The Hebrew Verb גָּנַב: To Steal or Deceive

The Hebrew verb גָּנַב (root: ג-נ-ב) means “to steal,” “to carry away secretly,” or “to deceive” in certain contexts. It is most often used in the context of theft—whether property, people (as in kidnapping), or abstractly in acts of stealth and trickery. This verb appears primarily in the Qal binyan for basic theft and in the Pual (to be stolen). It is often found in legal texts, commandments, and narratives involving wrongdoing.   Qal Binyan Conjugation of גָּנַב (“to steal”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular גָּנַבְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular גָּנַבְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular גָּנַבְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular גָּנַב 3rd person feminine singular גָּנְבָה 1st person plural גָּנַבְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural גְּנַבְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural גְּנַבְתֶּן 3rd person plural גָּנְבוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular גּוֹנֵב Feminine singular גּוֹנֶבֶת Masculine plural גּוֹנְבִים Feminine plural גּוֹנְבוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶגְנֹב 2nd person masculine singular תִּגְנֹב 2nd person feminine singular תִּגְנְבִי 3rd person masculine singular יִגְנֹב 3rd person feminine singular תִּגְנֹב 1st person plural נִגְנֹב 2nd person masculine plural תִּגְנְבוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּגְנֹבְנָה 3rd person plural יִגְנְבוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular גְּנֹב 2nd person feminine singular גִּנְבִי 2nd person masculine plural גִּנְבוּ 2nd person feminine plural גְּנֹבְנָה   Usage in Scripture Exodus 20:15 – לֹא תִּגְנֹב “You shall not steal.”… Learn Hebrew
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Incline Your Ear: Imperatives, Parallelism, and the Poetic Call to Wisdom in Proverbs 5:1

בְּ֭נִי לְחָכְמָתִ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י הַט־אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ (Proverbs 5:1) My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding. Proverbs 5:1 begins a fatherly appeal warning against the seductive power of immorality, urging the hearer to embrace wisdom. As is typical in biblical wisdom literature, the verse uses poetic parallelism, imperative mood, and possessive structures to engage the hearer emotionally and intellectually. The language is not simply instructional—it is relational and urgent, using grammar to reinforce the gravity of the moral path ahead.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּמַר: To Complete, Finish, or Accomplish

The Hebrew verb גָּמַר (root: ג-מ-ר) means “to complete,” “to finish,” “to bring to an end,” or “to accomplish.” It conveys a strong sense of finishing something fully, whether that be an action, a project, a process, or even a period of time. גָּמַר mainly appears in the Qal binyan (simple action: to complete) and occasionally in the Piel binyan (intensive: to finish thoroughly).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of גָּמַר (“to complete, finish”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular גָּמַרְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular גָּמַרְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular גָּמַרְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular גָּמַר 3rd person feminine singular גָּמְרָה 1st person plural גָּמַרְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural גְּמַרְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural גְּמַרְתֶּן 3rd person plural גָּמְרוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular גּוֹמֵר Feminine singular גּוֹמֶרֶת Masculine plural גּוֹמְרִים Feminine plural גּוֹמְרוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶגְמֹר 2nd person masculine singular תִּגְמֹר 2nd person feminine singular תִּגְמְרִי 3rd person masculine singular יִגְמֹר 3rd person feminine singular תִּגְמֹר 1st person plural נִגְמֹר 2nd person masculine plural תִּגְמְרוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּגְמֹרְנָה 3rd person plural יִגְמְרוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular גְּמֹר 2nd person feminine singular גִּמְרִי 2nd person masculine plural גִּמְרוּ 2nd person feminine plural גְּמֹרְנָה   Usage in Scripture Psalm 138:8 – יְהוָה יִגְמֹר בַּעֲדִי “The LORD will accomplish it for me.”… Learn Hebrew
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Speaking and Showing: Sequential Actions and Demonstrative Syntax in Exodus 4:30

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָאֹתֹ֖ת לְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃ (Exodus 4:30) And Aharon spoke all the words which YHWH had spoken to Moshe, and he performed the signs in the sight of the people. Main Speech Act: וַיְדַבֵּר אַהֲרֹן וַיְדַבֵּר (“and he spoke”) is a Piel wayyiqtol 3ms of ד־ב־ר (“to speak”), showing intensive verbal communication. אַהֲרֹן (“Aaron”) is the clear subject. This verb form moves the narrative forward sequentially, highlighting Aaron’s role as the mouthpiece. Object of Speech: אֵת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה אֵת marks the definite direct object.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גִּלַּח: To Shave or Shear

The Hebrew verb גִּלַּח (root: ג-ל-ח) means “to shave,” “to shear,” or “to remove hair.” It primarily appears in the Piel binyan, which expresses intensive or purposeful action, particularly when shaving the head, beard, or body. It is used in ritual contexts (such as purification rites) and in descriptions of mourning or humiliation. The verb also appears in the Hithpael form (reflexive), meaning “to shave oneself.”   Piel Binyan Conjugation of גִּלַּח (“to shave”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular גִּלַּחְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular גִּלַּחְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular גִּלַּחְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular גִּלַּח 3rd person feminine singular גִּלְּחָה 1st person plural גִּלַּחְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural גִּלַּחְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural גִּלַּחְתֶּן 3rd person plural גִּלְּחוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular מְגַלֵּחַ Feminine singular מְגַלַּחַת Masculine plural מְגַלְּחִים Feminine plural מְגַלְּחוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֲגַלֵּחַ 2nd person masculine singular תְּגַלֵּחַ 2nd person feminine singular תְּגַלְּחִי 3rd person masculine singular יְגַלֵּחַ 3rd person feminine singular תְּגַלֵּחַ 1st person plural נְגַלֵּחַ 2nd person masculine plural תְּגַלְּחוּ 2nd person feminine plural תְּגַלֵּחַנָּה 3rd person plural יְגַלְּחוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular גַלֵּחַ 2nd person feminine singular גַלְּחִי 2nd person masculine plural גַלְּחוּ 2nd person feminine plural גַלֵּחַנָּה   Usage in Scripture Numbers 6:9 – וְגִלַּח רֹאשׁ נִזְרוֹ “And he shall shave the head of his consecration…” — regarding a Nazirite vow.… Learn Hebrew
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Seeking with All Your Heart: Imperfects, Conditionals, and Covenant Pursuit in Deuteronomy 4:29

וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּמָצָ֑אתָ כִּ֣י תִדְרְשֶׁ֔נּוּ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (Deuteronomy 4:29) But from there you will seek YHWH your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. Initiation of Seeking: וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם (“and you will seek”) is a Piel perfect 2mp from ב־ק־שׁ (“to seek, inquire”), preceded by vav-consecutive, turning the perfect into a predictive future. מִשָּׁם (“from there”) marks the place of exile as the starting point of seeking.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּלָה: To Uncover, Reveal, or Exile

The Hebrew verb גָּלָה (root: ג-ל-ה) has a range of meanings depending on the context and binyan: – In the Qal binyan, it often means “to uncover,” “to reveal,” or “to be exposed.” – In the Hiphil binyan, it often means “to take into exile,” “to remove,” or “to deport.” – In some cases, especially in Niphal, it can mean “to be revealed” or “to be uncovered.” This verb plays a significant role in biblical narratives involving revelation, exposure (of sin, truth, or shame), and exile of individuals or entire nations.… Learn Hebrew
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Silent Idols: Infinitives, Negation, and Sensory Absence in Deuteronomy 4:28

וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם עֵ֣ץ וָאֶ֔בֶן אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִרְאוּן֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּן וְלֹ֥א יֹֽאכְל֖וּן וְלֹ֥א יְרִיחֻֽן׃ (Deuteronomy 4:28) And there you will serve gods, the work of human hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. Future Prediction: וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁם אֱלֹהִים וַעֲבַדְתֶּם is a Qal wayyiqtol 2mp of ע־ב־ד (“to serve”), used here predictively: “and you shall serve.” The location שָׁם (“there”) marks exile, indicating worship in a foreign land. אֱלֹהִים here refers not to the true God, but to foreign idols — a bitter irony conveyed by context.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb גָּזַר: To Cut, Decree, or Decide

The Hebrew verb גָּזַר (root: ג-ז-ר) primarily means “to cut,” “to divide,” or “to decree.” Originally, it referred to a literal act of cutting or severing something. Over time, it took on a more abstract meaning, describing a legal or authoritative decision (i.e., a decree being issued, as if it were “cut out” or finalized). This verb appears mainly in the Qal binyan (to cut, to decide), and sometimes in the Niphal binyan (to be decreed or decided).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of גָּזַר (“to cut,” “to decree”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular גָּזַרְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular גָּזַרְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular גָּזַרְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular גָּזַר 3rd person feminine singular גָּזְרָה 1st person plural גָּזַרְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural גְּזַרְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural גְּזַרְתֶּן 3rd person plural גָּזְרוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular גּוֹזֵר Feminine singular גּוֹזֶרֶת Masculine plural גּוֹזְרִים Feminine plural גּוֹזְרוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶגְזֹּר 2nd person masculine singular תִּגְזֹּר 2nd person feminine singular תִּגְזְּרִי 3rd person masculine singular יִגְזֹּר 3rd person feminine singular תִּגְזֹּר 1st person plural נִגְזֹּר 2nd person masculine plural תִּגְזְּרוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּגְזֹּרְנָה 3rd person plural יִגְזְּרוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular גְּזֹּר 2nd person feminine singular גִּזְרִי 2nd person masculine plural גִּזְרוּ 2nd person feminine plural גְּזֹּרְנָה   Usage in Scripture Job 22:28 – וְתִגְזֹּר אֹמֶר וְיָקָם לָךְ “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you.”… Learn Hebrew
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Meeting in the Wilderness: Commands, Encounters, and Sequential Verbs in Exodus 4:27

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן לֵ֛ךְ לִקְרַ֥את מֹשֶׁ֖ה הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַֽיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּ בְּהַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיִּשַּׁק־לֹֽו׃ (Exodus 4:27) And YHWH said to Aharon, “Go to meet Moshe in the wilderness.” And he went and met him on the mountain of God and kissed him. Divine Command: וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־אַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמֶר is a Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of א־מ־ר (“to say”), standard for narrative progression. יְהוָה is the divine speaker, and אֶל־אַהֲרֹן marks Aaron as the recipient. This phrase introduces a command directly from God to Aaron.… Learn Hebrew
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