procession of justice as Yehoshua leads the nation in confronting ʿAkan’s sin. The syntax layers object after object in one long series of coordinated accusatives introduced by the repeated marker אֶת־. This creates a crescendo of accumulation, emphasizing total confiscation.
Clause Structure and Function
וַיִּקַּ֣ח יְהֹושֻׁ֣עַ – “And Yehoshua took”
Qatal wayyiqtol verb opens the narrative action.… Learn Hebrew
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Flying into the Trap: Syntactic Irony in Proverbs 7:23
עַ֤ד יְפַלַּ֪ח חֵ֡ץ כְּֽבֵדֹ֗ו כְּמַהֵ֣ר צִפֹּ֣ור אֶל־פָּ֑ח וְלֹֽא־֝יָדַ֗ע כִּֽי־בְנַפְשֹׁ֥ו הֽוּא׃
(Proverbs 7:23)
Clause Structure and Sequential Tension
The verse is structured as a sequence of clauses that depict a sudden and fatal downfall—syntactically layered to match the speed and inevitability of the event:
עַד יְפַלַּ֪ח חֵ֡ץ כְּֽבֵדֹ֗ו – “Until an arrow pierces his liver”
עַד (“until”) sets up a temporal clause leading to climax.
יְפַלַּ֪ח is a jussive/imperfect (Hifil from פּלח, “to pierce”), creating a prospective tension.
חֵץ כְּבֵדֹו (“an arrow [pierces] his liver”) uses vivid imagery: the liver symbolizing the innermost self or vitality.… Learn Hebrew
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Syntax and Strategy: Analyzing Poetic Combat Syntax in Judges 7:20
וַֽ֠יִּתְקְעוּ שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת הָרָאשִׁ֥ים בַּשֹּֽׁופָרֹות֮ וַיִּשְׁבְּר֣וּ הַכַּדִּים֒ וַיַּחֲזִ֤יקוּ בְיַד־שְׂמאֹולָם֙ בַּלַּפִּדִ֔ים וּבְיַ֨ד־יְמִינָ֔ם הַשֹּׁופָרֹ֖ות לִתְקֹ֑ועַ וַֽיִּקְרְא֔וּ חֶ֥רֶב לַֽיהוָ֖ה וּלְגִדְעֹֽון׃
(Judges 7:20)
Strategic Word Order and Emphatic Actions
This verse vividly depicts the synchronized attack of Gideon’s 300 men through a sequence of tightly packed verbal clauses. The syntax mirrors the rapidity and coordination of the ambush:
וַיִּתְקְעוּ (“and they blew”) – initiates the clause with immediate action.
וַיִּשְׁבְּרוּ (“and they broke”) – continues the rapid progression.
וַיַּחֲזִ֤יקוּ (“and they grasped”) – introduces the detailed tactics with marked agency.… Learn Hebrew
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Sound and Fury: The Syntax and Strategy in Judges 7:18
וְתָקַעְתִּי֙ בַּשֹּׁופָ֔ר אָנֹכִ֖י וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתִּ֑י וּתְקַעְתֶּ֨ם בַּשֹּׁופָרֹ֜ות גַּם־אַתֶּ֗ם סְבִיבֹות֙ כָּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם לַיהוָ֥ה וּלְגִדְעֹֽון׃
(Judges 7:18)
Word Order and Flow
This verse is a military directive. The sentence begins with a sequential waw-consecutive verb (וְתָקַעְתִּי), continuing a chain of action. The subject follows the verb (אָנֹכִי), and the object is clear: בַּשֹּׁופָר, “the shofar.” The second clause mirrors the first, reinforcing the coordinated movement of Gideon’s men.
Morphology
וְתָקַעְתִּי (vetāqaʿtī) –
Root: תקע;
Form: Qal waw-consecutive perfect 1cs;
Translation: “And I will blow”;
Notes: The perfect form with וְ indicates future action in narrative sequence.… Learn Hebrew
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The Seductive Scents of Syntax: A Close Reading of Proverbs 7:17
נַ֥פְתִּי מִשְׁכָּבִ֑י מֹ֥ר אֲ֝הָלִ֗ים וְקִנָּמֹֽון׃
(Proverbs 7:17)
Verse Structure and Thematic Role
This verse belongs to the seductive monologue of the אִשָּׁה זָרָה (“foreign woman”) in Proverbs 7. Through sensuous imagery and poetic rhythm, it captures the allure of temptation. The verse divides naturally into two syntactic parts:
– Clause A: נַ֥פְתִּי מִשְׁכָּבִ֑י – “I have perfumed my bed”
– Clause B: מֹ֥ר אֲ֝הָלִ֗ים וְקִנָּמֹֽון – “with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon”
Clause B may function as the means or material of the action in Clause A (despite no preposition), or it may act appositionally, explaining how the bed was perfumed.… Learn Hebrew
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