Overview
This Biblical Hebrew grammar lesson focuses exclusively on Habakkuk 3:18. It highlights two advanced grammatical phenomena in Biblical Hebrew: the cohortative form</b (first person volitional) and the use of prepositions in divine references. These are central to interpreting poetry, prophecy, and liturgical texts in the Hebrew Bible. The grammar is deeply embedded in the worship language of Israel’s prophets.
Hebrew Verse
וַאֲנִ֖י בַּיהוָ֣ה אֶעְלֹ֑וזָה אָגִ֖ילָה בֵּאלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃
Literal Translation
But as for me, I will rejoice in YHWH, I will exult in the God of my salvation.
Morphological Analysis
- וַאֲנִי (va-ʾani) – Conjunction + pronoun; וְ (“and”/“but”) + אֲנִי (“I”).
- בַּיהוָה (ba-YHWH) – Preposition + definite article + divine name; בְּ + הַ + יְהוָה; “in the LORD.”
- אֶעְלֹוזָה (eʿlozah) – Verb, 1st person common singular, imperfect + paragogic heh; from root ע־ל־ז; “I will rejoice.”
- אָגִילָה (agilah) – Verb, 1st person common singular, cohortative; from root ג־י־ל; “let me exult.”
- בֵּאלֹהֵי (be-ʾelohei) – Preposition + construct noun; “in the God of.”
- יִשְׁעִי (yishʿi) – Noun + 1cs suffix; from root י־שׁ־ע; “my salvation.”
Syntax and Word Order
This verse follows a poetic structure emphasizing personal resolve and divine focus. The syntax is as follows:
- וַאֲנִי – Subject pronoun introducing contrast.
- בַּיהוָה אֶעְלֹוזָה – Prepositional phrase + verb: “In YHWH I will rejoice.”
- בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי – Construct chain + pronominal suffix: “in the God of my salvation.”
Note the movement between imperfect and cohortative forms, a common feature in Hebrew poetry where subtle volitional moods are expressed.
Verb Forms: Imperfect with Paragogic Heh and the Cohortative
1. אֶעְלֹוזָה – Imperfect with Paragogic Heh
This is a regular Qal imperfect 1cs verb with a paragogic heh at the end. This form appears in poetic or elevated style and may indicate emphasis or volition, often blending with the cohortative in meaning.
Root: ע־ל־ז (ʿ-l-z) – “to rejoice”
Form: Qal Imperfect 1cs with paragogic ה
Function: Future or volitional “I will rejoice” or “let me rejoice.”
2. אָגִילָה – Cohortative
This is a classic example of the cohortative, which expresses volition, desire, or determination by the speaker in the 1st person.
Root: ג־י־ל (g-y-l) – “to exult, be joyful”
Form: Qal Cohortative 1cs
Usage: “Let me exult,” often used in liturgy, psalms, and prophecy.
Prepositions with Divine Names
בַּיהוָה – “in YHWH”
This is a preposition בְּ + the article הַ + the proper name יְהוָה, forming בַּיהוָה. This is a standard collocation in Hebrew poetry and psalms, indicating trust, joy, or security “in YHWH.”
בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי – “in the God of my salvation”
This is a construct phrase:
- בְּ – “in” (preposition)
- אֱלֹהֵי – “God of” (construct form of אֱלֹהִים)
- יִשְׁעִי – “my salvation” (noun + 1cs suffix)
This phrase is theologically rich and expresses the source of the speaker’s confidence. The placement of the preposition בְּ before a construct chain is common in poetry.
Lexical Study: גִּיל and עָלַז
עָלַז – “to rejoice greatly”
This root implies jubilant rejoicing, often in connection to divine deliverance. It appears in Psalms, Isaiah, and Habakkuk.
גִּיל – “to exult, spin with joy”
This root conveys ecstatic joy and is common in worship contexts. It often occurs in parallelism with עָלַז, as seen here.
Both verbs are semantically rich and emphasize inner joy and outward expression in worshipful response to God.
Theological and Literary Insight
This verse stands at the climax of Habakkuk’s psalm. Despite judgment, lack, and suffering described earlier, the prophet’s response is not despair but exultation in God. The dual verb structure—imperfect + cohortative—reveals both determined intent and emotional longing.
“In the God of my salvation” grounds the joy not in circumstances but in the covenant God who delivers. The poetic devices elevate the verse to a liturgical and confessional declaration.
Exercises
- Parse both verbs in this verse and identify other examples of cohortatives in Psalms or Isaiah.
- Translate the phrase “I will rejoice in the LORD” using a cohortative form of a different root.
- Rewrite the phrase בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי using a different divine title such as מַלְכִּי (“my King”).
- Write a two-verse poem in Hebrew using both a cohortative verb and a construct chain with a divine name.
- Compare this verse with Psalm 13:6 and Isaiah 61:10. How is the language of joy used in prophetic and psalmic texts?
Summary
Habakkuk 3:18 provides a profound lens into Biblical Hebrew poetry and verbal expression of faith:
- It contains both a cohortative and an imperfect with paragogic heh, richly conveying intent and emotion.
- It uses construct chains and prepositions with divine names to express trust and relationship with God.
- The verse is syntactically elegant and theologically deep, ideal for students aiming to master poetic and prophetic Hebrew.
