Biblical Hebrew

Introduction to Zechariah 2:8 Zechariah 2:8 is a prophetic declaration of divine protection over Israel, emphasizing God's response to the nations who harm His people. The verse contains a construct phrase, "בְּבָבַ֥ת עֵינֹֽו" ("the apple of His eye"), which conveys tender care and sensitivity. This imagery highlights the close relationship between YHWH and Israel and serves as a warning to those who oppose His chosen people. The passage also introduces a divine commission, Read more [...]

Introduction to Judges 2:1 Judges 2:1 introduces a divine proclamation by מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָה (Mal’akh YHWH, "the Angel of the LORD"). The verse employs multiple narrative verb forms, particularly wayyiqtol, which signals sequential action in Biblical Hebrew. These verbs create a flow that connects divine actions, emphasizing YHWH’s intervention in Israel’s history. The wayyiqtol form is crucial for understanding Hebrew storytelling, as it structures events in a cause-and-effect Read more [...]

Introduction to Amos 1:1 Amos 1:1 serves as a superscription that introduces the prophetic book, providing details about the prophet’s identity, occupation, geographical origin, historical context, and the timing of his vision. The verse employs construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), which play a crucial role in linking Amos to his prophetic message, his occupation, and the historical setting. The phrase "דִּבְרֵי עָמֹ֔וס" ("the words of Amos") is an example of a construct phrase Read more [...]

Introduction to Psalm 12:1 Psalm 12:1 is a lament psalm attributed to David, beginning with a cry for divine intervention. The imperative verb הֹושִׁ֣יעָה ("Save!") serves as a direct plea to YHWH, reflecting a crisis where the righteous are vanishing. The verse also contains parallelism, contrasting חָסִיד ("faithful one") and אֱמוּנִים ("trustworthy ones") with the corrupt state of humanity. This study will analyze the syntactic structure of the imperative, the Read more [...]