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Recent Articles
- When Service Ends: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:25
- Consecration Through Syntax: The Priestly Ritual in Leviticus 8:24
- “A Three-Day Journey”: The Syntax of Volition and Deixis in Exodus According to Targum Onkelos
- Disaster That Flies Down: A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:22
- Purified and Presented: A Hebrew Lesson on Numbers 8:21
- Like the Nations Before You: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Deuteronomy 8:20
- Voices of the Dead or the Living God? A Hebrew Lesson on Isaiah 8:19
- When the Ground Denies Him: A Hebrew Walkthrough of Job 8:18
- From Dust to Gnats: A Hebrew Lesson in Action
- The Power of Repetition: Exploring the Waw-Consecutive
- Through the Great and Fearsome Wilderness: From Fiery Serpent to Flowing Spring
- “Counsel Is Mine” — Exploring the Voice of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:14
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Josephus and the Greek Terms Ἑβραῖος and Ἑβραϊστί
The ancient Jewish historian Flavius Josephus provides invaluable insights into the use and perception of Hebrew during the Second Temple period. In Antiquities of the Jews (I, 1:2), Josephus uses the Greek terms Ἑβραῖος (Hebraios, “Hebrew”) and Ἑβραϊστί (Hebraisti, “in the Hebrew language”) to describe the ancestral tongue of the Jewish people. These terms highlight the linguistic and cultural identity of the Hebrews as distinct from their surrounding nations.
Josephus frequently contrasts Hebrew with Greek, emphasizing its sacred and historical significance.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Theology
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Cognates in Other Semitic Languages
Biblical Hebrew, as part of the Semitic language family, shares numerous cognates—words derived from a common Proto-Semitic root—with languages like Akkadian, Arabic, Aramaic, and Ugaritic. These cognates often preserve similar triliteral roots, meanings, and predictable phonological patterns, offering valuable insights into Hebrew etymology and biblical interpretation. Examples span semantic fields such as kinship (e.g., ʾēm “mother”), body parts (e.g., rōʾsh “head”), and nature (e.g., šemeš “sun”), and demonstrate systematic sound correspondences across languages. Recognizing these inherited terms, as distinct from loanwords, enhances lexical clarity, semantic analysis, and root reconstruction, anchoring the Hebrew Bible within a broader linguistic and cultural heritage.… Learn Hebrew
Jewish Scholars of the Tiberian Schools in the 7th Century A.D.
The Tiberian schools of Jewish scholarship in the 7th century AD played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of Jewish liturgical and textual traditions. Situated in Tiberias, a city that became a hub of Jewish learning after the destruction of the Second Temple, these schools were instrumental in developing the Tiberian vocalization system and contributed significantly to the transmission and preservation of the Masoretic Text. This article examines the historical context, intellectual contributions, and enduring impact of Tiberian scholars, with a focus on their linguistic innovations, textual methodologies, and theological insights.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in History, Textual Criticism
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The Role of the Imperative and Jussive Verbs in Expressing Requests, Orders, and Prohibitions
Biblical Hebrew conveys commands, requests, and prohibitions primarily through two verb forms: the imperative and the jussive. The imperative addresses second-person subjects directly and is used for clear, forceful directives, often in legal or divine contexts (e.g., “Remember the Sabbath”). The jussive, by contrast, expresses third-person or first-person plural volition, often appearing in poetic or prophetic texts to convey wishes, decrees, or permissions (e.g., “Let there be light”). Prohibitions are marked by different negatives: אַל for immediate, direct commands and לֹא for general moral or legal prohibitions.… Learn Hebrew
Hebrew in the Context of Semitic Languages
The Hebrew language holds a significant place within the Semitic language family, which includes notable members such as Aramaic, Akkadian, and Arabic. As the language of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and a cornerstone of Jewish heritage, Hebrew offers a fascinating lens through which to explore the interconnectedness of ancient Semitic cultures. Beyond its religious and historical importance, Hebrew also reflects linguistic features that reveal its deep-rooted connections to other Semitic languages.
The Semitic Language Family
Semitic languages are a branch of the larger Afro-Asiatic language family, which includes Egyptian, Berber, and Chadic languages.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar
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Lesson on Biblical Hebrew Adjectives
Biblical Hebrew adjectives are an essential component of the language, playing a crucial role in describing and modifying nouns to provide clarity, emphasis, and vividness to the text. Unlike English, where adjectives typically precede the nouns they modify, Biblical Hebrew adjectives usually follow the noun and agree with it in gender, number, and definiteness. This agreement system ensures that the adjective aligns grammatically with the noun it describes, creating a harmonious and precise linguistic structure. Adjectives in Biblical Hebrew can convey a wide range of meanings, from physical characteristics (e.g.,… Learn Hebrew
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The Study of Hapax Legomena in Biblical Hebrew and Their Implications
Hapax legomena—words that appear only once in the Hebrew Bible—pose unique interpretive challenges and offer deep insights into the language’s poetic, historical, and theological dimensions. These singular terms, numbering between 1,300 and 1,700 depending on classification, often arise from poetic diction, archaic dialects, loanwords, or unique contexts. Books like Job, Psalms, and Leviticus contain high concentrations due to their literary or technical nature. Interpretation relies on context, ancient translations, comparative Semitics, and modern tools, though ambiguity remains. While some hapax legomena are confirmed (e.g.,… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Textual Criticism
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Why Study Hebrew: Unlocking the Language of the Bible
The Hebrew language is more than just a tool for communication; it is a gateway to understanding the depths of the Bible, the history of the Jewish people, and the roots of Western civilization. Studying Hebrew offers profound rewards, from gaining insight into the sacred texts to connecting with a rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Here’s why learning Hebrew is a journey worth taking.
1. Understand the Bible in Its Original Language
The Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, was written in Biblical Hebrew, a language rich with nuance and depth.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar
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Cardinal Numbers in Biblical Hebrew: Agreement, Gender, and Syntax
Cardinal numbers in Biblical Hebrew are grammatically intricate and semantically rich, interacting with gender, definiteness, and syntax in ways that differ markedly from English. Numbers 1–10 show gender agreement, with 3–10 exhibiting gender polarity—using the opposite gender form of the noun they modify. Numbers like שְׁנֵי (“two of”) and שְׁלוֹשֶׁת (“three of”) often appear in construct state before definite nouns. Compound numbers from 11–19 align with the noun’s gender, while numbers 20 and above follow more regular patterns, typically preceding plural nouns.… Learn Hebrew
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Prepositions in Biblical Hebrew: The Nuances of בְּ, לְ, and עַל
Prepositions בְּ (in, at), לְ (to, for), and עַל (on, upon) in Biblical Hebrew are compact yet powerful tools that express spatial, temporal, logical, and emotional relationships. בְּ conveys presence, instrumentality, or circumstance (“in a house,” “with a sword”); לְ indicates direction, purpose, possession, or indirect object (“to the king,” “for YHWH”); and עַל suggests contact, authority, burden, or causation (“on the table,” “because of the matter”). Though they sometimes overlap, each carries distinct nuances that shape meaning and theological tone.… Learn Hebrew