Introduction to Ezra 7:6
The verse in Ezra 7:6 presents a notable grammatical feature that warrants close attention: the repeated use of the independent pronoun הוּא (“he”) at the beginning of two clauses. This repetition is not mere redundancy; rather, it serves a distinct emphatic and syntactical function within Biblical Hebrew narrative style. This lesson explores how the double appearance of הוּא functions grammatically and semantically in this verse.
ה֤וּא עֶזְרָא֙ עָלָ֣ה מִבָּבֶ֔ל וְהֽוּא־סֹפֵ֤ר מָהִיר֙ בְּתֹורַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּתֶּן־לֹ֣ו הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ כְּיַד־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עָלָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל בַּקָּשָׁתֹֽו׃
Analysis of Key Words and Structures
- הוּא (hu) – Independent pronoun, masculine singular. Root: היה. Functions here as a subject pronoun placed before the proper noun עֶזְרָא and again before the noun סֹפֵר.
- עֶזְרָא (Ezra) – Proper noun. Directly follows הוּא, creating a structure that emphasizes identity or apposition: “He is Ezra.”
- וְהוּא־סֹפֵר (vehu-sofer) – Coordinated clause, beginning with וְ + הוּא, followed by predicate nominative סֹפֵר. The dash (maqaf) tightly connects הוּא and סֹפֵר, presenting a unified subject-predicate unit.
- סֹפֵר (sofer) – Masculine singular participle of the root ספר, functioning as a predicate nominative describing Ezra’s professional identity.
The Function of Emphatic Subject Pronoun Repetition
Biblical Hebrew often employs independent pronouns not merely for clarity, but to create emphasis or to mark shifts in discourse. In this verse, we observe the rare phenomenon of repeating the pronoun הוּא twice within a short span, once before a proper noun (עֶזְרָא) and once before a predicate noun (סֹפֵר).
The grammatical structure at the beginning—הוּא עֶזְרָא—is an example of appositional emphasis, where the pronoun precedes the proper name in an identifying or emphatic way: “He is Ezra.” The usage here suggests a narrative reintroduction or highlighting of Ezra’s role within a new literary unit. It stresses the identity of the individual being described, separating him out as the protagonist of the section.
The second clause—וְהוּא־סֹפֵר—uses the pronoun again, not to restate the subject (which is unnecessary syntactically), but to highlight his occupation or function: “He was a scribe.” This usage is often seen in Biblical Hebrew as a way to front or emphasize key qualities or roles of a person, similar to what in English might be rendered with stress: “He was a scribe, quick in the Torah of Moshe.”
In both cases, the use of הוּא is not grammatically required—the verbs and nouns already imply a subject. However, the pronoun intensifies the discourse by drawing attention to both the man himself and his role. This technique may also reflect the resumptive and stylistic strategies used in narrative transition, particularly when introducing a major character in fuller detail.
It’s important to note that this double emphatic construction is not a pleonasm (unnecessary repetition), but a literary-rhetorical device for fronting and spotlighting narrative identity and function.
The Role of Emphatic Pronouns in Biblical Characterization
The doubled use of הוּא in Ezra 7:6 plays a crucial theological and linguistic role. It not only introduces Ezra with narrative weight but also serves as a stylistic marker distinguishing him as both a historical figure and a literary character central to the following events. Linguistically, it demonstrates the flexibility and sophistication of Biblical Hebrew in employing pronouns for emphasis and structure, not simply for syntactic necessity.
Understanding this feature allows readers to grasp how Biblical texts manipulate grammar to create narrative focus. It also invites translators and interpreters to recognize these subtle emphases, ensuring that theological and literary nuance is not flattened in translation. In a verse emphasizing both identity and divine authorization, the repeated הוּא establishes Ezra as divinely positioned—he is Ezra, and he is the skilled scribe, both roles underscored under the authority of YHWH.
