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Recent Articles
- The Hebrew Verb בָּרָא: To Create, Bring into Existence
- Sequential Devastation: Narrative Syntax and Theological Catastrophe in 1 Samuel 4:17
- The Hebrew Verb בִּקֵּשׁ: To Seek, Request, or Desire
- “He Shall Be Your Mouth”: Syntax of Mediation and Divine Authority in Exodus 4:16
- The Hebrew Verb בָּקַר: To Seek, Inquire, or Inspect
- The Mark of Mercy: Legal Syntax and Divine Protection in Genesis 4:15
- The Hebrew Verb בָּצַע: To Cut Off, Break Open, or Gain Unjustly
- Teaching the Law: Syntax of Instruction and Inheritance in Deuteronomy 4:14
- The Hebrew Verb בָּנָה: To Build, Construct, or Establish
- Dream Syntax and Divine Communication: Structural Layers in Job 4:13
- The Hebrew Verb בָּלַע: To Swallow, Devour, or Destroy
- Concealing the Sacred: Sequential Syntax and Ritual Handling in Numbers 4:12
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Common Endings and Patterns of Gender of Nouns in Biblical Hebrew
In Biblical Hebrew, nouns are generally categorized as either masculine or feminine. Unlike English, where gender is typically limited to pronouns and animate beings, Hebrew assigns gender even to inanimate objects, abstract concepts, and grammatical structures. Understanding the gender of nouns is crucial for proper agreement with verbs, adjectives, and pronouns.
The gender of a Hebrew noun can often be predicted based on its ending and structure, though there are numerous exceptions. This article Read more [...]
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The Meaning of תֵּבַת גֹּ֔מֶא in Exodus 2:3
Exodus 2:3 in Hebrew
וְלֹא־יָכְלָ֣ה עֹוד֮ הַצְּפִינֹו֒ וַתִּֽקַּֽח־לֹו֙ תֵּ֣בַת גֹּ֔מֶא וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה בַחֵמָ֖ר וּבַזָּ֑פֶת וַתָּ֤שֶׂם בָּהּ֙ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד וַתָּ֥שֶׂם בַּסּ֖וּף עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיְאֹֽר׃
Introduction to the Verse
Exodus 2:3 describes the moment when Moshe's mother placed him in a basket to protect him from Pharaoh’s decree. Read more [...]
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The Meaning of עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם in Genesis 34:30
Genesis 34:30 in Hebrew
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־שִׁמְעֹ֣ון וְאֶל־לֵוִי֮ עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִי֒ לְהַבְאִישֵׁ֨נִי֙ בְּיֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י וּבַפְּרִזִּ֑י וַאֲנִי֙ מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר וְנֶאֶסְפ֤וּ עָלַי֙ וְהִכּ֔וּנִי וְנִשְׁמַדְתִּ֖י אֲנִ֥י וּבֵיתִֽי׃
Introduction to the Verse
Genesis Read more [...]
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The Prophetic Vision in Obadiah 1:1
Obadiah 1:1 in Hebrew
חֲזֹ֖ון עֹֽבַדְיָ֑ה כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יְהוִ֜ה לֶאֱדֹ֗ום שְׁמוּעָ֨ה שָׁמַ֜עְנוּ מֵאֵ֤ת יְהוָה֙ וְצִיר֙ בַּגֹּויִ֣ם שֻׁלָּ֔ח ק֛וּמוּ וְנָק֥וּמָה עָלֶ֖יהָ לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
Introduction to the Verse
Obadiah 1:1 introduces the vision of Obadiah, focusing on a divine message concerning Edom. The verse states:
חֲזֹ֖ון Read more [...]
The Tribal Inheritance in Joshua 14:4
Joshua 14:4 in Hebrew
כִּֽי־הָי֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יֹוסֵ֛ף שְׁנֵ֥י מַטֹּ֖ות מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־נָתְנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק לַלְוִיִּ֜ם בָּאָ֗רֶץ כִּ֤י אִם־עָרִים֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְקִנְיָנָֽם׃
Introduction to the Verse
Joshua 14:4 provides a key clarification regarding the division of land among the tribes Read more [...]
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The Meaning of דֹּדֶיךָ in Song of Songs 1:2
Song of Songs 1:2 in Hebrew
יִשָּׁקֵ֨נִי֙ מִנְּשִׁיקֹ֣ות פִּ֔יהוּ כִּֽי־טֹובִ֥ים דֹּדֶ֖יךָ מִיָּֽיִן׃
Introduction to the Verse
Song of Songs 1:2 is a poetic expression of love and longing, beginning the book with an intimate request:
יִשָּׁקֵ֨נִי֙ מִנְּשִׁיקֹ֣ות פִּ֔יהוּ – "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth."
כִּֽי־טֹובִ֥ים דֹּדֶ֖יךָ מִיָּֽיִן Read more [...]
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The Meaning of מִלְּתָא אַזְדָּא in Daniel 2:5
Daniel 2:5 in Hebrew
עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֣ר לְכַשְׂדָּיֵא מִלְּתָ֖א מִנִּ֣י אַזְדָּ֑א הֵ֣ן לָ֤א תְהֹֽודְעוּנַּ֨נִי֙ חֶלְמָ֣א וּפִשְׁרֵ֔הּ הַדָּמִין֙ תִּתְעַבְד֔וּן וּבָתֵּיכֹ֖ון נְוָלִ֥י יִתְּשָׂמֽוּן׃
Introduction to the Expression מִלְּתָא אַזְדָּא
Daniel 2:5 records King Nebuchadnezzar’s response to the Chaldeans Read more [...]
The Use of Contrasting Concepts in Ecclesiastes 2:3
Ecclesiastes 2:3 in Hebrew
תַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י לִמְשֹׁ֥וךְ בַּיַּ֖יִן אֶת־בְּשָׂרִ֑י וְלִבִּ֞י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז בְּסִכְל֔וּת עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר־אֶרְאֶ֗ה אֵי־זֶ֨ה טֹ֜וב לִבְנֵ֤י הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַעֲשׂוּ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּיהֶֽם׃
Introduction to the Verse
Ecclesiastes Read more [...]
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The Hebrew Verb אָזַן in the Hebrew Bible
Understanding the Verb אָזַן
The Hebrew verb אָזַן (ʾāzan) is a significant term in the Hebrew Bible, meaning "to listen attentively" or "to give ear." It differs from the common verb for hearing, שָׁמַע (shāmaʿ), in that אָזַן conveys the sense of careful and deliberate listening. This verb is most frequently used in its Hifil stem (הִאזִין, hē’ĕzīn), which means "to cause to listen" or "to give heed."
The root א-ז-ן is also associated with the noun אֹזֶן Read more [...]
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The Meaning of תָּם וְיָשָׁר in Job 1:1
Job 1:1 in Hebrew
אִ֛ישׁ הָיָ֥ה בְאֶֽרֶץ־ע֖וּץ אִיֹּ֣וב שְׁמֹ֑ו וְהָיָ֣ה הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֗וּא תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר וִירֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְסָ֥ר מֵרָֽע׃
Introduction to Job's Character
Job 1:1 introduces Job as a man of exemplary character, describing him with four key attributes:
תָּ֧ם וְיָשָׁ֛ר – "blameless and upright"
וִירֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים – "fearing God"
וְסָ֥ר Read more [...]