Tag Archives: Exodus

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 of this clause to show how Hebrew syntax can function to convey powerful—and in this case, idolatrous—declarations.… Learn Hebrew

Introduction to Exodus 2:5 Exodus 2:5 describes a pivotal moment in the early life of Moshe. Pharaoh’s daughter comes to bathe in the Nile and finds the infant Moshe in the reeds. This verse contains several grammatical features significant in Biblical Hebrew, including verb forms, prepositional phrases, and construct chains. This article will focus on the construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), a fundamental aspect of Hebrew grammar that affects syntax and meaning. וַתֵּ֤רֶד בַּת־פַּרְעֹה֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ עַל־הַיְאֹ֔ר וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָ הֹלְכֹ֖ת עַל־יַ֣ד הַיְאֹ֑ר וַתֵּ֤רֶא אֶת־הַתֵּבָה֙ בְּתֹ֣וךְ הַסּ֔וּף וַתִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֶת־אֲמָתָ֖הּ וַתִּקָּחֶֽהָ: Analysis of Key Words/Phrases Exodus 2:5 contains three construct chains: 1.… Learn Hebrew