Archive for the 'Grammar' Category

Apr 07 2007

Biblical Hebrew Teaching Grammars

Published by under Grammar

Chris Heard shares some thoughts about Practico & Van Pelt's BH Teaching Grammar on his blog Higgaion.  It seems to me that each teaching grammar (as well as the intermediate grammars) has positive and negative features.  This means that where the grammar is weak we need to provide supplemental instruction/material.  If this were not so, there would not be need for a teacher!

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Dec 16 2006

Shewa Fight Video

Published by under Grammar

Enjoy this video.

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Sep 22 2006

Rosh Hashanah (Leviticus 23:23-25)

Published by under Grammar,Leviticus

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ 24 דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ 25 כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֥ם אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 4

            שׁביעי  ordinal number: “seventh”

            שׁבתון  noun: “Sabbath” (BDB, 992)

            זכרון  noun: “memorial” (BDB, 272)

            תדועה  noun: “blast (of trumpet/shofar)” (BDB, 930)

            מקדא  noun: “convocation”

Verse 5

            מלאכה  “work”

            עבדה  “labor”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 3

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר): V-S-IO-M
    • The object is the following quotation.
    • Conjunctive dagesh, or conjunctivum, is regularly used when לאמר follows משׁה (cf. Exodus 6:10, 29; 15:24; GKC 20c n.2)

Verse 4

  • Embedded Typology A (דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר): V-IO-M-O
    • Asyndeton marks the introduction of the direct speech.
    • The quotation is further embedded.
  • Embedded Typology i (בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ): M-V-M-SC-M
    • The phrase, באחד לחדשׁ, refers to the “first day of the month.”
    • The name Rosh Hashanah ראשׁ השׁנה is not found in the Hebrew Bible.
    • The construct phrase, זכרון תרועה, may be understood as appositional—“a memorial with a trumpet blast.”

Verse 5

  • Embedded Typology ii (כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֑וּ): O-V
    • Asyndeton explains further instructions for the observance.
    • The construct is attributive, “laborious work.”
  • Embedded Typology iii (וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֥ם אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַיהוָֽה):  V-M
    • The Hiphil of קרב implies the bringing of a sacrifice.

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Aug 03 2006

Zechariah 7:1-3

Published by under compound object,Grammar,Zechariah

וַיְהִי בִּשְׁנַת אַרְבַּע לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה בְּאַרְבָּעָה לַחֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁעִי בְּכִסְלֵו׃ 2 וַיִּשְׁלַח בֵּית־אֵל שַׂר־אֶצֶר וְרֶגֶם מֶלֶךְ וַאֲנָשָׁיו לְחַלּוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה׃ 3 לֵאמֹר אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים אֲשֶׁר לְבֵית־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת וְאֶל־הַנְּבִיאִים לֵאמֹר הַאֶבְכֶּה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִׁי הִנָּזֵר כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי זֶה כַּמֶּה שָׁנִים׃   פ

Vocabulary

Verse 1

            דריושׁ  name: “Darius”

            זכריה  name: “Zechariah”

            תשׁיעי  ordinal: “ninth”

            כסלו  name (ninth month): “Chislev”

Verse 2

            שֹר־אצר  name: “Sharezer”

            רגם מלך  name: “Regem-melech”

            חלה  verb (Piel infinitive construct): “appease”

Verse 3

            בכה  verb: “weep”

            חמשׁי  ordinal: “fifth”

            נזר  verb (Niphal infinitive absolute): “consecrating oneself [by fasting]”

            כמה  “how many/often!”

Syntax & Miscellaneous

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וַיְהִי בִּשְׁנַת אַרְבַּע לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ): V-M
    • This may well be classified as an introductory temporal clause.
  • Sentence Typology 2 (הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־זְכַרְיָה בְּאַרְבָּעָה לַחֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁעִי בְּכִסְלֵו): S-V-M
    • Ordinal numbers are always used with months (GKC 134p).

Verse 2

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּשְׁלַח בֵּית־אֵל שַׂר־אֶצֶר וְרֶגֶם מֶלֶךְ וַאֲנָשָׁיו לְחַלּוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה): V-S-O-M
    • The subject is the personification of Bethel (meaning: “[the people of] Bethel).
    • The compound object includes three members.
    • The infinitive clause modifies the finite verb, שׁלח.
  • Embedded Typology A (לְחַלּוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה): V-O

Verse 3

  • Embedded Typology i (לֵאמֹר אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים אֲשֶׁר לְבֵית־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת וְאֶל־הַנְּבִיאִים): V-IO-O
    • The two infinitives, לאמר, to modify the previous infinitive, לחלות.
    • The indirect object is compound.
    • The use of the lamed preposition to describe the relationship of the priests (הכהנים) to the house of the Lord (בית־יהוה) is that they “belong to” the temple.
    • The object (i.e. direct speech) follows the second לאמר.
  • Embedded Typology ii (הַאֶבְכֶּה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִׁי הִנָּזֵר): V-M
    • The initial he is an interrogative he.
    • The beth preposition marks a temporal phrase.
    • The reflexive verb, הנזר, serves to designate the attendant circumstances of the verb, אבכה (GKC 113h).  In English, a participle may best translate this constituent.
  • Embedded Typology iii (כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי זֶה כַּמֶּה שָׁנִים): V-O-M
    • The final phrase, כמה שׁנים “so many years,” is an adverbial modifier.

 

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Aug 02 2006

Genesis 23:17-20

Published by under Genesis,Grammar

וַיָּ֣קָם ׀ שְׂדֵ֣ה עֶפְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃ 18 לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת בְּכֹ֖ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִירֽוֹ׃ 19 וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֩ קָבַ֨ר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֶל־מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃ 20 וַיָּ֨קָם הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֛וֹ לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת׃ ס

Vocabulary

Verse 17

            עפרון  name: “Ephron”

            מלכלה  name: “Machpelah”

            ממרא  name: “Mamre”

            מערה  noun: “cave” (BDB, 792)

            גבול  “territory, border”

Verse 18

            מקנה  “possession” (BDB, 889)

Verse 19

            שֹרה  name: “Sarah”

            מערה  noun: “cave” (BDB, 792)

            חברון  name: “Hebron”

            כנען  name: “Canaan”

Verse 20

            מערה  noun: “cave” (BDB, 792)

            אחזה  noun: “possession”

            קבר  noun: “burial site, grave”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 17-18

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּ֣קָם ׀ שְׂדֵ֣ה עֶפְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת בְּכֹ֖ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִירֽוֹ): V-S-O-M
    • The verbal idea of קום is used to express assurance of a purchase.
    • Even though the relative clause, אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה, follows the latter member of the construct phrase, it is meant to modify the former.
    • The subject is expanded in the later half of the verse with the reiteration of השֹדה.  The resulting compound subject contains three elements—שֹדה, מערה and כל־העץ.
    • The object and modifying phrases are found in verse 18.
    • Each of the three lamed prepositions in verse 18 functions in different capacities.  The first is sequenced with the verb to mark its object, אברהם.  Second designates purpose “for a possession,” and the last marks location “before the Hittites.”
  • Embedded Typology 1 (בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה): P
  • Embedded Typology 2 (לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א): P
  • Embedded Typology 1 (בּ֔וֹ): P
    • The ms referent of the pronominal suffix is the original subject, שֹדה.
  • Embedded Typology 1 (בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה): P
  • Sentence Typology 2 (בְּכָל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב): P
    • The ms referent of the pronominal suffix is שֹדה.

Verse 19

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֩ קָבַ֨ר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֶל־מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א): M-V-S-M
    • The particle, כֵּן, may function as a demonstrative referring to a previous event or action.
    • The familial designation, אשׁתו, is in apposition to the proper name, שֹרה.
    • The phrase, מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה, is a three member construct phrase.
  • Sentence Typology 2 (הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן): S-P
    • The asyndetic, verbless clause designates the location of the cave as near Hebron.

Verse 20

  • Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּ֨קָם הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֛וֹ לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת): V-S-O-M
    • This final clause serves as a summation of the property exchange with the sons of Heth (GKC 111k).
  • Embedded Typology 1 (בּ֛וֹ): P
    • The relative clause designates the relationship of המערה “the cave” to the pronominal antecedent, השֹדה “the field.”

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