Biblical Hebrew

The Hebrew verb בָּנָה (root: ב-נ-ה) means “to build,” “to construct,” or “to establish.” It is a foundational term in biblical Hebrew, used both literally—for constructing houses, cities, or altars—and metaphorically—for establishing families, dynasties, or spiritual legacies. It occurs frequently in narrative, poetic, legal, and prophetic texts. בָּנָה is a hollow verb (middle root letter is a weak נ), resulting in irregularities in some conjugations. It appears Read more [...]

The Hebrew verb בָּלַע (root: ב-ל-ע) means “to swallow,” “to devour,” “to consume,” or “to destroy.” It often conveys a violent or sudden action, such as an enemy overtaking someone, the earth swallowing the wicked, or time consuming strength. It is frequently found in poetic and prophetic contexts to describe destruction or overwhelming judgment. בָּלַע appears primarily in the Qal binyan and also occurs in Piel (intensive: to utterly consume) and Niphal (passive: Read more [...]

The Hebrew verb בָּלַט (root: ב-ל-ט) is a relatively rare verb that carries the sense of “moving stealthily,” “acting secretly,” “sneaking away,” or “slipping quietly.” It often appears in poetic or narrative contexts, describing hidden or cautious movement, either physically or emotionally. In most biblical occurrences, בָּלַט functions in the Qal stem, though it is primarily used in participial or adverbial forms (e.g., בַּלָּט, meaning “secretly” or Read more [...]

The Hebrew verb בָּכָה (root: ב-כ-ה) means “to weep,” “to cry,” or “to lament.” It is one of the most emotive verbs in the Hebrew Bible and appears frequently in narratives, poetry, and laments to express sorrow, mourning, or intense emotion—whether in personal grief, national tragedy, or divine lament. The verb appears mostly in the Qal and Piel binyanim: - Qal: simple weeping, often spontaneous or uncontrolled. - Piel: intensive or formal weeping (e.g., wailing, prolonged Read more [...]