Category Archives: Theology

Divine Mystery and Royal Appeal: Syntax of Interpretation in Daniel 4:15

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction: Court Language, Crisis, and Prophetic Authority Daniel 4:15 recounts Nebuchadnezzar’s appeal to Belteshazzar (Daniel) to interpret his troubling dream. The verse is a moment of theological tension and narrative climax, as the king publicly acknowledges Daniel’s unique spiritual capacity amid the failure of Babylonian sages: דְּנָה֙ חֶלְמָ֣א חֲזֵ֔ית אֲנָ֖ה מַלְכָּ֣א נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֑ר וְאַנְתְּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֜ר פִּשְׁרֵ֣א אֱמַ֗ר כָּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּ֣י כָּל־חַכִּימֵ֣י מַלְכוּתִ֗י לָֽא־יָכְלִ֤ין פִּשְׁרָא֙ לְהוֹדָ֣עֻתַ֔נִי וְאַנְתְּ כָּהֵ֔ל דִּ֛י רֽוּחַ־אֱלָהִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בָּֽךְ׃ This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw; and you, O Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me its interpretation, but you can, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.… Learn Hebrew

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“He Will Tell You What to Do”: Syntax of Submission and Strategy in Ruth 3:4

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Biblical Hebrew

Introduction: Hidden Proposals and Grammatical Strategy Ruth 3:4 is part of Naomi’s carefully crafted plan for Ruth to approach Boʿaz on the threshing floor, initiating a potential levirate marriage (or go’el obligation). The verse reflects tactful agency, conveyed through conditional sequencing, coordinated verbs, and future-oriented clauses. The grammar underscores a mixture of obedience, initiative, and suspense in this intimate but socially dangerous moment: וִיהִ֣י בְשָׁכְבֹ֗ו וְיָדַ֨עַתְּ֙ אֶת־הַמָּקֹום֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁכַּב־שָׁ֔ם וּבָ֛את וְגִלִּ֥ית מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו וְשָׁכָ֑בְתְּ וְהוּא֙ יַגִּ֣יד לָ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעַשִֽׂין׃ And when he lies down, you shall observe the place where he lies.… Learn Hebrew

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Grammatical-Theological Analysis of Proverbs 30:3

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Biblical Hebrew

וְלֹֽא־לָמַ֥דְתִּי חָכְמָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת קְדֹשִׁ֣ים אֵדָֽע׃ (Proverbs 30:3) And I have not learned wisdom, and knowledge of the holy ones I will know. 1. Confessional Tone through Verb Forms: לָמַדְתִּי and אֵדָע The first clause begins with וְלֹֽא־לָמַ֥דְתִּי—“And I have not learned.” This is a Qal perfect 1st person singular verb from the root למד (“to learn”). The perfect form expresses a completed action in the past, here negatively. The speaker confesses a lack of formal acquisition of wisdom, suggesting humility or limitation.… Learn Hebrew

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“Would He Return?”: Analyzing הֲיָשׁוּב in Jeremiah 3:1

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Biblical Hebrew

לֵאמֹ֡ר הֵ֣ן יְשַׁלַּ֣ח אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתֹּו֩ וְהָלְכָ֨ה מֵאִתֹּ֜ו וְהָיְתָ֣ה לְאִישׁ־אַחֵ֗ר הֲיָשׁ֤וּב אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ עֹ֔וד הֲלֹ֛וא חָנֹ֥וף תֶּחֱנַ֖ף הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֑יא וְאַ֗תְּ זָנִית֙ רֵעִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים וְשֹׁ֥וב אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (Jeremiah 3:1) Saying, “Behold, if a man sends away his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, will he return to her again? Would not that land be greatly defiled? But you have played the whore with many lovers; yet return to me,” declares YHWH. Covenant, Divorce, and the Question of Return Jeremiah 3:1 opens with a rhetorical allusion to Deuteronomic law regarding divorce and remarriage (cf.… Learn Hebrew

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“And the Word of the LORD Came to Me”: Analyzing וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר in Jeremiah 2:1

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Biblical Hebrew

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ (Jeremiah 2:1) And the word of YHWH came to me, saying, The Prophetic Speech Formula Jeremiah 2:1 begins with a classic prophetic formula: וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר, “And the word of the LORD came to me, saying.” This formula recurs throughout the prophetic literature and functions not only as a grammatical structure but also as a theological signal—indicating a moment of divine revelation to the prophet. In this article, we explore the grammatical structure, syntactic components, and theological function of this phrase in Jeremiah 2:1.… Learn Hebrew

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The Construct Chain and Noun Phrase Syntax in Jeremiah 1:1

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Biblical Hebrew

This study will analyze the syntactic structure, noun relationships, and grammatical function of these construct phrases. דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָהוּ בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ מִן־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָתֹ֔ות בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן׃ (Jeremiah 1:1) The words of Yirmeyahu son of Ḥilqiyahu, from the priests who were in ʿAnatot in the land of Binyamin. Jeremiah 1:1 introduces the prophetic book by identifying the prophet’s lineage, his priestly background, and his geographic origin. The verse employs construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), a common feature in Biblical Hebrew used to express relationships between nouns.… Learn Hebrew

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“To Do in the Land”: Analyzing לַעֲשֹׂות in Deuteronomy 12:1

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

אֵ֠לֶּה הַֽחֻקִּ֣ים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְר֣וּן לַעֲשֹׂות֒ בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֧י אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ לְךָ֖ לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ כָּל־הַיָּמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם חַיִּ֖ים עַל־הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ (Deuteronomy 12:1) These are the statutes and the judgments that you shall carefully do in the land that YHWH, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. Obedience and Covenant Geography Deuteronomy 12:1 serves as a formal introduction to a new legal section in the book, transitioning from general covenant exhortations to specific cultic and social regulations.… Learn Hebrew

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Divine Hiddenness and Reflexive Syntax in Isaiah 64:6: Grammar of Abandonment

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

וְאֵין־קֹורֵ֣א בְשִׁמְךָ֔ מִתְעֹורֵ֖ר לְהַחֲזִ֣יק בָּ֑ךְ כִּֽי־הִסְתַּ֤רְתָּ פָנֶ֨יךָ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וַתְּמוּגֵ֖נוּ בְּיַד־עֲוֹנֵֽנוּ׃ (Isaiah 64:6) And there is no one who calls on Your name, who rouses himself to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us and have melted us away in the hand of our iniquities. Lament, Agency, and Theological Crisis in Exilic Prayer Isaiah 64 is a communal lament expressing deep anguish over Israel’s estrangement from YHWH. Verse 6 (English: v.7) articulates both divine silence and human inability.… Learn Hebrew

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“And You Shall Love”: Analyzing וְאָהַבְתָּ in Deuteronomy 11:1

Posted on November 1, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣ מִשְׁמַרְתֹּ֗ו וְחֻקֹּתָ֧יו וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֛יו וּמִצְוֹתָ֖יו כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ (Deuteronomy 11:1) “And you shall love YHWH your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always. Love as Covenant Loyalty Deuteronomy 11:1 opens with a profound imperative: וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ – “And you shall love the LORD your God.” This verse sets the tone for the entire chapter by linking covenant obedience with affectionate devotion. The verb אָהַב in this context carries deep theological and relational significance—it is not merely emotional love, but a commitment of loyalty, fidelity, and action.… Learn Hebrew

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“Call Now—Will Anyone Answer You?”: Imperatives and Irony in Job 5:1

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Biblical Hebrew

קְֽרָא־֭נָא הֲיֵ֣שׁ עֹונֶ֑ךָּ וְאֶל־מִ֖י מִקְּדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּפְנֶֽה׃ (Job 5:1) Call now, is there one who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn? The Irony of Prayer in a Rhetorical Rebuke Job 5:1 comes from Eliphaz’s ongoing monologue where he chides Job with what sounds like spiritual advice but functions as subtle mockery. He challenges Job to “call out” and ask for help, knowing that Job will receive no answer. This verse is a model of sarcastic imperative, in which an action is commanded (imperative form), but with no expectation of a successful result.… Learn Hebrew

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