The Hebrew Verb בָּטַח: To Trust, Rely Upon, or Be Confident

The Hebrew verb בָּטַח (root: ב-ט-ח) means “to trust,” “to be confident,” or “to rely upon.” It is one of the most important and frequently used words in biblical Hebrew for expressing faith, security, and dependence—especially on YHWH. The verb implies a deep sense of assurance or placing one’s confidence in something or someone. בָּטַח appears predominantly in the Qal stem, often followed by the prepositions בְּ (in) or עַל (upon), and is richly used in Psalms, Proverbs, and prophetic literature.… Learn Hebrew
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Imperative Syntax and the Economics of Wisdom in Proverbs 4:7

רֵאשִׁ֣ית חָ֭כְמָה קְנֵ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה וּבְכָל־֝קִנְיָנְךָ֗ קְנֵ֣ה בִינָֽה׃ (Proverbs 4:7) The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; and with all your acquisition, get understanding. Wisdom as Commodity and Command Proverbs 4:7 is a pivotal statement in the wisdom tradition, combining instructional tone with poetic parallelism. It exhorts the learner to prioritize wisdom above all possessions, using the language of acquisition and possession. This verse is both poetic and didactic. It emphasizes not the abstract value of wisdom, but the practical and existential necessity of actively acquiring it.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּחַר: To Choose or Select

The Hebrew verb בָּחַר (root: ב-ח-ר) means “to choose,” “to select,” or “to prefer.” It plays a crucial theological role in the Hebrew Bible, often used in relation to divine election—God choosing individuals (like Avraham or David), tribes (like Levi), or the nation of Yisra’el. בָּחַר appears primarily in the Qal binyan, where it describes the simple action of choosing. It is frequently followed by the preposition בְּ (indicating the one who is chosen).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּחַר Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּחַרְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּחַרְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּחַרְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּחַר 3rd person feminine singular בָּחֲרָה 1st person plural בָּחַרְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּחַרְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַרְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּחֲרוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּחֵר Feminine singular בֹּחֶרֶת Masculine plural בּוֹחֲרִים Feminine plural בּוֹחֲרוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְחַר 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְחַר 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְחֲרִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְחַר 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְחַר 1st person plural נִבְחַר 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְחֲרוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְחַרְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְחֲרוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּחַר 2nd person feminine singular בַּחֲרִי 2nd person masculine plural בַּחֲרוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַרְנָה   Usage in Scripture Deuteronomy 7:6 – בְּךָ בָּחַר יְהוָה “The LORD has chosen you…” — referring to the election of Yisra’el.… Learn Hebrew
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Divine Interrogatives and Emotional Discourse in Genesis 4:6

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־קָ֑יִן לָ֚מָּה חָ֣רָה לָ֔ךְ וְלָ֖מָּה נָפְל֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃ (Genesis 4:6) And the LORD said to Qayin, “Why are you angry? And why has your face fallen?” Divine Engagement and Internal Conflict in the Cain Narrative Genesis 4:6 introduces YHWH’s first verbal response to Qayin (Cain) after his offering is rejected. Rather than immediate punishment or condemnation, God addresses Qayin’s emotional state with pastoral interrogation. This brief exchange is rich in theological and grammatical meaning. The divine address uses interrogative syntax not to gather information but to invite self-reflection.… Learn Hebrew
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Divine Initiative and Cohortative Syntax in Micah 4:6: Grammar of Restoration

בַּיֹּ֨ום הַה֜וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה אֹֽסְפָה֙ הַצֹּ֣לֵעָ֔ה וְהַנִּדָּחָ֖ה אֲקַבֵּ֑צָה וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר הֲרֵעֹֽתִי׃ (Micah 4:6) In that day, declares YHWH, I will gather the lame and I will assemble the outcast—even those whom I have afflicted. Prophetic Reversal and the Margins Restored Micah 4:6 begins a prophetic oracle of hope and reversal, contrasting with the judgment warnings that precede it. It introduces YHWH’s promise to restore the marginalized and broken of Israel. This verse centers on divine initiative, expressed through volitional and cohortative verb forms.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בָּחַן: To Test, Examine, or Try

The Hebrew verb בָּחַן (root: ב-ח-ן) means “to test,” “to examine,” or “to scrutinize.” It is used in both literal and metaphorical contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible. Often appearing in wisdom literature and prophetic books, it describes the testing of hearts, intentions, and individuals to reveal what is true or genuine. This verb primarily occurs in the Qal binyan and often takes YHWH as the subject—indicating divine examination of human beings.   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּחַן Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בָּחַנְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בָּחַנְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בָּחַנְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בָּחַן 3rd person feminine singular בָּחֲנָה 1st person plural בָּחַנּוּ 2nd person masculine plural בְּחַנְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַנְתֶּן 3rd person plural בָּחֲנוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בֹּחֵן Feminine singular בֹּחֶנֶת Masculine plural בּוֹחֲנִים Feminine plural בּוֹחֲנוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶבְחַן 2nd person masculine singular תִּבְחַן 2nd person feminine singular תִּבְחֲנִי 3rd person masculine singular יִבְחַן 3rd person feminine singular תִּבְחַן 1st person plural נִבְחַן 2nd person masculine plural תִּבְחֲנוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּבְחַנְנָה 3rd person plural יִבְחֲנוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בְּחַן 2nd person feminine singular בַּחֲנִי 2nd person masculine plural בַּחֲנוּ 2nd person feminine plural בְּחַנְנָה   Usage in Scripture Psalm 139:23 – בְּחָנֵנִי אֵל וְדַע לְבָבִי “Search me, O God, and know my heart.”… Learn Hebrew
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Genesis 4:5 – Emotion Verbs and the Use of וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו

וְאֶל־קַ֥יִן וְאֶל־מִנְחָתֹ֖ו לֹ֣א שָׁעָ֑ה וַיִּ֤חַר לְקַ֨יִן֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ פָּנָֽיו׃ (Genesis 4:5) But to Qayin and to his offering He did not look with favor, and Qayin was very angry, and his face fell. Explanation of Feature This verse from Genesis 4:5 contains two noteworthy grammatical features: 1. Emotion verbs with לְ (lamed) – as seen in וַיִּחַר לְקַיִן, “Qayin became angry.” In Hebrew, anger is often described with the verb חָרָה (“to burn”) used impersonally with a lamed preposition marking the subject: “it burned to Qayin.”… Learn Hebrew
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Definiteness and Participial Titles in Cultic Legal Hebrew

וְלָקַ֛ח הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַמָּשִׁ֖יחַ מִדַּ֣ם הַפָּ֑ר וְהֵבִ֥יא אֹתֹ֖ו אֶל־אֹ֥הֶל מֹועֵֽד׃ (Leviticus 4:5) And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it to the Tent of Meeting. This verse describes part of the sin offering ritual: the anointed priest takes the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting. What stands out grammatically is the noun phrase הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ (“the anointed priest”), which combines a definite noun with a definite participle. This construction highlights a specific cultic role and reflects the way Biblical Hebrew uses definite participial titles in legal and priestly texts.… Learn Hebrew
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The Hebrew Verb בּוֹשׁ: To Be Ashamed or Confounded

The Hebrew verb בּוֹשׁ (root: ב-ו-ש) means “to be ashamed,” “to be confounded,” or “to be disappointed.” It is most commonly used in poetic and prophetic contexts to express emotional distress, embarrassment, or failure. The shame described may be social, moral, or the result of unmet expectations. This verb is primarily used in the Qal binyan, where it expresses a passive state of shame or confusion. It often appears with prepositions like מִן (because of) or עַל (on account of).   Qal Binyan Conjugation of בּוֹשׁ Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular בּוֹשְׁתִּי 2nd person masculine singular בּוֹשְׁתָּ 2nd person feminine singular בּוֹשְׁתְּ 3rd person masculine singular בּוֹשׁ 3rd person feminine singular בּוֹשָׁה 1st person plural בּוֹשְׁנוּ 2nd person masculine plural בּוֹשְׁתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural בּוֹשְׁתֶּן 3rd person plural בּוֹשׁוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular בוֹשׁ Feminine singular בוֹשָׁה Masculine plural בוֹשִׁים Feminine plural בוֹשׁוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֵבוֹשׁ 2nd person masculine singular תֵּבוֹשׁ 2nd person feminine singular תֵּבוֹשִׁי 3rd person masculine singular יֵבוֹשׁ 3rd person feminine singular תֵּבוֹשׁ 1st person plural נֵבוֹשׁ 2nd person masculine plural תֵּבוֹשׁוּ 2nd person feminine plural תֵּבֹשֶׁנָה 3rd person plural יֵבֹשׁוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular בּוֹשׁ 2nd person feminine singular בּוֹשִׁי 2nd person masculine plural בּוֹשׁוּ 2nd person feminine plural בּוֹשֶׁנָה   Usage in Scripture Psalm 25:3 – גַּם כָּל־קוֶיךָ לֹא יֵבוֹשׁוּ “Indeed, none who wait for You shall be ashamed.”… Learn Hebrew
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Stative Verbs and Royal Proclamation Syntax in Daniel 4:1 (Aramaic)

אֲנָ֣ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר שְׁלֵ֤ה הֲוֵית֙ בְּבֵיתִ֔י וְרַעְנַ֖ן בְּהֵיכְלִֽי׃ (Daniel 4:1) I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. Royal First-Person Framing in the Aramaic Court Tale Daniel 4:1 marks a shift in the narrative structure of the book. Nebuchadnezzar speaks in the first person, delivering a royal proclamation concerning his humiliation and restoration by the Most High God. The verse under examination is the narrative introduction. This verse is syntactically and semantically rich. It features first-person narrative style, Aramaic stative verbs, and parallel structure.… Learn Hebrew
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