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Recent Articles
- Trumpet Blasts and Assembly Syntax in Numbers 10:3
- Right and Left: A Beginner’s Guide to Hebrew Word Order in Ecclesiastes 10:2
- A Call to Listen: A Beginner’s Guide to Hebrew Grammar in Jeremiah 10:1
- “Even If I Wash with Snow”: Job’s Cry of Purity and Futility in Hebrew
- Your People and Your Inheritance: Strength and Arm Between Hebrew and Greek
- Who is Abimelek? Political Defiance in Hebrew Speech
- May God Enlarge Japheth: Syntax, Blessing, and Subordination in Genesis 9:27
- The Plea of the Prophet: Syntax, Intercession, and Covenant Echoes in Deuteronomy 9:26
- The Swift Flight of Life: Syntax and Poetic Motion in Job 9:25
- Fear and Syntax in Giveʿon: Nested Clauses and Theological Strategy in Joshua 9:24
- Wayyiqtol Verbs, Ruach Imagery, and Political Betrayal in Judges 9:23
- Imperatives, Prophetic Syntax, and Stark Imagery in Jeremiah 9:22
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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 form of this verb suggests an ongoing divine mission.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar
Tagged Ezekiel, Ezekiel 2:3
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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 construct with the lamed preposition—expresses moral obligation and assumed responsibility. In this article, we examine how Hebrew constructs moral expectations through syntax and how this impacts prophetic rhetoric.… Learn Hebrew
Strike, Save, and Seek: How the Binyanim Build the Battle
וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל דָּוִ֤ד בַּֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאֵלֵ֣ךְ וְהִכֵּ֔יתִי בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה ס וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד לֵ֚ךְ וְהִכִּ֣יתָ בַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְהֹושַׁעְתָּ֖ אֶת־קְעִילָֽה׃ (1 Samuel 23:2)
And Dawid inquired of YHWH saying shall I go and strike down these Pelishtim and YHWH said to Dawid go and you shall strike the Pelishtim and you shall save Qeʿilah
A Tactical Prayer in Verbal Stems
In 1 Samuel 23:2, Dawid pauses before battle. His inquiry and God’s response are framed by verbs of decision, warfare, and rescue. The binyanim in this verse give these verbs emotional tone and theological depth: from humble inquiry to aggressive assault, from obedience to salvation.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Binyanim
Tagged 1 Samuel 23:2
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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. In this lesson, we explore how these forms function in Hebrew syntax and theology, showing how verbs can encode collective will and eschatological hope.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Theology
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The Construct Phrase “The Devotion of Your Youth” and Its Covenantal Significance in Jeremiah 2:2
הָלֹ֡ךְ וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ בְאָזְנֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה זָכַ֤רְתִּי לָךְ֙ חֶ֣סֶד נְעוּרַ֔יִךְ אַהֲבַ֖ת כְּלוּלֹתָ֑יִךְ לֶכְתֵּ֤ךְ אַחֲרַי֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר בְּאֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥א זְרוּעָֽה׃
(Jeremiah 2:2)
“Go and proclaim in the ears of Yerushalayim, saying, ‘Thus says YHWH: “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, your going after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
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”).… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Theology
Tagged Jeremiah, Jeremiah 2:2
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“He Stirred Up His Spirit”: Divine Motivation and the Idiom הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחֹו in Ezra 1:5
וַיָּק֜וּמוּ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָבֹ֗ות לִֽיהוּדָה֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם לְכֹ֨ל הֵעִ֤יר הָאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־רוּחֹ֔ו לַעֲלֹ֣ות לִבְנֹ֔ות אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
(Ezra 1:5)
Then the heads of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, arose: all those whom God stirred up his spirit to go up to build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem.
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.… Learn Hebrew
Sevens and Sacrifice: Numerals, Imperatives, and Construct Syntax in Targum Onkelos on Numbers 23:1
וַאֲמַר בִּלְעָם לְבָלָק בְּנֵה לִי הָכָא שַׁבְעָא מַדְבְּחִין וְאַתְקֵן לִי הָכָא שַׁבְעָא תוֹרִין וְשַׁבְעָא דִכְרִין
(Numbers 23:1 Targum Onkelos)
And Bilʿam said to Balaq, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”
Why This Verse?
This verse illustrates multiple grammatical domains in action:
Use of Peal vs. Aphel imperatives (בְּנֵה vs. אַתְקֵן)
Definite numeral constructions with plural nouns (שַׁבְעָא מַדְבְּחִין)
Construct phrase syntax (שַׁבְעָא דִכְרִין)
It also reveals the ritual-literary tone of Targum Onkelos, maintaining closeness to the Hebrew while embedding subtle Aramaic flavor.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Aramaic
Tagged Numbers 23:1
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Betrayal at the Border: Disintegrating Alliances in the Syntax of Obadiah 1:7
עַֽד־הַגְּב֣וּל שִׁלְּח֗וּךָ כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ הִשִּׁיא֛וּךָ יָכְל֥וּ לְךָ֖ אַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁלֹמֶ֑ךָ לַחְמְךָ֗ יָשִׂ֤ימוּ מָזֹור֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ אֵ֥ין תְּבוּנָ֖ה בֹּֽו׃
(Obadiah 1:7)
All the men of your covenant sent you to the border; the men of your peace deceived you, prevailed against you; your bread they set as a trap beneath you—there is no understanding in him.
Syntax as the Anatomy of Treachery
Obadiah 1:7 outlines in poetic and prophetic syntax the downfall of Edom by those it trusted most. This verse builds through parallel clauses, anaphora, and syntactic inversion to portray betrayal from within.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Syntax
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“These Are Your Gods, O Yisra’el”: Construct Chains and Verbless Clauses in Exodus 32:4
וַיִּקַּ֣ח מִיָּדָ֗ם וַיָּ֤צַר אֹתֹו֙ בַּחֶ֔רֶט וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֵ֤לֶּה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֱל֖וּךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
(Exodus 32:4)
And he took it from their hands, and he shaped it with a graving tool and made it a molten calf. And they said, “These are your gods, Yisra’el, who brought you up out of the land of Mitsrayim.”
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.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Grammar, Theology
Tagged Exodus, Exodus 32:4
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Genealogies in Ink: Syntax and Structure in Nehemiah 12:22
הַלְוִיִּם֩ בִּימֵ֨י אֶלְיָשִׁ֜יב יֹויָדָ֤ע וְיֹוחָנָן֙ וְיַדּ֔וּעַ כְּתוּבִ֖ים רָאשֵׁ֣י אָבֹ֑ות וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים עַל־מַלְכוּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ הַפָּֽרְסִֽי׃
(Nehemiah 12:22)
The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were recorded as heads of fathers; and the priests under the reign of Darius the Persian.
Names, Memory, and Power
At first glance, Nehemiah 12:22 may appear to be a dry administrative note. But beneath its surface lies a syntactic architecture that mirrors Israel’s theological record-keeping. The verse is a syntactically dense list that maps Levitical and priestly continuity during Persian imperial rule.… Learn Hebrew
Posted in Syntax
Tagged Nehemiah 12:22
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