1

Overview of Biblical Hebrew

 Before I begin this presentation of Biblical Hebrew, I
want you to know that I recognize that not everyone
has the time to study Biblical Hebrew;

 but, I know many of you realize the importance of

being able to look at the Hebrew text that is behind
the English translations of the Bible.

2
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 If you fall into this category, you will get a lot out of
this presentation that will help you to do just that.

 In addition, you will learn about certain resources that

can help you study more effectively, and you will learn
some things you need to be aware of as you use these
resources.

 As we cover this information, I will do my best to point

out a few things that will help you to avoid certain
errors when looking at the Hebrew text.
3
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 For those who want to gain some level of proficiency in
Hebrew, this presentation will set you well on your way
to see the big picture of the language and prepare you
for the details of what you need to learn along the way.

 I guarantee you, this is one of the most helpful things

you can do before attempting to learn a foreign
language.

4
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Before you start to look at verses and words in Hebrew,
you need to learn the alphabet and understand that
Hebrew is written right to left.

 If you don’t already know the Hebrew alphabet, you

can learn it as soon as possible.
 This requires repetition on your part.

5
Aleph-Bet
Letter Final Form Name/# Pronunciation

‫א‬ Aleph; 1 (silent)

ּ ,‫ב‬
‫ב‬ Bet, Vet; 2 ּ‫ = ב‬b as in boy; ‫ = ב‬v as in vote
‫ג‬ Gimmel; 3 G as in gimmick

‫ד‬ Dalet; 4 D as in doll

‫ה‬ He; 5 H as in hey

‫ו‬ Vav; 6 V as in vote

(Note Vav can also be spelled Waw)

‫ז‬ Zayin; 7 Z as in zoo

6
Aleph-Bet
Letter Final Form Name/# Pronunciation

‫ח‬ Het; 8 Ch as in Bach

‫ט‬ Tet; 9 T as in toy

‫י‬ Yod; 10 Y as in yellow

ּ‫כ‬
ּ , ‫ךּ כ‬ Kaf, Kha; 20 ּ‫כ‬
ּ K as in keep; ‫כ‬/ ּ‫ ך‬Ch as in Bach
‫ל‬ Lamed; 30 L as in look

‫מ‬ ‫ם‬ Mem; 40 M as in me

‫נ‬ ‫ן‬ Nun; 50 N as in name

7
Aleph-Bet
Letter Final Form Name/# Pronunciation

‫ס‬ Samech; 60 S as in sin

‫ע‬ Ayin; 70 (silent)

ּּ , ‫ף פ‬
‫פ‬ Peh, Feh; 80 P as in pay; F as in fame

‫צ‬ ‫ץ‬ Tsade; 90 Ts as in cats

‫ק‬ Qof; 100 K as in key

‫ר‬ Resh; 200 R as in rate

8
Aleph-Bet
Letter Final Form Name/# Pronunciation

‫ש‬
ּ Shin; 300 Sh as in shoe

‫ש‬
ּ Sin; 300 S as in sin

‫ת‬ Tav; 400 T as in toy

Hebrew uses dots, dashes, and other symbols for vowels and accents. These are
outside the scope of this presentation.

9
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 As you begin to explore Biblical Hebrew, I suggest any
of the following resources:

• Bible software with Hebrew

resources that are on-line or
off-line.

• Depending on what you use,

you may need to download the
Hebrew fonts onto your
computer that are used on a
particular web site.

10
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Computer software includes programs such as:
 Blue Letter Bible – free, on-line
 CD available for donation
 eSword® – free, for off-line use
 PC Study Bible
 Bible Works
 Logos
 Accordance

11
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Several printed concordances and lexicons to consider:
 Strong’s Concordance
 Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance of the Old Testament
 Word Study Concordance
 Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB)
 Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT)
 Analytical Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon
 New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and
Exegesis

12
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Use an Interlinear Bible (English equivalent is directly
under the Hebrew text) until you can do without it.
 Avoid parallels (text is side by side)

 Avoid small font size – look at the text before you

buy!!!
 DO NOT GET: The Interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible,
One-Volume Edition by Jay P. Green. The Hebrew is
impossibly tiny.
 CONSIDER: Hebrew-English Interlinear Old Testament Biblia
Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS)/English Standard Version (ESV)
or something else.

13
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 A Strong’s Concordance shows how a particular Greek
or Hebrew word is translated in the English version of
the Bible. It is not a lexicon.

 An Englishman’s Concordance lists all the verses where

a particular Greek or Hebrew word is used.

 A lexicon is a dictionary for Greek and Hebrew words.

14
Overview of Biblcal Hebrew
Blue Letter Bible
has various Bible
versions, and
clickable links to
access reference
tools.

15
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

Blue Letter Bible

is found at
https://www.blue
letterbible.org/

16
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

17
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

Englishman’s Concordance, PC Study Bible 18

Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Hebrew Grammars:
 I suggest using a grammar with an inductive approach to learning Hebrew for beginners, as
opposed to a seminary level grammar.

 Get at least two grammars (one that is inductive or for self-study, and another that is
recommended for seminary use).

 Learn Biblical Hebrew by John H. Dobson (with CD) = inductive

 The First Hebrew Primer: The Adult Beginner's Path to Biblical Hebrew, Third Edition 2005 by
Ethelyn Simonand Linda Motzkin. Order book and audio CD from
http://www.ekspublishing.com/biblical-hebrew

 Introducing Biblical Hebrew by Allen Ross (Charles Grebe teaches this text at
http://www.animatedhebrew.com/lectures/index.html … for FREE – donations accepted).

 Biblical Hebrew A Compact Guide Copyright 2012 by Miles V. Van Pelt. Zondervan.

19
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Once you start to look at verses and words in Hebrew, you’ll
see that some words appear in a Hebrew lexicon or
concordance the same way they do in the verse being
studied.

 These can be words like:

 Proper nouns
 Prepositions
 Masculine singular nouns and adjectives
 Certain 3rd person, masculine, singular verbs
 Interrogative pronouns

20
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

Example of
proper
noun from
eSword®

21
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Additionally, you may be surprised to notice that some
words in Scripture aren’t spelled exactly the same as
they are in a concordance or lexicon.

 There are a variety of reasons for this.

22
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Hebrew words often have prefixes and/or suffixes
attached to them.

 These need to be removed in order to recognize the

lexical form of the Hebrew word.

23
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
III-II-I

I-Nun verb: Conjunctive vav (prefix) followed by 3rd person masculine

plural suffix for hiphil perfect verb. Note the addition of a ‫ ה‬, a dot
(dagesh), and the change in vowel (‫ )ִי‬in the hiphil form of the perfect verb.

Example from PC Study Bible V5

24
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Hebrew prefixes can be:
 An interrogative (?) particle [usually ֲ‫;]ה‬
 The definite article (the) [usually ּ ִ
ּ ַ‫;]ה‬
 The conjunctive vav (and, but, then) [usually ‫]ו‬ ּ
 Inseparable prepositions [such as ּ‫ב‬, ‫ל‬, ּ ‫;]ְְכ‬
 Verb prefixes (imperfect verbs)

 Care should be used to make sure you do not remove

one of these letters when it is really part of the original
word itself.
25
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
Genesis 1:1
‫א ררץ ץ‬
ָּ ָּ‫מים ּואא ֵ֥ת ה‬
ַּ ‫ש‬
ָּ ּ ַ‫ בּרא אשית בָּּרָּ ָ֣א אֱל ֹה ִ֑ים אא ֵ֥ת ה‬

 ‫ = בּרא אשית‬in the beginning

 ‫ = בָּּרָּ ָ֣א‬he created (3rd person, masc. sing. perfect
verb)
 ּ‫מים‬ ַ ָּ‫ש‬
ּ ַ‫ = ה‬the heavens
 ‫ = ּואאת‬and + definite direct object marker (‫)אאת‬
 ‫א ררץ ץ‬
ָּ ָּ‫ = ה‬the earth
26
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 In English we don’t have a direct object marker (‫)אץת‬
that points out a definite direct object.

 Example of a direct object with a definite article (the):

 Lee played the keyboard.
 Subject + verb + Definite Article + Direct Object

 If we were to write this with a definite direct object

marker, it might look like this:
 Lee played ‫ )→( אץת‬the keyboard.
27
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Hebrew suffixes can be:
 Feminine endings for adjectives and nouns
 Plural endings for adjectives and nouns
 Pronominal suffixes (possessive or objective for gender
and number)
 The Directional particle
 Verb suffixes for gender and number

28
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

Feminine
plural
suffix

29
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

Pronominal Suffix

The yod indicates this is a

masculine plural noun.

30
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
Pronominal Suffixes on Adon (‫)אָּדוֹּן‬
Transliteration # Hits Meaning Person & Number

‫אֲדֹנ ָּי‬ Adonai 420 LORD; Plural in form

YHVH
‫אֲדֹנ ַי‬ Adonai 1 My lords 1 common plural
(see Genesis 19:2)

‫אֲדֹ ּני‬ Adoniy 167 My lord 1 common

singular

31
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Incidentally, ‫אֲד ֹּני‬ means “sir” in modern Hebrew.

32
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Other changes in words may also be seen:
 In vowels of verbs, nouns, and adjectives;
 At the end of constructs (a form of a word) which show
possession.

 ‫ אֲדֹנ אי‬is a construct form of Adon (‫ ;)אָּדוֹּן‬it means “lord

of”

33
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
Another
example of a
construct
chain:
… let them
have
dominion
over the fish
of ( ‫בדג ַת‬
construct)
the sea ( ‫הַיּ ָּּם‬
absolute)…
(Gen 1:26
NKJ)

Example from
BibleWorks 9
34
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

2 Samuel 2:1
Here’s an example of one interrogative Heh (prefix) and two
directional particles (suffix = ‫)ִ ָּה‬.

This is from The Hebrew-English Interlinear ESV Old

Testament by Crossway.
35
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Part II

36
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 When you are using a Hebrew lexicon, it is important
to have an over-all view of the Hebrew verbal system.

 Verbs are probably the most important, time

consuming, and difficult part of learning Biblical
Hebrew.

37
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Verbs are composed of a 3-consonantal root called a
shoresh.
 Each letter of the root is numbered (right to left): III – II – I
 These become important when identifying weak verbs;
these usually involve guttural letters (‫א‬, ‫ה‬, ‫ח‬, ‫ע‬, ‫ )ר‬in
one of these 3 positions.

38
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Depending on the form of the verb, prefixes and/or
suffixes are added to identify the person(s) doing the
action of the verb.

 Sometimes a second suffix, called a pronominal suffix

is also added to indicate a direct object that is a
personal pronoun.
I saw him.

Subject (1st, 2nd, or 3rd person) + Verb--Direct Object =

Personal Pronoun
39
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
III-II-I

Root (III-‫ )ה‬- 1st person, common singular, perfect (‫ )ִי‬- 2nd person
masculine singular pronominal suffix. ָּ ‫ך‬
ּ ‫תי‬
ּ ‫צ ּו ּי‬ 40
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 The shoresh is the root or stem of a verb.

 Another word we need to know is binyan; it comes

from the root/verb ‫( בָּּנ ָּה‬banah) which means build.

 Binyanim (plural) result from certain changes to the

verb’s stem. Each binyan has a name based on how the
verb is built.

41
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Different verbal stems [binyan (sg) or binyanim (pl)]
are formed with a 3-consonantal root (shoresh) by:
 Changing the vowel points;
 Sometimes by adding a dot called a dagesh;
 Sometimes by adding a prefix.

 Be aware that some verbs have:

 Bi-consonantal roots (only two root letters)
 Missing root letters (either I or III)

42
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
Binyan 3rd Person, Masc. 3rd Person, Masc.
Sing. Perfect Sing. Imperfect
Qal ‫קָּטַל‬ ‫ּיקטֹל‬
Niphal ‫ּנקטַל‬ ‫קּטאל‬ָּ ‫ּי‬
Piel ‫קטּאל‬ ‫ּיקַטּאל‬
Pual ‫קֻטַּל‬ ‫ּיקֻטַּל‬
Hitpael ‫התקַטּאל‬ ‫יתקַטּאל‬
Hiphil ‫הקטיל‬ ‫ּי ַקטיל‬
Hophal ‫הָּקטַל‬ ‫ּי ָּקטַל‬
Here I just want you to note that there are different prefixes, dageshes,
and vowel changes in the various binyanim for the verb qatal (to kill). 43
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 It is outside the scope of this presentation to teach you
everything regarding the construction of every verb
form.

 For now we will try to stay as general as possible while

giving you basic information you need to know
whether or not you choose to pursue studying Biblical
Hebrew.

44
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Before I give a general overview of the binyanim, we need
to understand what active, passive, and reflexive is.
 Active = when the subject is doing the action.
 The boy (subject) hit the ball.
 Passive = when the subject is receiving the action.
 The boy (subject) was hit by the ball.
 Reflexive = when the subject does something to
himself.
 The boy (subject) hit himself with the ball.

45
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 The 7 major (most common) binyanim are:
 Qal = active voice, simple basic action
 Niphal = passive voice, simple basic action
 Piel = active voice, intensive action, causes state to exist
 Pual = passive voice, intensive action
 Hitpael = reflexive voice, intensive action
 Hiphil = active voice, causal action
 Hophal = passive voice, causal action

 The vast majority of the verbs in Scripture are Qal.

 (Note: Slight spelling differences in the binyanim may be seen in various
grammars.)

46
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 You may see a few more binyanim mentioned in your
lexicon or grammar that are considered to be minor:

 These are used with bi-consonantal and geminate

(twin) roots.
 Polel – same meaning as Piel (active voice, intensive
action)
 Polal – same meaning as Pual (passive voice, intensive
action)
 Hitpolel – same meaning as Hitpael (reflexive voice,
intensive action).

47
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 This description of the binyanim is very basic.

 There are more specific uses of the binyamin that

affect a verb’s meaning. You’ll have to learn these from
a Hebrew grammar.

 It’s also important to consult your lexicon for the

meanings of the various binyanim.

48
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Verbal stems (binyanim) affect a root’s meaning; not
its function within a discourse (a section of writing).

 If your lexicon gives you meanings for a verb’s various

binyanim, you must consider only the definitions for
the specific binyan in the verse you are looking at.

49
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Your computer software should tell you what binyan is
used in the verse you are looking at.

 If you aren’t using computer software, you can also

consult the Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon.

 BTW, Hebrew verbs do not always exist in every

possible binyan.

50
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Let me ask you a question…

51
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Did you ever ask your mom how to spell a word and
have her tell you to look it up in the dictionary?

52
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Did you ever ask your mom how to spell a word and
have her tell you to look it up in the dictionary?

 If so, did you ever think she was crazy?

53
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Did you ever ask your mom how to spell a word and
have her tell you to look it up in the dictionary?

 If so, did you ever think she was crazy?

 After all, you have to know how to spell the word if

you’re going to look it up.

54
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Did you ever ask your mom how to spell a word and
have her tell you to look it up in the dictionary?

 If so, did you ever think she was crazy?

 After all, you have to know how to spell the word if

you’re going to look it up.

 Well, it’s a bit trickier to do with a Hebrew word!

55
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 The reason is because the 3rd person, masculine,
singular, qal perfect is the lexical form of a verb
whether or not the qal binyan even exists for that verb.

56
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 If you don’t have computer software, this means you
might have to remove parts of the verb you are looking
at to figure out what the 3rd person, masculine singular
form is before you can look up the word.

57
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

III-‫ה‬
Example from
Bible Works 9

58
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
III-II-I

Example from PC Study Bible V5 Professional Reference Library

59
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

‫א ררץ ץ‬
ָּּ ָּ‫מים ואא ֵ֥ת ה‬
ַ ‫ַש‬
ָּ ּ ‫( אֱל ֹה ִ֑ים אא ֵ֥ת ה‬Qal, perfect) ‫בּרא אשית בָּּרָּ ָ֣א‬
60
Overview of Biblical Hebrew

From Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, print version 61

Overview of Biblical Hebrew

The Analytical Hebrew and Chaledee Lexicon shows the various forms words can take.
62
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Hebrew grammar books use either qatal (‫ = קָּטַל‬to kill)
or paqad (‫פָּקַד‬
ּ = to visit) as their paradigm verb to
show the various prefixes and suffixes that can be
attached to a shoresh (root).

 These 2 verbs are called strong verbs because they do

not contain guttural letters (‫א‬, ‫ה‬, ‫ח‬, ‫ע‬,‫ )ר‬and they
change predictably throughout the paradigm.

 Every binyan has its own chart for person (1st-3rd),

number (sg/pl), and gender (m/f).
63
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Because weak verbs have one or more guttural letters
(‫א‬, ‫ה‬, ‫ח‬, ‫ע‬,‫ )ר‬in their root, their vowels do not always
change exactly the same as strong verbs.

 Other verbs have missing root letters or are bi-

consonantal.

 These and weak verbs have their own paradigm lists.

64
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Verb paradigm charts are usually found in the back of
grammar books and some software programs have
them available for review.

 In Bible Works: Resources/Hebrew Grammars/Hebrew

Paradigms. Select the type of verb you want to look at
under the contents tab.

65
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 In Scripture, verbs appear in different forms. Verbal
paradigms exist for the binyanim in these forms:

 Perfect [also known as qatal (‫ )קָּטַל‬or suffix conjugation]

 Imperfect [also known as yiqtol (‫ )יקטֹל‬or prefix conjugation]
 Participles [active and/or passive depending on the binyan]
 Infinitives [construct and absolute]
 Volitionals [Jussives (3p), Imperatives (2p), Cohortatives (1p)]

 Defining all of these is outside the scope of this presentation but we’ll look
briefly at the first two.

66
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Before we look at perfect and imperfect verbs, we need
to understand that there is not really any tense in
Hebrew as there is in English.

 In other words, verb form does not necessarily indicate

tense.

67
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Generally speaking:
 The perfect (qatal) verb can be used to describe:
 completed action
 a state of being
 perception or attitude

 The imperfect (yiqtol) verb can describe past, present,

or future incomplete action.

68
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 If you are planning to learn and read Biblical Hebrew,
you need to memorize and/or recognize the verb
conjugations (inflections) in the following two
paradigm charts for strong verbs.

 You will often need to consult paradigm charts, an

analytical lexicon, or computer software to know for
sure what verb form (especially of weak verbs) you are
looking at.

69
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
Qal Perfect (Qatal)
3ms ‫קָּטַל‬ 3cp ּ ‫ק רטל ּו‬
ָּ
3fs ‫ק רטלָּה‬ ָּ
2ms ָּּ‫קָּטַַ֫לת‬ 2mp ‫קטַלתּץם‬
2fs ּ‫קָּטַלת‬ 2fp ‫קטַלתּץן‬
1cs ‫קָּטַַ֫לתּי‬ 1cp ּ ‫קָּטַַ֫לנ ּו‬

The suffixes of a perfect verb identify the person of the verb which must agree in
number and gender with the accompanying noun or pronoun.

This is only for the qal perfect; there is one of these charts for every perfect
binyan. 70
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
Qal Imperfect (Yiqtol)
3ms ‫ּיקטֹל‬ 3mp ּ ‫ּיקטל ּו‬
3fs ‫תּקטֹל‬ 3fp ‫תּקטַֹ֫לנ ָּה‬
2ms ‫תּקטֹל‬ 2mp ּ ‫תּקטל ּו‬
2fs ‫תּקטלי‬ 2fp ‫תּקטַֹ֫לנ ָּה‬
1cs ‫אץקטֹל‬ 1cp ‫ּנקטֹל‬

The prefixes and suffixes of a verb identify the person of the imperfect verb which
must agree in number and gender with the accompanying noun or pronoun.

This is only for the qal imperfect; there is one of these charts for every imperfect
binyan. 71
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 A verb form not yet mentioned is:
 Wayyiqtol (pronounced va-yiqtol, spelled ‫) ּו ַי ּקטֹל‬.
Hebrew grammars may call it:
 Converted imperfect
 Imperfect with Vav consecutive
 Future with Waw conversive
 Future
 waPC (Vav + Prefix Conjugation)
 It’s basically a vav + imperfect verb.

72
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Another verb form is:
 Weqatal (pronounced ve-qatal, spelled ‫ ּוקָּטַל‬.
 Hebrew grammars may call it:
 wSC (vav + Suffix Conjugation)
 It’s basically a vav + perfect verb.

73
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 When a vav precedes a verb, it often reverses the usual
tense of the verb; in such an instance it’s known as a
reversing vav.

74
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 These two verb forms, the wayyiqtol and weqatal are
very common in Scripture.

 They are 2 kinds of mainline verbs.

75
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Mainline verb forms move the Biblical Narrative forward.

 Historical Narrative:
 Wayyiqtol;
 Embedded Weqatal in procedural discourse; or isolated
Weqatal in pivotal/climatic events
 Predictive Narrative and Instructional Discourse:
 Weqatal; or occasional imperative
 Hortatory Discourse (influence someone’s behavior):
 Volitionals [Jussive(3rd), Imperative (2nd), Cohortative (1st)]
 Weqatals – for Mitigated (less intense) Hortatory Discourse

76
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 1 Samuel 1:19 (Wayyiqtol X3)
 ‫כ ּ ָ֣מ ּו ּ בַבֹּקץר‬
ּ ‫ו ַּי ַּש‬
 Then they rose up early (hiphil, 3mp) in the morning

 ‫ו ַּּי ּרשתַּחֲו ּֽ֙ו ר ּ לפנ אי יהו ָּה‬

 And they worshipped (hishtaphel, 3mp) before YHVH

 ּ ‫שב ּו‬
ֻּ ָּּ ‫ו ַּי‬
 And they returned (qal, 3mp)
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Genesis 3:18 (Weqatal)
 ‫שדץ ה‬
ָּ ּ ַ‫שב ה‬
‫ואָּכַלתָּּ אץת־עא ץ‬
 And you shall eat (Qal, 2ms) the herb of the field.

Construct chain
Showing possession

78
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Numbers 14:13
 ‫שה אץל־יה ּו ָּ ִ֑ה‬
ּ‫ו ֵַֹ֥י ּאמץר מֹ ץ‬
 And Moses said (wayyiqtol, Qal, 3ms) to Yahweh,

 ּ‫שמעָ֣ ּו ּ מצרַ ּים‬

ָּ ‫ּו‬
 "Then the Egyptians will hear (weqatal, Qal, 3cp)

 ֹּ‫ךָּ אץת־הָּעָּם הַז ּץה מקּרבּו‬

ּ ֲ‫ֱליתָּ בכֹח‬
ּ ‫כ ּ רי הץע‬
ּ
 For you had brought up (qatal, Hiphil, 2ms) these people by your
might from among them.”
79
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Off-line verb forms slow down the movement of the
Biblical Narrative. A few examples include:
 X-qatal or X–yiqtol
 Shifts focus (subject = X that precedes the verb)
 Normally, the subject comes after the verb

 Verbs that give relative background information

 Qatal - In the past Dependent clauses begin with
 Yiqtol - In the non-past ‫שר‬
‫ אֲ ץ‬, ‫ אם‬, or ‫כ ּי‬.
 Participles - Give background activities (either active or passive)
 Mainline form of ‫ היה‬- Makes transitions (It happened/came to
pass)
 ‫ ל ֹא‬+ any verb negates the verb

80
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Exodus 7:18 a & b
 ‫שר־בַּיאֹר תָּּמ ּו ּת‬
‫והַ ָּּדג ָּה אֲ ץ‬
 And the fish which are in the river will die

X Yiqtol, Qal, 3fs

 ‫ש ה ַּיאִֹ֑ר‬
ּ ָ֣ ‫א‬
ַּ ָּ‫ּו ּב‬
 And the river will stink (weqatal, Qal, 3ms + subject)

81
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Exodus 4:17
 ָּ‫ך‬
ּ ִ֑ ּ‫קּח בּי ָּדץ‬
ַ ּ‫טּה הַז ּץה ת‬
‫ואץת־הַמַּ ץ‬
 It is this rod you will take (yiqtol, Qal, 2ms) in your hand

Sometimes the Direct Object precedes verb = for emphasis

 ‫שה־בּוֹּ אץת־הָּאֹתֹת‬
‫שר תַּעֲ ץ‬
‫אֲ ץ‬
 With which you will do (yiqtol, Qal, 2ms) the signs

82
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Exodus 4:24
 ‫ך בַּמָּּלִ֑וֹּן‬
ּ ּ‫דּרץ‬
ּ‫ה ֵ֥י בַ ץ‬
ּ ‫ו ַי‬
 And it came to pass (it happened) by the way at the inn

Transition - mainline form of ‫ = היה‬wayyiqtol, Qal, 3ms

 ‫ש ָ֣ה ּו ּ יהו ָּה‬
ּ‫ו ַי ּפ ּג ּ א‬
 That Yahweh met him (‫ ּפ ָּּג ַ ּש‬- wayyitol, Qal, 3ms; 3ms pronominal suffix)

 ֹּ‫ש הֲמיתו‬
ּ ּ‫ק‬
‫ו ַיבַ א‬
 And desired (Wayyiqtol, Qal, 3ms) to kill him (infinitive construct, Hipihil,
3ms)

83
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Exodus 3:20
 ‫אית ָ֣י אץת־מצרַ ּיםּ בּכֹל נפלאֹתַי‬
ּ ּ ‫והכ‬
 And I will smite (weqatal, hiphil, 1cs) Egypt with all my wonders

 ֹּ‫שה בּקרבּו‬
‫שר אץעֱ ץ‬
‫אֲ ץ‬
 Which I will do (yiqtol, Qal, 1cs) in its midst (dependent clause w/yiqtol)

 ‫ואַחֲרא י כאן‬
 And after that

 ‫ל ּח אץתכץם‬
ַ ‫ש‬
ַ ‫ּי‬
 He will let (yiqtol, Piel, 3ms) you (definite direct object + pronoun ending) go (send you
out)

84
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Ezekiel 34:6 a & c
 ‫ֹאני‬
ּ ‫ּיש ּג ּּו ּ צ‬
 My flock went astray (sinned inadvertently; yiqtol, Qal, 3mp)…

‫ש‬ּ ּ‫ק‬
‫ש ואאּ ֵ֥ין מבַ א‬
ּ ּ‫ואאין דּוֹּרא‬
 And no one was searching (participle, Qal, ms) and no one was
seeking (participle, Piel, ms) [for them].

 Exodus 6:9b
 ‫שה‬
‫ש רמע ּו ּ אץל־מֹ ץ‬
ָּּ ‫ול ֹא‬
 But they did not listen (perfect, Qal, 3cp) to Moses…
85
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Verb forms, not verbal stems (binyanim), have special
discourse functions.

 In English, verb tense such as past, present, and future is

represented by their own specific verb forms.

 Biblical Hebrew doesn’t really have tenses like English. In

Hebrew, verb tense is not determined just by verb forms; it
is also a function of the genre of the discourse.

 See Rocine for full details on discourse profile schemes.

86
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 You can begin to see the enormity of the Hebrew verbal
system.

 Don’t let that scare you into not studying Biblical Hebrew.

 Study the language as if it were an onion.

 Digest the first layer you can handle;
 When you are ready, spend time with the next layer;
 Continue the process and repeat what you need to.
 Learn as much vocabulary as you can along the way.
 Practice reading Hebrew in your inter-linear Bible.

87
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Once you finish an introductory course in Biblical
Hebrew, you will have only scratched the surface of the
language.

 BUT, knowing the basics of Biblical Hebrew will help

you as you attempt to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

88
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
You will always need to
rely on grammar and
language tools in your
Biblical studies.

It will take a long time

to build up your
vocabulary. Learn it
based on frequency
rates.

89
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 I recommend this book or another reference for
learning vocabulary based on frequency lists:

 A Student’s Vocabulary for Biblical Hebrew and

Aramaic by Larry A. Mitchel, copyright 1984 by
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

 Other on-line resources, apps, and other databases are

also available and/or built-in to various software
programs.
90
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Print-screens from software for this presentation were
taken from the following sources:

 BibleWorks™ , Version 9.0.12.656, Copyright © 1992-2013

BibleWorks, LLC.

 Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org

 eSword®, Version 10.4.0, Copyright © 2000-2011. Rick Meyers.

 PC Study Bible, Version 5.0F, Copyright © 1988-2008,

BibleSoft®, Inc.

91
Overview of Biblical Hebrew
 Biblical Hebrew A Compact Guide, Miles Van Pelt, Zondervan, Grand
Rapids, Michigan, copyright 2012.
 Biblical Hebrew An Introductory Grammar, Page H. Kelly, William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 1992.
 Learn Biblical Hebrew, 2nd Edition, with Audio CD-Rom, John H. Dobson,
Piquant Editions, Ltd., Carlisle, CA3 9GR, United Kingdom.
 Learning Biblical Hebrew A New Approach Using Discourse Analysis,
B.M. Rocine, Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc., Macon, Georgia, copyright
2000.
 The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon by Benjamin Davidson,
Hendrickson Publishers, P.O. Box 3473, Peabody MA 01961-3473, 4th Printing
April 1986.
 The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon by F. Brown, S.
Driver, and C. Briggs, Hendrickson Publishers, P.O. Box 3473, Peabody MA
01961-3473, 4th Printing January 1999.
 The Hebrew-English Interlinear ESV Old Testament Biblia Hebraica
Stuttgartensia and English Standard Version. Crossway, 1300 Crescent
Street, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Copyright 2014.

92
Hebrew lessons compiled by: Beth C. Mehaffey
https://holyhiway.wordpress.com
Contact: betmeh2 at gmail.com

93