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Recent Articles
- Volitive Forms and Rhetorical Irony in Zephaniah 3:7: A Grammatical Theology of Rejected Correction
- The Hebrew Verb בּוֹא: To Come, Enter, or Arrive
- The Syntax of Legal Hypotheticals and Priestly Responsibility in Leviticus 4:3
- The Semantics and Theology of the Nifʿal Imperfect in Isaiah 4:3
- The Hebrew Verb בָּהַל: To Terrify or Alarm
- Comparative Particles and Temporal Subordination in Qohelet’s Reasoning
- Exodus 4:2 – Interrogative Pronoun and Demonstrative Use of מַה־זֶּה
- Deuteronomy 4:1 – Imperative, Infinitive Purpose, and Participial Construction
- Double Wayyiqtol Narrative Framing in Dialogic Introductions
- The Conjunction וְהֵן: Conditional Clauses with Assertive Function in Biblical Hebrew
- Dislocation and Apposition: Royal Titling in Biblical Hebrew
- The Hebrew Verb בָּדַק: To Examine or Inspect
Categories
“He May Not Take Her Again”: Modal Syntax and Moral Defilement in Deuteronomy 24:4
Introduction to Deuteronomy 24:4: Legal Ethics and the Sanctity of the Land
Deuteronomy 24:4 presents one of the Torah’s more intricate marital laws, prohibiting a man from remarrying his former wife after she has married another man and become defiled. The structure of the verse integrates modal grammar (לֹא יוּכַל), legal causality, and theological rationale (“because she has been defiled,” “because it is an abomination before YHWH”). This verse is not only civil legislation; Read more [...]
Posted in Grammar
Tagged Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 24:4
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“Sweeping Away All Things”: The Use of Infinitive Absolute for Emphasis in Zephaniah 1:3
Introduction to Zephaniah 1:3: Cosmic Judgment through Grammatical Emphasis
Zephaniah 1:3 belongs to the opening judgment oracle of the book, where YHWH declares a sweeping destruction across all creation—humans, beasts, birds, and fish. The verse uses a striking grammatical structure: a doubled verb form אָסֵף אָסֵף (“I will utterly sweep away”). This use of the infinitive absolute followed by a finite verb is a well-known Biblical Hebrew construction that conveys intensity, certainty, Read more [...]
Posted in Grammar
Tagged Zephaniah, Zephaniah 1:3
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“He Makes My Feet Like the Deer’s”: Simile and Ascent in Habakkuk 3:19
Introduction to Habakkuk 3:19: Divine Enablement in Poetic Triumph
Habakkuk 3:19 concludes the prophet’s prayer with an expression of exaltation and movement. The imagery of sure-footedness and elevation captures the essence of divine empowerment amid suffering. This article explores the grammatical structure and theological implications of the simile כָּאַיָּלֹות, the verb יַדְרִכֵנִי, and the construct phrase עַל בָּמֹתַי. In a few lines, this verse brings together Read more [...]
Posted in Grammar, Theology
Tagged Habakkuk, Habakkuk 3:19
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Verb Study: אִיֵּם — “to threaten”
The Hebrew verb אִיֵּם (ʾiyyēm) means “to threaten” and is used in the Piel stem. It conveys the act of menacing, intimidating, or making a threat. The root is א־י־ם, and the verb appears in several biblical contexts, especially in poetic and prophetic passages.
This verb does not appear frequently, but when it does, it emphasizes a declaration of harm or warning against disobedience. Below is a full conjugation chart for this verb in the Piel binyan, including past, present, Read more [...]
Posted in Vocabulary
Tagged Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 28:58
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“Do Not Arouse Love Until It Desires”: Volition, Oath, and the Conditional אִם in Song of Songs 2:7
Introduction to Song of Songs 2:7: A Poetic Oath of Restraint
This iconic verse from the Song of Songs is the first of three poetic refrains that appear throughout the book (cf. 3:5, 8:4). Here, the female speaker addresses the “daughters of Yerushalayim” and adjures them by the wild creatures of the field not to awaken love before its proper time. The verse features unique poetic features: the use of conditional clauses with אִם, the volitional jussive mood, and a formal oath formula. This Read more [...]
Posted in Grammar
Tagged Song of Songs, Song of Songs 2:7
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“I Will Not Withhold a Word”: The Cohortative and Prophetic Intention in Jeremiah 42:4
Introduction to Jeremiah 42:4: The Prophet's Assurance
In Jeremiah 42:4, the prophet responds to a plea for divine counsel. His statement is notable for its solemn tone and its careful use of Hebrew verbal forms to express commitment, intention, and future action. Particularly striking is the use of the cohortative construction and first-person imperfect forms that reflect both prophetic submission to YHWH and personal integrity. This verse provides a valuable window into the mechanics of biblical Read more [...]
Posted in Grammar
Tagged Jeremiah, Jeremiah 42:4
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“But Only Cities to Live In”: The Restrictive Construction כִּי אִם in Joshua 14:4
Introduction to Joshua 14:4: Tribal Allocation and Levitical Exception
Joshua 14:4 outlines the distribution of the land among the tribes of Yisra’el, highlighting the unique position of the descendants of Yosef and the tribe of Levi. Most tribes received a geographical inheritance, but the Levites were given no such portion. Instead, they were allotted cities and pasturelands. The phrase כִּ֤י אִם־עָרִים֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת employs the Hebrew restrictive construction כִּי Read more [...]
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Tagged Joshua, Joshua 14:4
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Verb Study: אִחֵל — “to wish” or “to congratulate”
The Hebrew verb אִחֵל (ʾiḥēl) appears in the Hebrew Bible and carries the meaning of “to wish,” especially in the context of blessing or congratulating someone. It belongs to the Piel binyan (intensive stem), and its root is א־ח־ל. This verb is not highly common, but it does appear in poetic or formal contexts, and it has survived in Modern Hebrew with the same meaning of “to wish” (e.g., mazal tov wishes).
In Biblical Hebrew, this verb is usually used in the Piel stem, and Read more [...]
Posted in Vocabulary
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“Then Iyov Answered and Said”: Formulaic Speech Introductions in Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Job 3:2: The Turning Point of Silence into Speech
Job 3:2 contains only six Hebrew words, yet it marks a pivotal moment in the literary structure of the book: וַיַּ֥עַן אִיֹּ֗וב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃ — “Then Iyov answered and said.” This terse formula is the standard biblical narrative introduction to direct speech, particularly in dialogues. After a long narrative setup in chapters 1–2 and seven days of silence (Job 2:13), these words announce the beginning Read more [...]
“Lacked Nothing in the Wilderness”: Divine Sufficiency and the Verb חָסַר in Deuteronomy 2:7
Introduction to Deuteronomy 2:7: YHWH’s Provision Over Forty Years
As Moshe reflects on the long journey through the wilderness, he emphasizes not just the hardships but also the unrelenting provision of YHWH. The closing declaration—לֹ֥א חָסַ֖רְתָּ דָּבָֽר (“you lacked nothing”)—reveals more than mere survival; it expresses the profound theme of divine sufficiency. This article explores the verb חָסַר, its grammatical form, and its theological resonance in expressing Read more [...]
Posted in Grammar, Vocabulary
Tagged Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 2:7
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