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Recent Articles
- The Interrogative with הֲלֹא: Rebuke and Rhetoric in Nehemiah 5:9
- The Hebrew Verb דָּבַק: To Cling, Stick, or Cleave
- The Edges of Desire — Imperatives and Spatial Metaphor in Biblical Warning
- The Hebrew Verb דָּאַג: To Worry, Be Anxious, or Concerned
- Poetry of Parallelism: The Enigmatic Syntax of Job 5:7
- The Hebrew Verb גָּשַׁם: To Rain or Cause Rain
- The Guilty Soul: Predicate-Subject Inversion and Verbal Emphasis in Numbers 5:6
- The Hebrew Verb גֵּרֵשׁ: To Drive Out, Expel, or Divorce
- The Demonstrative זֹאת as Subject: Deixis and Emphasis in Ezekiel 5:5
- The Hebrew Verb גָּרַם: To Cause, Bring About, or Result In
- Verbs of Begetting: The Syntax of Sequential Wayyiqtol in Genealogies
- The Hebrew Verb גָּעְגַּע: To Long For, Yearn, or Miss
Categories
The Edict of Cyrus: Royal Proclamation and Volitional Syntax in 2 Chronicles 36:23
2 Chronicles 36:23
כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר כֹּ֣ורֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֗ס כָּל־מַמְלְכֹ֤ות הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ נָ֣תַן לִ֗י יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְהֽוּא־פָקַ֤ד עָלַי֙ לִבְנֹֽות־לֹ֣ו בַ֔יִת בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה מִֽי־בָכֶ֣ם מִכָּל־עַמֹּ֗ו יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהָ֛יו עִמֹּ֖ו וְיָֽעַל׃
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The Use of שֹׁולֵ֨חַ in Prophetic Commission Formulas
Introduction to Ezekiel 2:3
Ezekiel 2:3 is part of the divine commission of Ezekiel as a prophet to Israel. This verse marks the beginning of God’s charge to Ezekiel, in which He commands him to deliver a message to the rebellious Israelites. The verb שֹׁולֵ֨חַ ("I am sending") plays a crucial role in the prophetic call, indicating a continuous, present, and authoritative action. Unlike past-tense commissioning statements that describe an event that has already taken place, the participial Read more [...]
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“Is It Not for You to Know Justice?”: Infinitive Obligation and Rhetorical Syntax in Micah 3:1
Introduction to Micah 3:1: Addressing the Leaders of Yisra’el
Micah 3:1 opens a sharp rebuke directed at the leaders of Yisra’el. The prophet confronts the רָאשֵׁי יַעֲקֹב (“chiefs of Yaʿaqov”) and קְצִינֵי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל (“rulers of the house of Yisra’el”), not with mere accusation, but with a biting rhetorical question: הֲלֹ֣וא לָכֶ֔ם לָדַ֖עַת אֶת־הַמִּשְׁפָּט. This question—structured around the infinitive Read more [...]
Volition and Cohortatives in Prophetic Vision: Isaiah 2:3
Introduction to Isaiah 2:3: An Invitation to Ascend
This verse from Isaiah envisions a universal pilgrimage to Zion where many peoples seek divine instruction. It is one of the most famous passages describing a future when nations voluntarily turn to YHWH. What makes this verse particularly rich grammatically is the frequent use of cohortative and volitional forms, such as נַעֲלֶ֣ה (“let us go up”) and נֵלְכָ֖ה (“let us walk”), which express desire, resolve, and invitation. Read more [...]
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The Construct Phrase “The Devotion of Your Youth” and Its Covenantal Significance in Jeremiah 2:2
Introduction to Jeremiah 2:2
Jeremiah 2:2 opens a prophetic lament recalling Israel's early faithfulness to YHWH. The verse presents a divine remembrance of Israel’s loyalty during the Exodus, using the construct phrase חֶ֣סֶד נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ ("the devotion of your youth"). This expression carries covenantal overtones, likening Israel’s relationship with YHWH to that of a newlywed bride.
Through the imagery of marriage and wilderness dependence, the verse highlights a contrast Read more [...]
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“He Stirred Up His Spirit”: Divine Motivation and the Idiom הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחֹו in Ezra 1:5
Introduction to Ezra 1:5: Awakening the Will to Rebuild
Ezra 1:5 narrates a monumental moment in the return from exile: the divine stirring of human hearts to begin rebuilding the Temple. Central to this verse is the phrase הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחֹו—“He stirred up his spirit.” This phrase is more than a poetic turn of phrase; it is a linguistic window into how the Hebrew Bible portrays inner motivation initiated by divine influence. In this article, we explore the structure and meaning Read more [...]
“These Are Your Gods, O Yisra’el”: Construct Chains and Verbless Clauses in Exodus 32:4
Introduction to Exodus 32:4: Declaring the Calf Divine
Exodus 32:4 stands as one of the most pivotal and tragic verses in the Hebrew Bible. After receiving gold from the people, Aharon crafts the infamous golden calf and presents it with the statement: אֵ֤לֶּה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל. This utterance uses a grammatically significant verbless clause and a construct chain to make a definitive theological statement. This article analyzes the grammar, structure, and implications Read more [...]
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“Remember Your Creator”: Urgency and Imperative Wisdom in Ecclesiastes 12:1
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 [...]
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Carrying Guilt: The Hifil of נשׂא and Priestly Consecration in Leviticus 22:16
וְהִשִּׂ֤יאוּ אֹותָם֙ עֲוֹ֣ן אַשְׁמָ֔ה בְּאָכְלָ֖ם אֶת־קָדְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה מְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃
Leviticus 22:16 forms part of the priestly code, warning against improper participation in sacred offerings. At its center is the verb וְהִשִּׂיאוּ—a Hifil form of נ־שׂ־א, commonly rendered “to cause to bear” or “to make bear.” Here it functions causatively: they cause others Read more [...]
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“Cast Your Bread”: Imperatives of Faith and Risk in Ecclesiastes 11:1
Introduction to Ecclesiastes 11:1: Wisdom in Motion Over the Waters
Ecclesiastes 11:1 opens a new thematic section of Qohelet, blending wisdom with paradox, urging action amidst uncertainty. The imperative שַׁלַּ֥ח לַחְמְךָ֖ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַמָּ֑יִם—“Cast your bread upon the waters”—is a vivid, poetic command that has intrigued interpreters for centuries. What does it mean to cast bread on water? Is this generosity, investment, or a leap of faith? This article Read more [...]
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