Tag Archives: Isaiah 4:3

The Semantics and Theology of the Nifʿal Imperfect in Isaiah 4:3

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction: Contextual and Theological Framing of Isaiah 4:3 Isaiah 4:3 appears at a pivotal juncture in the prophetic literature of Isaiah, marking a thematic shift from divine judgment to purification and restoration. The verse reads: וְהָיָ֣ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּצִיֹּ֗ון וְהַנֹּותָר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קָדֹ֖ושׁ יֵאָ֣מֶר לֹ֑ו כָּל־הַכָּת֥וּב לַחַיִּ֖ים בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ And the one who is left in Tsiyyon and the one who remains in Yerushalayim will be called holy, everyone who is written down for life in Yerushalayim. Situated within the oracle of Isaiah 2–4, this verse belongs to a broader literary unit that envisions Zion’s eschatological cleansing.… Learn Hebrew
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Biblical Hebrew Grammar Walkthrough for First-Time Learners

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Hebrew Grammar for Beginners
וְהָיָ֣ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּצִיֹּ֗ון וְהַנֹּותָר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קָדֹ֖ושׁ יֵאָ֣מֶר לֹ֑ו כָּל־הַכָּת֥וּב לַחַיִּ֖ים בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (Isaiah 4:3) And it will be, the one remaining in Tsiyon and the one left in Yerushalayim, “holy” will be said to him, everyone written for life in Yerushalayim. Word-by-Word Explanation וְהָיָ֣ה – Means “and it will be.” The וְ (“and”) joins this sentence to what came before. The core verb הָיָה (“to be, happen”) is in the imperfect tense here, showing future time. הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר – “the one remaining.” The הַ at the start is the definite article (“the”).… Learn Hebrew
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