וַיֹּאמַ֗ר יְהוָ֞ה מִסִּינַ֥י בָּא֙ וְזָרַ֤ח מִשֵּׂעִיר֙ לָ֔מֹו הֹופִ֨יעַ֙ מֵהַ֣ר פָּארָ֔ן וְאָתָ֖ה מֵרִבְבֹ֣ת קֹ֑דֶשׁ מִֽימִינֹ֕ו אֵשְׁדָּת לָֽמֹו׃
(Deuteronomy 33:2)
This majestic verse paints a vision of YHWH’s appearance to His people in poetic form. It’s filled with dynamic verbs, place names, and elevated Hebrew style. Let’s walk through the grammar, structure, and poetic force of this verse to discover how Hebrew communicates divine majesty.
English Translation (Clear and Faithful)
And he said, “YHWH came from Sinai, and dawned from Seʿir upon them; he shone forth from Mount Paran, and came from among myriads of holiness—at his right hand was a fiery law for them.”
Sentence Flow: Hebrew Poetry in Motion
Hebrew poetry often breaks free from the normal verb–subject–object order. Instead, it uses vivid, parallel lines. This verse has a series of majestic verbs describing YHWH’s appearance from various places:
- בָּא — He came
- זָרַח — He dawned
- הֹופִיעַ — He shone forth
- אָתָה — He came (again)
The verse builds intensity, describing YHWH’s approach like the rising sun, glowing from mountains, bringing holiness and law.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Hebrew Word | Meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאמַר | And he said | Wayyiqtol verb (past narrative), from אָמַר. 3rd person masculine singular. Introduces the quotation. |
| יְהוָה מִסִּינַי בָּא | YHWH came from Sinai | בָּא is past tense from בּוֹא (“to come”). מִן (“from”) contracts with סִינַי (“Sinai”). Subject: YHWH. |
| וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ | and dawned from Seʿir upon them | זָרַח = “shone” or “dawned.” מִשֵּׂעִיר = “from Seʿir.” לָמוֹ = “upon them” (poetic form of “to them”). |
| הֹופִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן | He shone forth from Mount Paran | הֹופִיעַ is a Hiphil verb from יָפַע (to shine), meaning “he caused to shine” or “he appeared.” |
| וְאָתָה מֵרִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ | and came from myriads of holiness | אָתָה is a poetic synonym for “came.” רִבְבֹת = “ten thousands,” and קֹדֶשׁ = “holiness.” Construct chain = “myriads of holiness.” |
| מִימִינֹו | from his right hand | מִן = “from,” יְמִין = “right hand,” -וֹ = “his.” Together: “from his right hand.” |
| אֵשְׁדָּת | fiery law | A poetic compound word. Possibly combines אֵשׁ (“fire”) and דָּת (“law”). It’s rare and appears only here, possibly meaning “fiery instruction.” |
| לָמוֹ | to them / for them | Again, poetic 3rd person plural suffix meaning “to them.” |
Poetic Parallelism: Divine Movement from the Mountains
| Verb | Direction / Location | Symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| בָּא — came | from Sinai | Start of revelation |
| זָרַח — dawned | from Seʿir | Light over Edom |
| הֹופִיעַ — shone forth | from Mount Paran | Brilliance of presence |
| אָתָה — came | from myriads of holiness | Heavenly accompaniment |
What We Learned from This Sentence
- Hebrew poetry builds drama by piling up verbs in parallel lines (בָּא, זָרַח, הֹופִיעַ, אָתָה).
- Construct chains like רִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ and אֵשְׁדָּת create dense, poetic imagery.
- Rare words and poetic forms like לָמוֹ and אֵשְׁדָּת show Hebrew’s richness in describing divine revelation.
This verse is not just a description—it’s a sunrise of sacred presence. Through Hebrew poetry, the language becomes thunder, fire, and light. And now, you’re beginning to understand its rhythm.
