Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 12:1: Memory Before the Days of Trouble Ecclesiastes 12:1 begins the final poetic crescendo of Qohelet, opening with a direct imperative: וּזְכֹר אֶת־בֹּורְאֶיךָ—“Remember your Creator.” It is a call not merely to mental recollection but to covenantal consciousness. This command stands in contrast to the growing theme of decline and decay that follows, and sets the tone for interpreting life through the lens of remembrance before irreversible Read more [...]

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 10:1: Wisdom Spoiled by a Whisper of Folly This verse opens the tenth chapter of Ecclesiastes with a powerful metaphor: זְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת יַבְאִ֥ישׁ יַבִּ֖יעַ שֶׁ֣מֶן רֹוקֵ֑חַ—“Dead flies make the perfumer’s oil stink.” What follows is a moral insight: a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. The contrast is stark and deliberate: tiny elements, when misplaced, can destroy that which is refined and valuable. This Read more [...]

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 9:1: Reflection in the Hand of Elohim Ecclesiastes 9:1 opens with a deeply introspective declaration: כִּ֣י אֶת־כָּל־זֶ֞ה נָתַ֤תִּי אֶל־לִבִּי֙—“For all this I laid to my heart.” This expression recurs throughout the book of Qohelet and functions as a gateway to philosophical meditation. It signals not just an act of thinking, but a personal weighing of reality. In this verse, it precedes a sobering observation about human Read more [...]

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 6:1: A Refrain of Disturbance Ecclesiastes 6:1 begins with a haunting declaration: יֵ֣שׁ רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ—“There is an evil that I have seen under the sun.” This recurring formula in Qohelet's discourse is not merely observational—it functions as a philosophical signal, preparing the reader for a reflection on the absurdity or futility of life. In this article, we will examine the grammatical Read more [...]

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:17: Approaching the House of Elohim with Caution Ecclesiastes 4:17 (5:1 in English Bibles) opens with a striking imperative: שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ—“guard your feet.” This instruction is not about physical safety, but spiritual posture. Qohelet urges the worshiper to approach the house of Elohim not casually, but mindfully. Through grammatical precision and metaphor, the verse contrasts the wise listener with the foolish offerer of sacrifices. In this Read more [...]

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:1: Lament Beneath the Sun Ecclesiastes 4:1 returns to a central theme in Qohelet’s worldview—the injustice and sorrow experienced under the sun. The verse is structured as a lamentation, where the Preacher observes the suffering of the oppressed and highlights their isolation with a powerful refrain: וְאֵ֥ין לָהֶ֖ם מְנַחֵֽם—“and there is no comforter for them.” This article explores the grammatical, poetic, and existential significance Read more [...]