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Recent Articles
- Grammar Under the Rod — Causatives, Double Accusatives, and the Syntax of Accusation
- The Hebrew Verb דָּמָה: To Resemble, Be Like, or Imagine
- Prophets to Wind, Words Without Breath: Futility and Punishment in Jeremiah 5:13
- The Hebrew Verb דָּלַק: To Pursue or Burn
- Scattered in Strain — Purpose Infinitives and the Language of Forced Labor
- The Hebrew Verb דָּחָה: To Reject, Push Away, or Repel
- The Grammar of Panic — Verbal Clustering and Narrative Urgency
- The Hebrew Verb דּוּן: To Judge, Plead, or Contend
- The Double Authority Structure: Reported Speech and Negation in Exodus 5:10
- The Hebrew Verb דִּבֵּר: To Speak, Declare, or Command
- The Interrogative with הֲלֹא: Rebuke and Rhetoric in Nehemiah 5:9
- The Hebrew Verb דָּבַק: To Cling, Stick, or Cleave
Categories
“Do Not Arouse Love Until It Desires”: Volition, Oath, and the Conditional אִם in Song of Songs 2:7
Introduction to Song of Songs 2:7: A Poetic Oath of Restraint
This iconic verse from the Song of Songs is the first of three poetic refrains that appear throughout the book (cf. 3:5, 8:4). Here, the female speaker addresses the “daughters of Yerushalayim” and adjures them by the wild creatures of the field not to awaken love before its proper time. The verse features unique poetic features: the use of conditional clauses with אִם, the volitional jussive mood, and a formal oath formula. This Read more [...]
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“I Will Not Withhold a Word”: The Cohortative and Prophetic Intention in Jeremiah 42:4
Introduction to Jeremiah 42:4: The Prophet's Assurance
In Jeremiah 42:4, the prophet responds to a plea for divine counsel. His statement is notable for its solemn tone and its careful use of Hebrew verbal forms to express commitment, intention, and future action. Particularly striking is the use of the cohortative construction and first-person imperfect forms that reflect both prophetic submission to YHWH and personal integrity. This verse provides a valuable window into the mechanics of biblical Read more [...]
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“But Only Cities to Live In”: The Restrictive Construction כִּי אִם in Joshua 14:4
Introduction to Joshua 14:4: Tribal Allocation and Levitical Exception
Joshua 14:4 outlines the distribution of the land among the tribes of Yisra’el, highlighting the unique position of the descendants of Yosef and the tribe of Levi. Most tribes received a geographical inheritance, but the Levites were given no such portion. Instead, they were allotted cities and pasturelands. The phrase כִּ֤י אִם־עָרִים֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת employs the Hebrew restrictive construction כִּי Read more [...]
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Verb Study: אִחֵל — “to wish” or “to congratulate”
The Hebrew verb אִחֵל (ʾiḥēl) appears in the Hebrew Bible and carries the meaning of “to wish,” especially in the context of blessing or congratulating someone. It belongs to the Piel binyan (intensive stem), and its root is א־ח־ל. This verb is not highly common, but it does appear in poetic or formal contexts, and it has survived in Modern Hebrew with the same meaning of “to wish” (e.g., mazal tov wishes).
In Biblical Hebrew, this verb is usually used in the Piel stem, and Read more [...]
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“Then Iyov Answered and Said”: Formulaic Speech Introductions in Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Job 3:2: The Turning Point of Silence into Speech
Job 3:2 contains only six Hebrew words, yet it marks a pivotal moment in the literary structure of the book: וַיַּ֥עַן אִיֹּ֗וב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃ — “Then Iyov answered and said.” This terse formula is the standard biblical narrative introduction to direct speech, particularly in dialogues. After a long narrative setup in chapters 1–2 and seven days of silence (Job 2:13), these words announce the beginning Read more [...]
“Lacked Nothing in the Wilderness”: Divine Sufficiency and the Verb חָסַר in Deuteronomy 2:7
Introduction to Deuteronomy 2:7: YHWH’s Provision Over Forty Years
As Moshe reflects on the long journey through the wilderness, he emphasizes not just the hardships but also the unrelenting provision of YHWH. The closing declaration—לֹ֥א חָסַ֖רְתָּ דָּבָֽר (“you lacked nothing”)—reveals more than mere survival; it expresses the profound theme of divine sufficiency. This article explores the verb חָסַר, its grammatical form, and its theological resonance in expressing Read more [...]
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“The Seed of Shīḥor”: Analyzing the Construct Chain זֶרַע שִׁחֹר in Isaiah 23:3
Introduction to Isaiah 23:3: Trade and Wealth in Poetic Prophecy
Isaiah 23 is a poetic oracle against the city of Tsor (Tyre), a hub of international commerce and maritime influence. In verse 3, the prophet depicts the city's economic entanglements using vivid agricultural and geographical metaphors. One key phrase is זֶרַע שִׁחֹר—“the seed of Shīḥor”—which encapsulates Tyre’s reliance on the abundant produce of foreign lands. This article analyzes the construct noun chain, Read more [...]
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“Destroyers and Scatterers of My Flock”: Analyzing the Participles מְאַבְּדִים and מְפִצִים in Jeremiah 23:1
Introduction to Jeremiah 23:1: Prophetic Indictment Against False Shepherds
Jeremiah 23:1 opens a powerful oracle of woe against the leaders of Yisra’el, metaphorically called "shepherds" who have failed in their responsibility to care for the flock of YHWH. The use of participles—מְאַבְּדִים (“destroying”) and מְפִצִים (“scattering”)—not only describes their actions but also conveys an ongoing and habitual pattern of corruption. This article explores the grammatical Read more [...]
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The Hebrew Verb אָחַז – “To Seize” or “To Grasp”
The Hebrew verb אָחַז (ʾāḥaz) is a common and important root in Biblical Hebrew. It means “to seize,” “to grasp,” or “to take hold of,” and is used in various contexts throughout the Tanakh—from grasping physical objects like weapons and hands to metaphorical uses such as being seized by fear or emotions. It follows standard Qal verb patterns and appears in a wide range of forms. Below is a comprehensive table of its conjugation in past, present, future, imperative, and infinitive Read more [...]
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Singulars of Measure in Biblical Hebrew
The phenomenon of the singular of measure in Biblical Hebrew is a fascinating grammatical and syntactic feature. It reflects how Hebrew expresses quantity, time, age, and other measurable constructs using a singular noun to represent a plural idea. In this lesson, we will explore its use across various semantic domains—especially time, space, and quantity—while examining paradigmatic examples like שָׁנָה (year) and its plural שָׁנִים.
I. Introduction to Singulars of Measure
Biblical Read more [...]
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