Tag Archives: Ezekiel

The Hitpael Verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת in Ezekiel 1:13

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Ezekiel 1:13 Ezekiel 1:13 presents a striking description of the living creatures in the prophet’s vision, depicting their likeness as burning coals of fire, moving like torches. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת (mithallekhet), which is in the Hitpael stem, a binyan that often expresses reflexive, iterative, or reciprocal action. This analysis will explore its morphology, syntactic function, and semantic implications within the context of Ezekiel’s vision. וּדְמ֨וּת הַחַיֹּ֜ות מַרְאֵיהֶ֣ם כְּגַחֲלֵי־אֵ֗שׁ בֹּֽעֲרֹות֙ כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַלַּפִּדִ֔ים הִ֕יא מִתְהַלֶּכֶ֖ת בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות וְנֹ֣גַהּ לָאֵ֔שׁ וּמִן־הָאֵ֖שׁ יֹוצֵ֥א בָרָֽק׃ Analysis of Key Words/Phrases The verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת (mithallekhet) appears in the phrase: הִ֕יא מִתְהַלֶּכֶת בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות This phrase consists of: הִיא (hi) – “it” (feminine subject pronoun, referring to the fire) מִתְהַלֶּכֶת (mithallekhet) – “it moves about” (Hitpael verb) בֵּ֣ין הַחַיֹּ֑ות (bein haḥayyot) – “among the living creatures” (prepositional phrase) The verb מִתְהַלֶּכֶת is the focus of our grammatical analysis.… Learn Hebrew
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“I the LORD Have Spoken and Will Do It”: Verbal Paradox and Divine Reversal in Ezekiel 17:24

Posted on January 17, 2024 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Ezekiel 17:24: Prophecy of Reversal and Sovereignty In Ezekiel 17:24, YHWH concludes a prophetic parable by asserting His absolute sovereignty over history and nature. Through a series of antithetical verb pairs, the verse declares that YHWH humbles the high and exalts the low, withering what is green and reviving what is dry. These oppositions are not merely poetic—they convey a theological principle deeply embedded in biblical prophecy: YHWH alone determines reality, often in ways that reverse human expectation. This article analyzes the grammatical structure of these verb pairs and how they create a prophetic rhythm of divine agency and surprise.… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of שֹׁולֵ֨חַ in Prophetic Commission Formulas

Posted on March 2, 2023 by Biblical Hebrew
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
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The Nifal Verb יִנָּשְׂאוּ in Ezekiel 1:21

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Biblical Hebrew
בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם יֵלֵ֔כוּ וּבְעָמְדָ֖ם יַֽעֲמֹ֑דוּ וּֽבְהִנָּשְׂאָ֞ם מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֗רֶץ יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ הָאֹֽופַנִּים֙ לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ הַחַיָּ֖ה בָּאֹופַנִּֽים׃ When they went, they went, and when they stood, they stood; and when they were lifted up from upon the earth, the wheels were lifted up alongside them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. Introduction to Ezekiel 1:21 Ezekiel 1:21 describes the synchronized movement of the wheels in the prophet’s vision, explaining that they move and rise in unison with the living creatures.… Learn Hebrew
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