Category Archives: Theology

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The Structure of Hebrew Titles and Construct Chains in Proverbs 1:1

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Biblical Hebrew
מִ֭שְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בֶן־דָּוִ֑ד מֶ֝֗לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel. Introduction to Proverbs 1:1 Proverbs 1:1 serves as the title for the entire book, introducing its author, lineage, and royal status. This verse follows a structured pattern common in Hebrew titles, using construct chains (מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה, “The Proverbs of Solomon”) to indicate possession and authorship. This verse consists of three key elements: 1. The genre of the book (מִשְׁלֵי, “Proverbs”). 2. The author and his lineage (שְׁלֹמֹה בֶן־דָּוִד, “Solomon, son of David”).… Learn Hebrew
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The Rhetorical Structure of Complaint and the Interrogative “Why Does the Way of the Wicked Prosper?” in Jeremiah 12:1

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew
צַדִּ֤יק אַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָרִ֖יב אֵלֶ֑יךָ אַ֤ךְ מִשְׁפָּטִים֙ אֲדַבֵּ֣ר אֹותָ֔ךְ מַדּ֗וּעַ דֶּ֤רֶךְ רְשָׁעִים֙ צָלֵ֔חָה שָׁל֖וּ כָּל־בֹּ֥גְדֵי בָֽגֶד׃ (Jeremiah 12:1) Righteous are You, YHWH, when I contend with You; yet of judgments I will speak with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? They are at ease, all who deal treacherously. Introduction to Jeremiah 12:1 Jeremiah 12:1 presents a theodicy, where the prophet acknowledges YHWH’s righteousness but still challenges Him regarding the prosperity of the wicked. The structure of this verse reflects a common pattern of lament and complaint in biblical literature, incorporating: 1.… Learn Hebrew
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The Prohibition Construction and the Concept of Foreign Influence in 1 Kings 11:2

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew
מִן־הַגֹּויִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמַר־יְהוָה֩ אֶל־בְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לֹֽא־תָבֹ֣אוּ בָהֶ֗ם וְהֵם֙ לֹא־יָבֹ֣אוּ בָכֶ֔ם אָכֵן֙ יַטּ֣וּ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אַחֲרֵ֖י אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם בָּהֶ֛ם דָּבַ֥ק שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְאַהֲבָֽה׃ (1 Kings 11:2) From the nations about which YHWH had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not enter among them, and they shall not come among you; surely they will turn your heart after their gods,” Solomon clung to them in love. Introduction to 1 Kings 11:2 1 Kings 11:2 records a divine prohibition against intermarriage with foreign nations, warning that such alliances would lead to idolatry and spiritual corruption.… Learn Hebrew
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The Causative Construction and the Concept of Eternal Judgment in Obadiah 1:10

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Obadiah 1:10 Obadiah 1:10 pronounces a divine judgment on Edom, emphasizing its violence against Jacob (Israel) as the reason for its shame and permanent destruction. This verse contains a causative construction (מֵחֲמַ֛ס אָחִ֥יךָ יַעֲקֹ֖ב, “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob”) and a passive verb form (וְנִכְרַ֖תָּ, “You shall be cut off”), highlighting both the reason and the consequence of Edom’s judgment. This study will analyze the grammatical function of causative constructions, the passive verb’s role in divine judgment, and the theological implications of Edom’s permanent downfall.… Learn Hebrew
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Purification and Imperfective Syntax in Ezekiel 39:14: Grammar in the Service of Eschatology

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction: Ritual Cleanup and Eschatological Renewal Ezekiel 39:14 describes a strange and solemn task given to a group of designated men after the apocalyptic battle involving Gog: they are to search for and bury corpses in order to purify the land. The verse is part of the broader theological arc of Ezekiel 38–39, which deals with the defeat of foreign invaders and the vindication of YHWH. The verse reads: וְאַנְשֵׁ֨י תָמִ֤יד יַבְדִּ֨ילוּ֙ עֹבְרִ֣ים בָּאָ֔רֶץ מְקַבְּרִ֣ים אֶת־הָעֹבְרִ֗ים אֶת־הַנֹּותָרִ֛ים עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ לְטַֽהֲרָ֑הּ מִקְצֵ֥ה שִׁבְעָֽה־חֳדָשִׁ֖ים יַחְקֹֽרוּ׃ And men of constant duty shall separate out, passing through the land, burying those who pass through—those left upon the face of the land—to cleanse it; at the end of seven months they shall search.… Learn Hebrew
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The Personification of Jerusalem and the Prophetic Use of Imperative Appeals in Lamentations 1:9

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Lamentations 1:9 Lamentations 1:9 is part of a poetic lament mourning the fall of Jerusalem, portraying the city as a defiled and abandoned woman. The verse uses personification, metaphors of impurity, and imperative appeals to YHWH, reflecting deep sorrow and theological reflection on divine judgment. This verse contains two key literary and grammatical features: 1. Personification of Jerusalem as an impure, forgotten woman (טֻמְאָתָ֣הּ בְּשׁוּלֶ֗יהָ, “Her impurity is in her skirts”). 2. Imperative appeal to YHWH for compassion (רְאֵ֤ה יְהוָה֙ אֶת־עָנְיִ֔י, “See, O YHWH, my affliction”).… Learn Hebrew
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Comparative Similes and the Imagery of Swiftness in Habakkuk 1:8

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew
וְקַלּ֨וּ מִנְּמֵרִ֜ים סוּסָ֗יו וְחַדּוּ֙ מִזְּאֵ֣בֵי עֶ֔רֶב וּפָ֖שׁוּ פָּֽרָשָׁ֑יו וּפָֽרָשָׁיו֙ מֵרָחֹ֣וק יָבֹ֔אוּ יָעֻ֕פוּ כְּנֶ֖שֶׁר חָ֥שׁ לֶאֱכֹֽול׃ (Habakkuk 1:8) Swifter than leopards are his horses and sharper than wolves of evening and his horsemen spread out and his horsemen come from afar they fly like an eagle rushing to eat. Introduction to Habakkuk 1:8 Habakkuk 1:8 describes the unstoppable power and speed of the invading Chaldean army, using comparative similes to evoke fear and devastation. The verse employs three key comparisons: 1. Horses are swifter than leopards (נְמֵרִים) 2.… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of the Niphal Imperfect in Exodus 35:2

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew
שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִים֮ תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה מְלָאכָה֒ וּבַיֹּ֣ום הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם קֹ֛דֶשׁ שַׁבַּ֥ת שַׁבָּתֹ֖ון לַיהוָ֑ה כָּל־הָעֹשֶׂ֥ה בֹ֛ו מְלָאכָ֖ה יוּמָֽת׃ (Exodus 35:2) Six days work shall be done and on the seventh day there shall be for you holiness a sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh whoever does work on it shall be put to death Introduction to Exodus 35:2 Exodus 35:2 provides a command regarding the observance of the Sabbath, emphasizing the six days of work and the seventh day as a holy day of rest.… Learn Hebrew
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“Who Did This Thing?” – A Hebrew Detective Story in Judges 6:29

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Hebrew Grammar for Beginners
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֔הוּ מִ֥י עָשָׂ֖ה הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַֽיִּדְרְשׁוּ֙ וַיְבַקְשׁ֔וּ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ גִּדְעֹון֙ בֶּן־יֹואָ֔שׁ עָשָׂ֖ה הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ (Judges 6:29) And they said, each man to his neighbor, “Who did this thing?” And they investigated and searched, and they said, “Gidʿon son of Yoʾash did this thing.” Word-by-Word Explanation וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ – “And they said”Verb. From the root אָמַר (“to say”). The וַ prefix shows we’re in narrative mode—this is the vav-consecutive for a past action. The form is masculine plural: “they said.” אִישׁ – “a man” or “each man”Noun.… Learn Hebrew
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Clause Structure and Theological Expression in Esther 4:3

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew
וּבְכָל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֗ה מְקֹום֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְדָתֹו֙ מַגִּ֔יעַ אֵ֤בֶל גָּדֹול֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וְצֹ֥ום וּבְכִ֖י וּמִסְפֵּ֑ד שַׂ֣ק וָאֵ֔פֶר יֻצַּ֖ע לָֽרַבִּֽים׃ (Esther 4:3) And in every province and province, wherever the word of the king and his law reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and lamenting; sackcloth and ashes were spread out for the many. Contextual and Literary Setting of Esther 4:3 Esther 4:3 captures the moment of national crisis in the Persian diaspora, following Haman’s genocidal decree against the Jews.… Learn Hebrew
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