Biblical Hebrew

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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The Use of the Cohortative and Jussive in Saul’s Final Request in 1 Samuel 31:4

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁאוּל֩ לְנֹשֵׂ֨א כֵלָ֜יו שְׁלֹ֥ף חַרְבְּךָ֣ וְדָקְרֵ֣נִי בָ֗הּ פֶּן־֠יָבֹואוּ הָעֲרֵלִ֨ים הָאֵ֤לֶּה וּדְקָרֻ֨נִי֙ וְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־בִ֔י וְלֹ֤א אָבָה֙ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֔יו כִּ֥י יָרֵ֖א מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּקַּ֤ח שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב וַיִּפֹּ֖ל עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (1 Samuel 31:4) And Saul said to his weapon bearer draw your sword and pierce me with it lest these uncircumcised come and pierce me and abuse me but his weapon bearer was not willing for he was very afraid and Saul took the sword and fell upon it. This study will analyze the grammatical function of the cohortative and jussive in Saul’s plea, the syntactic parallelism of the verbs, and the theological implications of his self-inflicted death.… Learn Hebrew

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Volitional Modality and Antithetical Parallelism in Psalm 25:3

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew

גַּ֣ם כָּל־֭קֹוֶיךָ לֹ֣א יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ יֵ֝בֹ֗שׁוּ הַבֹּוגְדִ֥ים רֵיקָֽם׃ (Psalm 25:3) Also all who wait for you shall not be ashamed they shall be ashamed the treacherous ones emptily. This lesson is based on Psalm 25:3, focusing on the topic: ‘Volitional Modality and Antithetical Parallelism in Hebrew: The Syntax of Hope and Shame.’ This verse provides an elegant example of volitional forms, negation, and contrast through poetic structure, all centered on the theme of trust in YHWH. Introduction to Psalm 25:3: Volition, Shame, and Contrast in Hebrew Poetry Psalm 25:3 presents a theological contrast between two groups: those who קִוּוּ (“wait” or “hope”) for YHWH, and those who act treacherously.… Learn Hebrew

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The Syntax of Glory Overflowing: A Grammatical Vision in Habakkuk 2:14

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Biblical Hebrew

כִּ֚י תִּמָּלֵ֣א הָאָ֔רֶץ לָדַ֖עַת אֶת־כְּבֹ֣וד יְהוָ֑ה כַּמַּ֖יִם יְכַסּ֥וּ עַל־יָֽם: (Habakkuk 2:14) For the earth shall be filled to know the glory of Yahweh as the waters cover over the sea. Overview: Syntax as Prophetic Fulfillment Habakkuk 2:14 delivers a breathtaking vision of divine glory flooding the earth. The verse’s structure combines prophetic perfects, infinitives of purpose, and vivid similes to describe a universal revelation of YHWH’s presence. The syntax is both expansive and precise—mirroring the subject it conveys. Clause Structure: One Vision, Two Clauses The verse consists of two coordinated clauses: 1.… Learn Hebrew

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Between the Suns and the Completion of Labor: Aspect and Construct Syntax in Targum Jonathan on Genesis 2:2

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Aramaic Grammar

וּשְׁלִים יְיָ בְּיוֹמָא שְׁבִיעָאָה עֲבִידְתֵּיהּ דְעָבַד וְעִישַרְתֵּי עִיסְקִין דִבְרָא בֵּינֵי שִׁמְשְׁתָא וְנַח בְּיוֹמָא שְׁבִיעָאָה מִכָּל עֲבִידְתֵּיהּ דְעָבָד And the LORD completed on the seventh day His work which He had done, and He enriched the operations of creation between the suns, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. Verse Selection and Focus This richly interpretive rendering of Genesis 2:2 by Targum Jonathan offers fertile ground for grammatical analysis. We will focus on two key features: 1.… Learn Hebrew

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“Yat” and the Marking of Definiteness: The Syntax of Direct Objects in Targum Onkelos

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Aramaic Grammar

בְּקַדְמִין בְּרָא יְיָ יָת שְׁמַיָּא וְיָת אַרְעָא (Genesis 1:1 in Targum Onkelos) In the beginning, the LORD created the heavens and the earth Opening Focus: Why Study יָת? In Biblical Aramaic, and especially in Targum Onkelos, the particle יָת (yat) plays a critical grammatical role. It marks definite direct objects, a feature not found in the same way in Biblical Hebrew. The verse בְּקַדְמִין בְּרָא יְיָ יָת שְׁמַיָּא וְיָת אַרְעָא (Genesis 1:1 in Targum Onkelos) beautifully demonstrates this phenomenon, containing two uses of יָת that frame the syntax of the act of creation.… Learn Hebrew

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The Simplicity and Subtlety of Hebrew Verbal Morphology

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Biblical Hebrew

The Biblical Hebrew verbal system, though morphologically sparse, is a masterclass in expressive precision. With just two core tense-forms—Perfect and Imperfect—plus a handful of infinitives, participles, and imperatives, Hebrew conveys rich temporal, modal, and aspectual meaning through syntax and context rather than overt grammatical complexity. The Perfect signals completed actions, while the Imperfect captures ongoing or potential ones, often serving modal roles like jussive or cohortative. Gender, number, and person are embedded in verb forms, and narrative flow is shaped by chains like wayyiqtol and weqatal.… Learn Hebrew

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Perfect Aspect and Divine Judgment in Isaiah 13:11: The Grammar of Prophetic Certainty

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Biblical Hebrew

וּפָקַדְתִּ֤י עַל־תֵּבֵל֙ רָעָ֔ה וְעַל־רְשָׁעִ֖ים עֲוֹנָ֑ם וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ גְּאֹ֣ון זֵדִ֔ים וְגַאֲוַ֥ת עָרִיצִ֖ים אַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ (Isaiah 13:11) I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will bring an end to the pride of the arrogant, and I will humble the haughtiness of tyrants. Oracular Certainty in the Context of Global Judgment Isaiah 13 forms part of the so-called “Oracles Against the Nations,” focusing here on Babylon. Verse 11 stands as a divine pronouncement of cosmic justice, where YHWH himself announces judgment on the world and its arrogant rulers.… Learn Hebrew

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“They Were Among the Rebels Against the Light”: Syntax of Moral Rebellion in Job 24:13

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Biblical Hebrew

הֵ֤מָּה הָיוּ֮ בְּֽמֹרְדֵ֫י־אֹ֥ור לֹֽא־הִכִּ֥ירוּ דְרָכָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יָ֝שְׁב֗וּ בִּנְתִיבֹתָֽיו׃ (Job 24:13) They were among those who rebel against the light; they did not recognize its ways, nor did they remain in its paths. Darkness, Defiance, and the Syntax of Rejection Job 24:13 marks the beginning of a unit within Job’s speech cataloguing moral evildoers who operate in secret, particularly under the cover of darkness. This verse serves as a heading of sorts for a poetic meditation on moral inversion—a world where justice seems delayed and the wicked thrive unseen.… Learn Hebrew

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Repetition, Aspect, and Poetic Judgment in Psalm 96:13

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Biblical Hebrew

לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָ֨ה כִּ֬י בָ֗א כִּ֥י בָא֮ לִשְׁפֹּ֪ט הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים בֶּאֱמוּנָתֹֽו׃ (Psalm 96:13) Before the LORD, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth! He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His faithfulness. Eschatological Expectation in Liturgical Poetry Psalm 96 celebrates the kingship of YHWH and His coming judgment over all the earth. The final verse, 96:13, brings the psalm to a climax with a powerful prophetic declaration, repeated for emphasis: The verse features the poetic repetition of כִּי בָא (“for He is coming”) and the use of aspectually significant verb forms that frame the judgment of YHWH as both imminent and certain.… Learn Hebrew

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