Tag Archives: Jeremiah 3:1

“Would He Return?”: Analyzing הֲיָשׁוּב in Jeremiah 3:1

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Jeremiah 3:1: Covenant, Divorce, and the Question of Return Jeremiah 3:1 opens with a rhetorical allusion to Deuteronomic law regarding divorce and remarriage (cf. Deut. 24:1–4). The core grammatical and theological tension is framed by the interrogative verb הֲיָשׁוּב—“Would he return?” This verse uses juridical imagery to confront Israel’s spiritual adultery and probes the unimaginable grace of YHWH’s invitation to return. This article will examine the verb הֲיָשׁוּב in its grammatical context, syntactic structure, and literary-theological implications in Jeremiah 3:1.… Learn Hebrew
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The Semantics and Syntax of Rhetorical Questioning in Jeremiah 3:1

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Jeremiah 3:1 Jeremiah 3:1 employs rhetorical questioning to communicate a strong legal and theological argument. The verse presents a hypothetical scenario regarding divorce and remarriage, paralleling Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. The structure of rhetorical questions in Biblical Hebrew is a crucial element in prophetic literature, often used to provoke thought and emphasize moral or legal dilemmas. This passage consists of: A conditional-like clause posing a legal question (הֵ֣ן יְשַׁלַּ֣ח אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתֹּו, “If a man sends away his wife…”). A rhetorical question implying the impossibility of return (הֲיָשׁ֤וּב אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ עֹ֔וד, “Will he return to her again?”).… Learn Hebrew
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