Hebrew 6n7 bbh
Inseparable Prepositions
These prepositions are prefixed directly to their objects and never occur independently. In other
words, they are inseparable from their objects. There are only three inseparable prepositions to be
learned.[1]
ְּב in, by, with
ְל to, for
ְּכlike, as, according to
1. Before most consonants, the inseparable prepositions will appear with Vocal Shewa as ְל, ּב
ְ or ְּכ (the way each is spelled in the lexicon). The following examples illustrate how these
prepositions are prefixed to their objects.
הֶדָׂשְּב in a field
רַעַ֫נְל for a young man
ְ
ְְְךֶלֶמְּכ֫֫מ like a king
2. Before a reduced or Hateph vowel, the inseparable prepositions take the corresponding
short vowel of the Hateph vowel. This is the same type of rule that you have already learned
for the conjunction ְ ו (Unit 4, 'The Conjunction', point 3).[2]
ם יִׁשָנֲאַּכlike men
תֶמֱאֶּב in truth
יִלֳחָל for sickness
3. Before consonants with Vocal Shewa, the inseparable prepositions are spelled with Hireq.
This is because two contiguous (side-by-side) Vocal Shewas cannot stand at the beginning of
a word (Unit 3, 'Advanced Information: Rules of Shewa', point 1) and so the Rule of Shewa
applies.[3]
םיִאיִבְנִל for prophets
תיִרְבִל for a covenant
4. In nouns with the definite article, the prefixing of the preposition is somewhat unusual. The
vowel and Daghesh Forte of the definite article are retained but the consonant of the
preposition replaces the ה of the definite article. The following examples illustrate this
process.
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
חֶדָׂש a field
⇛
⇛
הֶדָּׂשָה
הֶדָּׂשַּב
the field
in the field
ׁשֵא a fire
⇛
⇛
ׁשֵאָה
ׁשֵאָּב
the fire
in the fire
רַעַ֫נ a boy
⇛
⇛
רַעַ֫֫נַה
רַעַ֫֫נַל
the boy
for the boy
ְךֶלֶמ֫֫מ a king
⇛
⇛
ְְְךֶלֶּמַה֫֫֫מ
ְ
ְְְךֶלֶּמַּכ֫֫֫מ
the king
like the king
[1] Though there are only three inseparable prepositions, together they occur 38,932 times in the
Hebrew Bible: ְּב occurs 15,559 times; ְּכ occurs 3,053 times; and ְל occurs 20,321 times. Due to their
frequency, it is important that students become familiar with these prepositions.
[2] When an inseparable preposition is prefixed to םיִהֹלֱא (God), it is spelled םיִהֹלאֵל. This spelling
follows the exception to the second Rule of Shewa (Unit 3, 'Advanced Information: Rules of Shewa').
[3] If an inseparable preposition (ְּב, for example) is prefixed to a word beginning with ְ י then it will
contract to יִּב as in הָד
ּוהיִּב (in Judah). In other words, ְּב plus הָד
ּוהְ י becomes הָד
ּוהיִּב. This is similar
to what you learned for Rule of Shewa (Unit 3, 'Advanced Information: Rules of Shewa', point 2) and
the conjunction ְ י. (Unit 4, 'The Conjunction', point 2, subpoint b).
he Form of the Preposition ןִמ
This preposition deserves special consideration because it may occur as a Maqqef preposition or as
an inseparable preposition.
1. Frequently, the preposition ןִמ is simply joined to its object by the Maqqef as
in ְְְְְְתיַּבַה־ןִמַ֫֫ב (from the house) or הָּכְלַּמַה־ןִמ (from the queen).
2. The preposition ןִמ can also occur as an inseparable preposition. When this happens, the נ of
the preposition assimilates into the first consonant of the noun to which it is prefixed. The
assimilated נ is subsequently represented by a Daghesh Forte. For example:
ְְְְְךֶלֶמ־ןִמ֫֫מ from a king ⇛ְְְךֶלֶּמִמ֫֫֫מfrom a king
3. The Daghesh Forte in the second מ of ְְְךֶלֶּמִמ֫֫֫מ represents the assimilated נ of the original
preposition. The Daghesh Forte that results from the assimilated נ behaves in the same way
as the Daghesh Forte of the definite article construction. The following explanations show
how the Daghesh Forte interacts with begadkephat and guttural consonants.
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
A. When ןִמ is inseparably prefixed to a word beginning with a begadkephat consonant,
the Daghesh Lene of the begadkephat consonant becomes a Daghesh Forte as
in תיַּבַ֫֫ב (a house) to ְְתיַּבִמַ֫֫ב (from a house). The Daghesh Forte in
the ּב of ְְתיַּבִמַ֫֫ב represents the assimilated נ of the preposition.
B. When ןִמ is inseparably prefixed to a word beginning with a guttural consonant, the
guttural rejects the Daghesh Forte of the assimilating נ with the result that the Hireq
(short i) under the מ of the preposition lengthens to Tsere (long ē) as in ׁשיִאֵמ (from
a man) or ריִעֵמ (from a city). The lengthening of Hireq to Tsere is another example
of compensatory lengthening.[4] When ןִמ is prefixed to words with the definite
article, the ה of the article is retained as in ץ ֫ר֫֫א֫הֵמ (from the land).
C. When ןִמ is inseparably prefixed to a word beginning with ח, the Daghesh Forte is
often rejected by the guttural but without compensatory lengthening as
in ץ֫וחִמ (from outside). This is called virtual doubling (see Unit 4, 'The Article and
Initial Guttural Consonants', point 2). In some instances, however, compensatory
lengthening will occur, as in ְְבֶרֶחֵמ֫֫ח (from a sword).
[4] This is your second encounter with compensatory lengthening. The first occurrence appeared
with the definite article: Pathach to Qamets (Unit 4, 'The Article and Initial Guttural Consonants',
point 1). A second pattern of compensatory lengthening now occurs with the prefixing of the
preposition ןִמ: Hireq to Tsere.
The Use of the Preposition ןִמ
Because of the frequency with which the preposition ןִמ occurs (7,592 times), it is worth studying a
few of its special uses.
1. Comparative Use. In English, adjectives are used to express the comparative and superlative
ideas: big becomes bigger (comparative) or biggest (superlative)
and good becomes better or best. In Hebrew, the preposition ןִמ is often used to indicate the
comparative or “better than” idea. The following examples illustrate this usage.
בָהָּ זִמ הָמְכָח הָבֹוט
Literally: Wisdom is good from gold.
Comparatively: Wisdom is better than gold.
א֫והַה ר֫פֵ֫֫סַה־ןִמ ה֫֫זַה ר֫פֵ֫֫סַה בֹוט
Literally: This book is good from that book.
Comparatively: This book is better than that book.
The comparative use of ןִמ can also communicate the nuance of “too … for” as in the following
example.
םיִׁשָנֲאָהֵמ הָדֹוב ֲעָה הָׁשָק
Literally: The work is difficult from the men.
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
Comparatively: The work is too difficult for the men.
2. Superlative Use. In Hebrew, the preposition ןִמ may be used with לֹ
ּכ (all, each, every) in the
formation of a superlative לֹ
ּכִמ, literally “from every.” The following example illustrates this
usage.
הֶדָּׂשַה תַּיַח לֹ
ּכִמ ם
ּורָע
Literally: clever from every living thing of the field
Superlatively: the most clever living thing of the field
3. Partitive Use. The partitive use of ןִמ is the way that Hebrew expresses a part or portion of
something. The following examples illustrate this usage.
יִרְּפּמ
Literally: from a fruit
Partitively: some (of the) fruit
םיִׁשָנֲאָהֵמ
Literally: from the men
Partitively: some of the men
The Definite Direct Object Marker
In Hebrew prose, definite direct objects are usually marked with תֵא/־ת ֶא . The direct object is the
word that receives the action of the verb. For example, in the sentence “God created the earth,” the
word “earth” is the direct object of the verb “created.” The direct object “earth” is also
a definite direct object because it has the definite article, “the earth.” In Hebrew, the definite direct
object marker, also called the accusative marker, is often spelled exactly the same as the
preposition תֵא/־תֶא which translates “with.” In most instances, context will enable you to distinguish
between these two forms. Consider the following sentence.
ר֫פֵ֫֫סַ֫ב םי ִר֫בְ֫דַה־ת֫א בַת֫֫כ He wrote the words in the book.
The masculine plural noun םיִרָבְּ ד (words) is the direct object of the verb בַתָּכ (he wrote). This direct
object is definite, that is, it has the definite article (םיִרָבְּ דַה). As the definite direct object of the verb,
it is marked with ־תֶא. Note that the definite direct object marker is not translated. It is a word that
has a grammatical function but no translation value. A few more examples will help to illustrate the
use of the object marker.
םיַמָּׁשַהת ֵא םיִהֹלֱא אָרָּב
ַ֫מ God created the heavens.
ְךֶלֶּמַלר ֶפֵּסַה־תֶאא יִבָּ נַה ןַתָנ
֫֫֫מֵ֫֫ס The prophet gave the book to the king.
לֹודָּ גַה לָכיֵהַה־תֶא ְךֶלֶּמַהה ָנָּב
֫֫֫מ The king built the great temple.
In each of the examples above, the direct object is considered to be definite because it has the
definite article. Proper nouns ( לֵא
ּומְׁש, Samuel) and nouns with pronominal suffixes (יִס
ּוס, my horse)
are also considered to be definite. Therefore, direct objects that are proper nouns or nouns with
pronominal suffixes will also be marked with תֵא/־תֶא . Study the following sentences and be certain
that you understand why the object marker is present.
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
תֹורֹוּתַה־תֶאְ ו הָ וְצִּמַה־תֶא ְ ךֶלֶּמַהר ַמָׁש
֫֫֫מ The king observed the commandment and the laws.
ריִע֫ה־ל֫א ְך֫אְלַ֫מַה־ת֫א איִב֫֫נַה חַלׁ֫ש The prophet sent the messenger to the city.
ןָתָנֹוהְ י־תֶא דִ וָּ ד בַהָא David loved Jonathan.
םָעָל ויָתֹורֹוּת־תֶא ְ ךֶלֶּמַהן ַתָנ
֫֫֫מ The king gave his laws to the people.
If the direct object of a verb is not definite, then the definite direct object marker is not used. In the
following examples, the direct objects are indefinite and, therefore, the definite direct object marker
is not present.
לֹודָּ ג לָכיֵה ְךֶלֶּמַהה ָנָּב
֫֫֫מ The king built a great temple.
ריִע֫֫ב ןֹט֫ק תִיַ֫֫ב רַעַ֫֫נַה ה֫נ֫֫ב The young man built a small house in the city.
Summary
1. Hebrew prepositions function like English prepositions. The word following the preposition is
called the object of the preposition. There are three types of Hebrew prepositions:
independent, Maqqef, and inseparable.
2. Independent prepositions stand alone. Maqqef prepositions are joined to their objects by a
raised horizontal stroke called a Maqqef. Inseparable prepositions are prefixed directly to
their objects.
3. The inseparable prepositions ְּב (in, by, with), ְל (to, for), and ְּכ (like, as, according to) are
prefixed directly to their objects and never occur independently.
A. Before most consonants, the inseparable prepositions will appear with Vocal Shewa
as ְל, ְּב or ְּכ.
B. Before a reduced or Hateph vowel, the inseparable prepositions are spelled with the
corresponding short vowel of the Hateph vowel.
C. Before consonants with Vocal Shewa, the inseparable prepositions are spelled with
Hireq because of the application of Rule of Shewa (Unit 3, "Advanced Information:
Rules of Shewa", point 1).
D. In nouns with the definite article, the vowel and Daghesh Forte of the definite article
are retained but the consonant of the preposition replaces the ה of the definite
article.
4. The preposition ןִמ occurs both as a Maqqef preposition and as an inseparable preposition.
When occurring as an inseparable preposition, the נ assimilates into the following consonant
and appears as a Daghesh Forte. This Daghesh Forte is rejected by gutturals, resulting in
either compensatory lengthening or virtual doubling.
5. The preposition ןִמ can be used comparatively (as in “better than”); “superlatively” with לֹ
ּכִמ
( לֹ
ּכ, as in “the most”); and partitively (as in “some of”).
6. In Hebrew prose, definite direct objects are usually marked with תֵא/־תֶא (the accusative
marker). The definite direct object marker is never translated. It is a word that has a
grammatical function but no translation value.
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
7. Who Is Like You?
8. Of the so-called Minor Prophets, Micah is one of the better
known to modern readers. He was a contemporary of Isaiah
in the latter half of the eighth century B.C. and he
prophesied to both Judah and Israel. He delivers a direct and
powerful message of judgment upon each nation and its
political and religious leadership. The language of judgment
is graphic and startling (3:1-12), mediated with conviction
and moral outrage (3:8). God’s judgment is just (1:3-5; 2:1-
2; 3:9-12). The sins of the people demand it. Micah is a
purveyor of judgment to be sure, but amidst the prediction
of certain doom, the prophet mediates the divine promise of
restoration and the coming of God's kingdom through the
appearance of a Saviour (4:1-4; 5:2). With reference to this
unique blend of divine justice (we get what we deserve) and
divine mercy (we don’t get what we deserve), the prophet
declares
֫ךֹומ֫֫כ ל֫א־יִמ toward the end of the book (7:18). A
simple grammatical construction, the question is composed
of the interrogative pronoun יִמ, the divine title לֵא and the
preposition ְ֫כ with a 2ms pronominal suffix (Who is a God like
you?). Despite the use of the interrogative pronoun, the
question neither demands nor expects a response. It is
rhetorical. Micah expects no raised hand in the gallery of his
readership. Though deities abound in the pantheons of
ancient Israel’s neighbors, no candidates will be identified as
God’s equal because the God of Israel and the attributes of
his character are unique, especially his mercy – justice
tempered with mercy, a portrait consistent with the divine
self-revelation in Ex 34:5-7.
9. The consummate expression of divine mercy with which the
book of Micah ends (7:18-20) finds its expression at the
beginning of the composition (1:1) with the identification of
the prophet’s name. In Hebrew, the name Micah is
spelled הַכיִמ (Micah 1:1) or ֫והְי֫כיִמ (Judg 17:1, 4). The name is
composed of the interrogative pronoun יִמ, the
preposition ְ֫כ and a shortened form of the divine name (Who
is like Yahweh?). In Hebrew, the link between the prophet’s
name (1:1) and his message of divine mercy in 7:18 ( ל֫א־יִמ
֫ךֹומ֫֫כ) is unmistakable. The question without an answer,
which stands as a declaration and affirmation of the unique
and merciful character of God, echoes throughout the Old
Testament.
10. Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
11. Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
12. terrible in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
13. (Ex 15:11)
14. All my bones say, “O Lord, who is like you?”
15. (Ps 35:10)
16. Gary D. Pratico
17. Professor of Old Testament
18. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
19. South Hamilton, Massachusetts
Advanced Information: Compound Prepositions
Some Hebrew prepositions are formed by combining two different prepositions (or a preposition and
a noun) in order to make a new preposition.
1. Several high frequency prepositions are formed from the noun הֶנָּפ (face), which is attested
only in the plural (םיִנָּפ). The following are among the most important forms.
יֵנְפִל before, in the presence of ( םיִנָּפ + ְל
יֵנְּפִמ away from, out from, from the presence of, from before, on account of, because of ( םיִנָּפ + ןִמ
יֵנְפִּ לִמ away from, from before, from the presence of, on account of
(םיִנָּפ + ְל + ןִמ
)
יֵנְּפ־לע in the face of, in the sight of, in front of, before, up against, opposite to ( םיִנָּפ + ־לַע
2. The following are some common prepositions that are created by the compounding of two
different prepositions.
לַעֵמ from upon ⇛ןִמ is prefixed to לַע
ְְתַחַּתִמַ֫֫תfrom under ⇛ןִמ is prefixed to תַחַּתַ֫֫ת
תֵאֵמ from with ⇛ןִמ is prefixed to תֵא
3. The following prepositions are created by the compounding of a noun with a preposition.
רַבְ֫ד־לַע on account of ⇛לַע is prefixed to ר֫ב֫֫ד
ְךֹותְּב in the midst of ⇛ְּב is prefixed to ְךֶ וָּת֫֫֫ת
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
ְךֹוּתִמ from the midst of ⇛ןִמ is prefixed to ְךֶ וָּת֫֫֫ת
Ch 7
Introduction
Hebrew adjectives function just like English adjectives. They are used to modify, describe,
characterize, or classify nouns. In other words, adjectives give nouns a certain amount of increased
specificity. For example, the noun “king” can be modified by any number of different adjectives, such
as “righteous king” or “wicked king.” Whatever you want to say about a king, you can say it with
adjectives.
The Inflection of Adjectives
Hebrew adjectives inflect (change their form) in order to indicate gender and number. They are
inflected in four forms: masculine singular and masculine plural, feminine singular and feminine
plural. The good news is that the inflectional endings for adjectives are the same endings that you
have already learned for nouns. Observe how the Hebrew adjective בֹוט (good) is inflected.
Inflected Adjective Inflectional Endings
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine
Singular בֹוט הָבֹוט הָ
Plural םיִבֹוט תֹובֹוט םיִ תֹו
otes on the Inflection of Adjectives
There are a few additional things that you should know about Hebrew adjectives.
1. Hebrew adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. This means that
an adjective modifying a feminine noun will take a feminine ending. Similarly, an adjective
modifying a masculine noun will take a masculine ending. For example, בֹוט ס
ּוס is translated
“good horse” or “a good horse.” The noun ס
ּוס is masculine and so the adjective בֹוט must
also be masculine in form. Similarly, הָבֹוט הָּכְלַמ is translated “good queen” or “a good
queen.” The noun הָּכְלַמ is feminine and so the adjective הָבֹוט must also be feminine in form
because adjectives modifying feminine nouns take feminine endings. The gender of an
adjective does not change the meaning of an adjective.
2. Adjectives that are plural in form are singular in translation value. In other words, they do
not translate with any kind of plural meaning. For example, תֹובֹוט תֹוכָלְמ is translated
“good queens.” The reason the adjective תֹובֹוט is plural in form is because the noun it is
modifying is plural. In Hebrew, the number of an adjective does not change the meaning of
an adjective, unless the adjective is used substantively (see next section, point 3).
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
3. Unlike בֹוט, most adjectives undergo vowel changes when the inflectional endings are
added. These patterns of change are similar to those that occur in nouns (see ‘Advanced
Information: Basic Patterns of Adjectival Inflection’ for various patterns of adjectival
inflection).
The Use of Adjectives
We now turn our attention to adjectival usage. In other words, how do adjectives modify or relate to
nouns? Adjectival usage falls into three categories: attributive, predicative, and substantive.
1. Attributive Use. When an adjective modifies a noun, it is being used attributively. In the
examples “good student” and “big book,” the adjectives modify the nouns. In Hebrew,
attributive adjectives follow, or come after, the noun they are modifying. The modifying
adjective must also agree with the noun in gender, number, and definiteness. The term
“definiteness” refers to the presence (definiteness) or absence (indefiniteness) of the
definite article. The following examples illustrate the attributive use of the adjective.
בֹוט ׁשיִא good man or a good man
בֹוּטַה ׁשיִאָה the good man
הָבֹוט הָּׁשִא good woman or a good woman
הָבֹוּטַה הָּׁשִאָה the good woman
םיִבֹוט םיִׁשָ נֲא good men
םיִבֹוּטַה םיִׁשָ נֲאָה the good men
תֹובֹוט םיִׁשָ נ good women[1]
תֹובֹוּטַה םיִׁשָּ נַה the good women
2. In each of the examples above, be certain that you understand the agreement between noun
and adjective in the categories of gender, number, and definiteness (or indefiniteness).
3. Predicative Use. This use of the adjective does not modify a noun but rather asserts
something about it. In the examples “the student is good” or “the book is big,” the adjectives
assert something about the nouns so as to create a predication. In English, a form of the verb
“to be” is used to indicate the predicative relationship. In Hebrew, the predicative
relationship is indicated when an adjective matches the noun in gender and number but not
definiteness. The predicate adjective never takes the definite article. With regard to word
order, the adjective may either precede or follow the noun. The following examples illustrate
the predicative use of the adjective.
/ ׁשיִאָה בֹוט בֹוט ׁשיִאָה The man is good.
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Hebrew 6n7 bbh
/ הָּׁשִאָה הָבֹוט הָבֹוט הָּׁשִאָה The woman is good.
/ םיִׁשָנֲאָה םיִבֹוט םיִבֹוט םיִׁשָנֲאָה The men are good.
/ םיִׁשָּ נַה תֹובֹוט תֹובֹוט םיִׁשָּ נַה The women are good.
4. In the examples above that illustrate the predicate usage, there is no form of the Hebrew
verb “to be.” The “is” or “are” translations are supplied because of the predicative
relationship between the noun and the adjective. In this usage, a predication is created with
a noun and with an adjective without the definite article. The noun can also be a proper
name as in לֵא
ּומְׁש רָׁשָ י (Samuel is upright) or ת
ּור הָפָ י (Ruth is beautiful). Verbless clauses
with predicate adjectives should usually be translated only with the English present tense of
the verb “to be,” as in איִב֫֫נַה קיִ֫דַצ (the prophet is righteous) or םיִאיִבְּ נַה םיִקיִּדַצ (the
prophets are righteous). Apart from context, you should not supply the English past tense of
the verb “to be.” A verbless clause can be translated with the past tense (“was” or “were”)
but only if a past tense verbal form is present or if warranted by context.
5. Given that the predicate adjective never takes the definite article, certain constructions may
pose ambiguity. For example, בֹוט ׁשיִא can be translated either as “a good man” or as “a man
is good.” In such instances, only context will suggest whether the usage is attributive or
predicative.
6. Substantive Use. Adjectives may be used independently as nouns. In such cases, there will be
no noun for the adjective to modify. The Hebrew adjective meaning “wise” is םָכָח. Used
substantively, by itself, it means “a wise one” or “a wise man.” Similarly, with the definite
article, םָכָחֶה is translated “the wise one” or “the wise man.”
[1] The plural of הָּׁשִא is םיִׁשָנ. This is an example of irregular pluralization (Unit 3, ‘Exceptions to the
Rules,’ point 4). Even though םיִׁשָ נ takes the masculine plural ending, the noun is still feminine and so
the adjective agrees with natural gender (fp) and not grammatical gender (mp).
Lexical Form
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The lexical form of a Hebrew adjective is always the masculine singular form. This is different than a
noun, for which the lexical form is masculine or feminine singular, depending on the gender of the
noun.
The Directional Ending
In Hebrew, a special ending may be added to a word in order to express the idea of motion toward
someone or something. This special ending is the directional ending הָ (it is always unaccented). In
terms of meaning, the use of the directional ending הָ is the same as a prepositional phrase
with ־לֶא (to, toward). Compare the following examples.
ץ ֫ר֫֫א֫ה־ל֫א to (toward) the land
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הָצְרַאַ֫א to (toward) [the] land
In the second example above, the noun ץ ֫ר֫֫א (land) appears with the directional ending and is
translated just like the first example with the preposition ־לֶא (to, toward). This directional ending
occurs 1,119 times in the Hebrew Bible. In the examples below, the directional ending has been
added to words that occur frequently with this ending. You will also note in the following examples
that vowel changes are clearly observable in some words. It is better, however, to master recognition
through frequency of encounter rather than attempting to memorize all the spelling changes. Note
also that a Daghesh Forte is sometimes added to the last consonant of the word when the directional
ending is attached (for example, הָּמָׁשׁ֫֫ש and הָּמָ י).
תיַּב
ַ֫֫בhouse ⇛הָתְ יַּבַה
ַ֫֫בto (toward) the house
ריִע city ⇛הָריִעָה
ִ֫ע to (toward) the city
םי ַמָׁש
ַ֫מ heaven ⇛הָמְ י ַמָּׁשַה
ַ֫מ to heaven, heavenward
םי ַרְצִמ
ַ֫ר Egypt ⇛הָמְ י ַרְצִמ
ַ֫ר to (toward) Egypt
רַה mountain ⇛הָר ָהָה
֫֫ה to (toward) the mountain
םָׁש there ⇛הָּמָׁשׁ֫֫ש to there, to that place
םָ י sea, west ⇛הָּמָ י
֫֫י toward the sea, toward the west, westward
Now that you have studied the Hebrew directional ending (הָ ), it might be helpful to review the
other הָ endings that you have encountered.
1. Feminine singular nouns often end in הָ as in הָרֹוּת (law). The ending is accented.
2. Feminine singular adjectives end in הָ as in הָלֹודְּ ג (great). The ending is accented.
3. In later unints, you will learn that prepositions, nouns, and the definite direct object marker
may take a 3fs pronominal suffix that consists of ּהָ as in ּהָל (to her) or ּהָס
ּוס (her horse).
Note, however, that the ה of the 3fs pronominal suffix has a dot within it that is
called Mappiq.
Summary
1. Hebrew adjectives inflect in order to indicate gender and number. They are inflected in four
forms: masculine singular and masculine plural, feminine singular and feminine plural. The
inflectional endings for adjectives are the same endings that you have already learned for
nouns.
2. Hebrew adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. The gender of
an adjective does not change the meaning of an adjective.
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3. Adjectives that are plural in form are singular in translation value. The number of an
adjective does not change the translation value of an adjective.
4. Adjectival usage falls into three categories: attributive, predicative and substantive.
A. Attributive adjectives follow the noun they modify and agree in gender, number, and
definiteness (or indefiniteness).
B. Predicative adjectives either precede or follow the noun they modify and agree in
gender and number only. Predicative adjectives never take the definite article.
C. Substantive adjectives are used independently as nouns. In such cases, there will be
no noun for the adjective to modify.
5. In Hebrew, the directional ending הָ may be added to the end of a word in order to express
the idea of motion toward someone or something. The directional ending is always
unaccented and is translated “to” or “toward.”
Theological Motivation
Shortly after I began the study of Hebrew, over forty years ago
now, I became motivated to comprehend the biblical languages
when I realized that most of my knowledge of God was derived
from Holy Scripture, and the accuracy of that knowledge was
contingent upon the correctness with which I handled its
languages. God incarnated himself in those languages, not only in
the body of Jesus Christ to whom they point. Instructively, in the
closing letters of Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, and of Peter,
the apostle to the Jews, just prior to their deaths, they both wed
their Christian teachings with the God-breathed Old Testament. In
his letter with the famous closing line, “I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7),
Paul wrote:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have
become convinced of, because you know those from whom you
learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through
faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so
that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work (2 Tim 3:14-17).
Likewise Peter, immediately after writing, “I think it is right to
refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,
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because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus
Christ has made clear to me,” added:
And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you
will always be able to remember these things. We did not follow
cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his
majesty . . . And we have the word of the prophets made more
certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light,
shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand no prophecy
of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For
prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke
from God, as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet
1:12-21).
The logic of this Christian theology, that God revealed himself
through the Scripture, inescapably led me to the conclusion that
the authenticity of that knowledge rested on a precise
understanding of the biblical languages. That conviction led me to
earn my first doctorate in Greek and New Testament and the
second in the Ancient Near Eastern languages and literatures with
a major in Old Testament. From the beginning of my formal
theological education it remained my purpose, by God's grace, to
be in God’s house an article of gold and silver, not of wood and
clay, for noble purposes, not ignoble, so as to be “an instrument
for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared
to do any good work” (2 Tim 2:20-21). I must confess that I find it
difficult to engage theological presentations that have not been
purged through the fire of careful exegesis.[2]
Bruce K. Waltke
Professor of Old Testament
Reformed Theological Seminary
Orlando, Florida
[2] Bruce K. Waltke, “How I Changed My Mind About Teaching Hebrew (or
Retained it),” Crux 29.4 (1993): 10-11. Reprinted with author’s permission.
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dvanced Information: Basic Patterns of Adjectival Inflection
For the most part, those changes that occur with adjectives are the same as those that occur with
nouns (Unit 3, ‘Basic Patterns of Noun Pluralization’). Below are some of the most common patterns
of adjectival inflection. These patterns demonstrate how an adjective’s vowels will change when
inflected for gender and number.
1. Adjectival Inflection with No Change. Certain adjectives, like the monosyllabic adjective בֹוט,
do not change with the addition of inflectional endings.
Masculine Feminine
Singular בֹוט הָבֹוט
Plural םיִבֹוט תֹובֹוט
2. Adjectival Inflection with Propretonic Reduction. Review Unit 3, ‘Basic Patterns of Noun
Pluralization,’ point 2 for discussion of propretonic reduction. In adjectives, with the addition
of inflectional endings, a (changeable) long vowel (Qamets or Tsere) in an open, propretonic
syllable will reduce to Vocal Shewa. This type of change occurs when the open, pretonic
syllable of the masculine singular adjective becomes propretonic with the addition of
inflectional endings. Study the following examples with propretonic reduction.
A. Adjectives with the vowel pattern of לֹודָּ ג (great)
B. Masculine Feminine
Singular לֹודָּ ג הָלֹודְּ ג
Plural םיִלֹודְּ ג תֹולֹודְּ ג
C. Adjectives with the vowel pattern of ןֵקָ ז (old)
Masculine Feminine
Singular ןֵקָ ז הָנֵקְ ז
Plural םיִנֵקְ ז תֹונֵקְ ז
D. Adjectives with the vowel pattern of רׁ֫ש֫י (upright, right)
Masculine Feminine
Singular רׁ֫ש֫י הָרָׁשְ י
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Plural םיִרָׁשְ י תֹורָׁשְ י
E. Adjectives with an initial guttural consonant cannot take a Vocal Shewa but prefer
Hateph Pathach.
Masculine Feminine
Singular םָכָח הָמָכֲח
Plural םיִמָכֲח תֹומָכֲח
3. Inflection of Adjectives Ending in הֶ . Adjectives like הֶׁשָק (difficult) can be difficult to
recognize because the הֶ ending is dropped when the inflectional endings are added. It must
be recognized, for example, that םיִׁשָק derives from הֶׁשָק before a form like this can be
located in the lexicon.
Masculine Feminine
Singular הֶׁשָק הָׁשָק
Plural םיִׁשָק תֹוׁשָק
4. Inflection of Geminate Adjectives. Like Geminate nouns (Unit 3, ‘Basic Patterns of Noun
Pluralization,’ point 4), Geminate adjectives such as בַר (many) will take a Daghesh Forte in
the second consonant with the addition of inflectional endings.
Masculine Feminine
Singular בַר הָּבַר
Plural םיִּבַר תֹוּבַר
5. Note that Geminate adjectives like ע ַר (evil), with a guttural for the second consonant,
cannot take the Daghesh Forte. Because the guttural rejects the Daghesh Forte, the Pathach
under the ר undergoes compensatory lengthening.
Masculine Feminine
Singular ע ַר הָעָר
Plural םיִעָר תֹועָר
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