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The Use of וַיְהִי in Biblical Hebrew Narrative (Ruth 1:1)
Ruth 1:1 in Hebrew
וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ שְׁפֹ֣ט הַשֹּׁפְטִ֔ים וַיְהִ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִ֜ישׁ מִבֵּ֧ית לֶ֣חֶם יְהוּדָ֗ה לָגוּר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣י מֹואָ֔ב ה֥וּא וְאִשְׁתֹּ֖ו וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנָֽיו׃
Introduction to וַיְהִי
The opening of Ruth 1:1 features the phrase וַיְהִי בִּימֵי (“And it came to pass in the days of…”). The verb וַיְהִי (vayhī) is a common Biblical Hebrew construction that introduces narrative events and often signals the beginning of a new episode.
Understanding וַיְהִי in Context
– וַיְהִי is the waw-consecutive imperfect form of הָיָה (hayah, “to be” or “to happen”).… Learn Hebrew