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 [...]
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The Use of Poetic Imagery in Jonah 2:5

Jonah 2:5 in Hebrew אֲפָפ֤וּנִי מַ֨יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ תְּהֹ֖ום יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי ס֖וּף חָב֥וּשׁ לְרֹאשִֽׁי׃ Introduction to Jonah’s Prayer Jonah 2:5 is part of Jonah’s prayer from within the fish, using vivid poetic imagery to describe his distress. The verse states: אֲפָפ֤וּנִי מַ֨יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ – "The waters surrounded me up to my soul." תְּהֹ֖ום יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי – "The Read more [...]
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The Meaning of שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון in Leviticus 25:4

Leviticus 25:4 in Hebrew וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗ת שַׁבַּ֤ת שַׁבָּתֹון֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָאָ֔רֶץ שַׁבָּ֖ת לַיהוָ֑ה שָֽׂדְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תִזְרָ֔ע וְכַרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִזְמֹֽר׃ Introduction to שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתֹון Leviticus 25:4 introduces the Sabbatical Year (שְׁמִטָּה, Shemittah), in which the land is to rest every seven years. The key phrase in this verse is: שַׁבַּת Read more [...]
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Hebrew Idioms and Metaphors in Proverbs 23:5

Proverbs 23:5 in Hebrew הֲתָעִיף עֵינֶ֥יךָ בֹּ֗ו וְֽאֵ֫ינֶ֥נּוּ כִּ֤י עָשֹׂ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לֹּ֣ו כְנָפַ֑יִם כְּ֝נֶ֗שֶׁר וָעִ֥יף הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ Introduction to Hebrew Idioms in Proverbs Proverbs 23:5 uses vivid metaphorical language and idiomatic expressions to describe the fleeting nature of wealth. The verse states: הֲתָעִיף עֵינֶ֥יךָ בֹּ֗ו וְֽאֵ֫ינֶ֥נּוּ – Read more [...]
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The Use of Rhetorical Questions and Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew (Habakkuk 3:8)

Habakkuk 3:8 in Hebrew הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י תִרְכַּב֙ עַל־סוּסֶ֔יךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃ Introduction to Rhetorical Questions and Parallelism Habakkuk 3:8 presents a vivid poetic description of God's power, employing rhetorical questions and parallelism to emphasize divine action. The verse asks: הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ Read more [...]
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The Use of וַיְהִי in Biblical Hebrew Narrative (Ruth 1:1)

Ruth 1:1 in Hebrew וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ שְׁפֹ֣ט הַשֹּׁפְטִ֔ים וַיְהִ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִ֜ישׁ מִבֵּ֧ית לֶ֣חֶם יְהוּדָ֗ה לָגוּר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣י מֹואָ֔ב ה֥וּא וְאִשְׁתֹּ֖ו וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנָֽיו׃ Introduction to וַיְהִי The opening of Ruth 1:1 features the phrase וַיְהִי בִּימֵי ("And it came to pass in the days of…"). Read more [...]
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The Use of Rhetorical Questions in Biblical Hebrew (Psalms 94:9)

Psalms 94:9 in Hebrew הֲנֹ֣טַֽע אֹ֭זֶן הֲלֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִֽם־יֹ֥צֵֽר עַ֝֗יִן הֲלֹ֣א יַבִּֽיט׃ Introduction to Rhetorical Questions Psalms 94:9 uses rhetorical questions to emphasize the power and awareness of God. The verse asks: הֲנֹ֣טַֽע אֹ֭זֶן הֲלֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑ע – "The one who planted the ear, does He not hear?" אִֽם־יֹ֥צֵֽר עַ֝֗יִן הֲלֹ֣א יַבִּֽיט – "If He formed Read more [...]
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The Parallel Verbs שִׁמְעוּ and הַאֲזִינוּ in Biblical Hebrew (Joel 1:2)

Joel 1:2 in Hebrew שִׁמְעוּ־זֹאת֙ הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ כֹּ֖ל יֹושְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ הֶהָ֤יְתָה זֹּאת֙ בִּֽימֵיכֶ֔ם וְאִ֖ם בִּימֵ֥י אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ Introduction to שִׁמְעוּ and הַאֲזִינוּ In Joel 1:2, two verbs are used in parallel: שִׁמְעוּ (shimʿū, "hear") and הַאֲזִינוּ (haʾăzīnū, "give ear" or "listen"). These verbs appear frequently Read more [...]
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