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Appendix C. Glossary of Morphosyntactical Terms
The numeral in parentheses (6) indicates the lesson in which the term is introduced.
absolute a word or phrase that is not “connected” to the rest of a sentence; i.e., not dependent on
anything else (9)
accent(s) mark(s) in the text that indicate the accented [tone] syllable of a word, as well as its
logical relationship to the following word (27)
accusative the supposed original function of the LOCATIVE h-(7)
acrostic a poem or text in which each line or group of lines begins with the next letter of the
Hebrew alphabet; e.g., Pss 111, 112, 119; La 1-4 (1)
active another term for FIENTIVE (12)
adjectival/adjective any word used to modify another (9, 11)
Adonai “lord/master/Lord”; the vowels of this word were combined with the
TETRAGRAMMATON, producing the form hA"hy>, misinterpreted as “Jehovah” (3)
affix any morphological unit attached directly to another (e.g., the ARTICLE), so that a WORD
can be made up of as many as five ELEMENTS—a base or root, plus four affixes (4)
alphabet the collection of symbols, usually in a static [traditional] order, that are used to
represent a language visually (1)
anaptyctic a phonetic element (vowel or syllable) added to a word, either to aid in pronouncing it,
or to make it more like other forms (31)
anarthrous lacking the article (4)
antecedent the word (usually a noun or other SUBSTANTIVE) to which a PRONOUN refers (10)
apposition/apposed a noun or noun phrase placed next to another noun or noun phrase in order to modify
or define it; e.g., David the king (11)
article a prefixed -h; with DAGEŠ FORTE in the first letter of the word (4)
articular having the article (4)
ascender a portion of a letter that projects above the basic shape of other letters; l is the only
letter with an ascender in BH (1)
assimilation the process of one thing—in phonetics, one sound—becoming like another;
assimilation may be partial or complete (7)
attribution to assign a quality or characteristic to something, to describe it (9)
bilabial a sound made with both lips: /b/, /m/ (4)
cardinal numeral the numerals used in all numerical descriptions exception descriptions of order or
sequence; see ORDINAL (17)
causative an activity in which the subject causes an object to do something (which may be a
second object; see DOUBLY TRANSITIVE) (20)
circumstantial clause a clause that identifies the temporal (usually) or locative (rarely) circumstances in
which an event occurs (16)
clause a syntagm with at least two main components: a topic (subject) and comment
(predicate) (11)
closed syllable a syllable that ends in a consonant; if unaccented, with a short vowel (3)
coalesce to merge, or join (31)
cohortative a first-person VOLITIONAL verbal form; in BH usually indicating determination or
desire; sometimes indicated by suffixed h -' (8)
command see IMPERATIVE (8)
comment a clause’s PREDICATE; what the clause says about its TOPIC (11)
complementary a function of the INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, in which it “completes” a VAGUE VERB (e.g.,
lky, hlk, ldx)
compound form(s) a “word” with more than one ELEMENT, such as preposition+lexeme+suffix (4)
conjugation a pattern of verbal formation that designates or identifies the verb’s function; the major
conjugations in BH are the imperfect, preterite, and perfect (5)
conjunction a word or element that links or joins two or more words, phrases, or clauses (4)
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conjunctive accent a MASORETIC ACCENT that joins a word to the following; the main conjunctive accent is
munahi (27)
consonant letters that represent (1)
construct (chain) an uninterrupted series of substantives in which each defines or modifies the preceding
word by the “of” relationship (9)
content the function and semantics of any distinguishable segment of text (word, phrase, &c.)
(10)
context the entire setting of an UTTERANCE, including, e.g., its historical circumstance, culture,
language (10)
cotext the linguistic material surrounding a [portion of an] UTTERANCE (10)
dageš forte a dot in the “bosom” of a letter, showing that the letter is doubled [i.e., to be read
twice]; does not occur in the GUTTURALS or reš (3)
dageš lene a dot in the “bosom” of b, g, d, k, p, t to indicate a different pronounciation (3)
defective spelling see HIASER SPELLING (2)
definiteness the quality of specificity, with or without the article (14)
demonstrative a DEICTIC form or expression that, specifying something by “pointing to” it, depends
heavily on the context for its function (13)
denominative a verb that supposedly derived from a noun; i.e., the root first occurred as a noun, and
then as a verb; e.g., rbd (word say/speak) (19)
descender a portion of a letter that is lower than the basic shape of other letters; in BH only q and
four of five final forms ($, !, @, #) have descenders (1)
diagnostic(s) those vowel points (including doubling) and prefixes that distinguish verbal STEMS (6)
directional LOCATIVE; ACCUSATIVE (7)
disjunctive accent a MASORETIC ACCENT that separates (“disjoins”) a word from the following; major
disjunctive accents call for such a significant separation that they are called “pausal”
(27)
disjunctive clause any CLAUSE that begins with waw prefixed to a non-verbal form (!qez" ~h'rb ' a. w; )> ; used in
narrative for ancillary (background or proleptic), contrasive, or summary information
(6)
double-status an action described by a verb, in which the subject both does the action verb and is
affected by that activity; also called “reflexive”, “middle”, “reciprocal” “tolerative”
(18)
double verbs pairs of verbal roots that seem to be semantic synonyms; rrP/rWP, break (31)
doubly transitive a verb with two objects one of which causes the other to do something (20)
dual the ~yI -; ending used on some nouns to show that there are two of the referent,
especially parts of the body and certain numerals (4, 17)
dynamic a verb that describes or identifies an event (i.e., not STATIVE or STATIC); also FIENTIVE
dynamic equivalence a theory of translation that defines the translator’s responsibility as making the
translation as accessible as possible to the reader, emphasizing ease of understanding;
assumes that we ought to translate “thought for thought” rather than “word by word”
(5)
element any morphological unit that can be combined with (AFFIXed to) another to form a larger
word; the maximum number of elements in BH is five (root, plural, pronominal suffix,
preposition, conjunction)
factitive a verbal function associated with D & H that describes an activity that brings about a
change of state or condition (19)
feminine see GENDER (4)
fientive any verb that describes an ACTION, rather than a STATE (15)
final form a form of a letter that occurs only when that letter is the final letter in the word; this
applies only to five forms in BH: ~, !, @, #, $ (1)
flashback information about a former event; i.e., past non-sequential narrative material (6)
full vowel any vowel except the HATEF-VOWELS (2)
functional equivalence a newer term for DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE (5)
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furtive patahi a patahi placed by the Masoretes between a final long [non-a] vowel and a final
guttural, e.g., the patahi in [:Abl.G,I Gilboa (3)
gemination the doubling of a sound, either a consonant or syllable (22)
gender part of a language’s concord system, used to indicate which words in a syntagm refer to
or modify each other; the term “gender” reflects the tendency for one set of endings to
be used for nouns that refer to male and female beings (4)
genre “type” (Fr.); often distinguished because each kind of discourse in BH (e.g.,
NARRATIVE, INSTRUCTION) makes its own use of the verbal system (6)
gerundive a verbal function of the INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, by which it specifies the manner or
means of accomplishing an activity named by a preceding verb (16)
gloss an English word that “represents” or “stands for” a Hebrew word; N.B.: A gloss is not
a definition, nor does it represent the word’s reference or function. (2)
guttural “throat” (Lat.); the radicals a, h, x, or [; r is sometimes called a guttural, but is not,
sharing only the characteristic of not doubling (1, 22)
guttural verbs verbal roots with one or more of the above radicals
half vowel a non-descript vowel (e.g., the sound represented by final ‘a’ in “umbrella”);
represented in BH by vocal šewa and the HIATEF VOWELS (2)
hiaser spelling “lacking” (Hb.); an occurrence of a word (usually written PLENE) that lacks the vowel
letter (2)
hiatef-vowel any one of four vowel signs representing a HALF VOWEL; vocal šewa and three signs
that combine šewa with a sign for a full vowel (hiatef-qamesi, hiatef-patahi, hiatef-segol)
(2)
I-guttural verbal roots with a, h, x, or [ as their initial consonant; GUTTURAL VERBS (22)
II-guttural verbal roots with a, h, x, or [ as their middle consonant; verbs with middle r
occasionally resemble verbs with a middle guttural; GUTTURAL VERBS (22)
III-guttural verbal roots with H, x, or [ as their final consonant; GUTTURAL VERBS (22)
imperative second-person VOLITIONAL verbal forms directing the hearer to do the will of the
speaker; formed like the IMPERFECT without the PGN prefix (8)
imperfect one of two prefix verbal CONJUGATIONs in BH, generally representing the present,
future, or some MODAL function (5)
independent pronoun pronouns that function as separate words (i.e., not suffixed); independent pronouns in
BH are primarily clausal SUBJECTs (13)
infinitive absolute a verbal CONJUGATION that primarily modifies a verbal clausal PREDICATE, apparently
by “strenthening” it; it has no single functional GLOSS (16)
infinitive construct a verbal CONJUGATION that occurs often with prepositions in temporal clauses, or with
the preposition -l with TELIC or COMPLEMENTARY force (16)
inseparable ELEMENTs that do not function as independent WORDs, but only as affixes (4)
inseparable preposition three prepositions (b, k, l) that only occur as prefixes (7)
instructional material a genre of biblical prose that explains how a task is to be done; e.g., the laws of
sacrifice in Lv 1-7 (10)
interlinear a word-by-word gloss and [usually] analysis of a text from one language into another,
purportedly to enable people who do not know the language of the original to
understand it more fully (5)
interrogative a question, whether indicated in BH by the prefixed -h], an interrogative verb (e.g.,
lav, vrD), or the context (13)
intransitive any verb that describes a state (STATIVE) or an activity that does not immediately or
directly affect an object; e.g., verbs of motion (15)
jussive a MODAL function of the IMPERFECT by which the speaker directs a third party to do
something (8)
lemma the word(s) in the text that are under discussion; a common term in textual criticism
(29)
lexeme a member of the LEXICON of a language; a “word” as listed in the lexicon [book] (2)
lexicon all the words [lexemes] of a language; a bilingual reference book (2)
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locative an ending on selected nouns indicating that motion or direction is toward that object
[a.k.a. ACCUSATIVE] (7)
long vowel any vowel that can stand in an open or closed & accented syllable; vowel signs with
MATRES LECTIONIS are always long (hiireq-yod, siere-yod, hiolem-waw, qibbusi); others
mark both long and short vowels (qamesi, siere, hiireq, qibbusi); siere and hiolem are
always long, with or without the MATER (3)
malē’ spelling “full” (Hb.); = PLENE (2)
mappiq a dot in a final h- showing that the h- is a consonant rather than a MATER (3)
maqqef a horizontal line, at the level of the top “surface” of the “letter square”, linking two or
more words into one accentual unit (5)
masculine see GENDER (4)
masora marginalis notes written in the margin by the Masoretes to note unexpected forms, or to offer
alternate readings of the text (29)
Masoretes the scribes who copied the biblical text (c. AD 500-1000), adding vowel points, accent
marks, and other notes to the pages; the Hebrew Bible in use today is an example of the
Masoretic Text (29)
mater lectionis a consonantal sign used more or less sporadically to indicate the presence of a
preceding long vowel (pl., MATRES LECTIONIS) (2)
medial form the forms of consonants used at the beginning of or within a word; contrast FINAL FORM
(1)
middle voice an event in which the activity directly affects or necessarily involves the actor;
primarily signalled in BH by nifal and hitpael (18)
modal any non-indicative verbal function, such as IMPERATIVE, COHORTATIVE, JUSSIVE
modify/ modification to define something by describing it more closely (4)
narrative the GENRE used to tell stories (10)
narrative backbone the primary sequence of events as outlined by the narrator; indicated in BH by the
PRETERITE (6)
negation a statement that an event did not happen; irrealis (17)
non-verbal clause a CLAUSE without a finite verbal form as its predicate (17)
number morphological information indicating how many of the referent are being identified;
BH has three numbers—singular, dual, plural (4)
objective construct a CONSTRUCT chain in which the second [later] element of the chain might be described
as the OBJECT, result, or goal of the preceding element; e.g., in the phrase Saul’s death,
Saul is the one who died (9)
open syllable a syllable that ends in a vowel; its vowel is [usually] long (3)
ordinal numeral the numerals used in describing something’s position in an order; first, second, &c.; in
BH, the ordinals end in y -I , e.g., yViv,i sixth (17)
parenthetic information material that stands apart from the flow of the narrative, generally supplying
information needed to understand what has just been, or is about to be, described (6)
parse to analyze a word’s morphology by identifying, e.g., a verb’s subject [PGN], stem,
conjugation, &c. (5)
participle verbal conjugation with primarily adjectival function (12)
passive an event in which the subject is the object or recipient of the activity described by the
verb; signalled in BH by nifal, pual, and hofal (18)
penult the next-to-last syllable of a word (2)
perfect the suffixed verbal CONJUGATIONs in BH, generally representing the past, unless waw
is prefixed (10)
permissive a MODAL function in which the SUBJECT allows (“permits”) the activity (20)
person the relationship of the subject to the activity described by the verb; there are three
persons in both English and BH (5)
PGN a verb’s inflection to show the person, gender, and number of its subject (5)
plene spelling “full” (Lat.); a word spelled with a vowel letter; = MALĒ’ (2)
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plural reference to more than one of an entity; the grammatical forms that indicate such
reference (4)
polar question a question that expects an answer of either “yes” or “no” (17)
possessive showing that one entity belongs to another (9)
predicate the COMMENT portion of a clause; what the clause says about its TOPIC (11)
prefix define as both noun & verb (4)
preposition a “pre-posed” form that indicates a word’s function in the CLAUSE or SENTENCE (4)
prepositional phrase a non-clausal string of word(s) governed by the PREPOSITION (7)
prohibition a negative command (8)
proleptic “clues”; information anticipating a future development, especially in narrative (10)
pronominal subject a non-nominal SUBJECT of a CLAUSE; indicated by either an INDEPENDENT PRONOUN,
PRONOMINAL SUFFIX (on INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT), or the PGN affixes of the prefix and
suffix CONJUGATIONs (13)
pronominal suffix a shortened form of an independent pronoun, used to show pronominal possession,
objects of verbs or prepositions, and subjects of infinitive constructs (14)
range of reference a word’s relative specificity; e.g., “animal” has a much wider range than “dog” (2)
reciprocal an activity in which two or more parties simultaneously participate (e.g., fighting) (18)
reflexive an activity in which the actor more or less directs the action toward him or herself (18)
relative that which relates information to or about something else (11)
resultative a verbal function associated with D & H that describes an activity that brings about a
change of state or condition; see CAUSATIVE, FACTITIVE (19)
rhetorical question a question asked, not seeking information, but in order to make an assertion (17)
root the theoretical reconstructed base—usually of three radicals-that is common to a group
of forms (5)
separable preposition the preposition !mi, from, which is often—but not necessarily—prefixed to the word that
it governs (7)
šewa see VOCAL ŠEWA (2)
short vowel any vowel that can stand in a closed, unaccented syllable (i.e., patahi, segol, qamesi
hiatuf); some vowel signs (hiireq, qibbusi) mark both long and short vowels; their
function must be determined from their phonetic environment (3)
silent šewa a sign ( .) used to mark the absence of a vowel between consonants, and unvocalized
final kaf (%) (3)
singular something referred to that consists of one, or a group considered collectively, or the
form that identifies the referent as singular (4)
stative a verb that describes the state or condition of its subject, rather than an ACTION;
contrasted with DYNAMIC (10); also called “static”
status, change of a change in the condition or situation of a clausal subject (15)
stem a combination of prefixes, infixes (doubling), and vowels that indicate a verb’s
function (5)
strong verb any verbal root in which all three radicals are present in all forms of the verb (24)
subject the TOPIC of a clause—what the clause describes (5)
subjective construct a CONSTRUCT chain in which the second [later] element of the chain might be described
as the SUBJECT or source of the preceding element; e.g., in the phrase Saul’s death,
Saul is the one who died (9)
substantive any form that can serve as a clausal SUBJECT, OBJECT, or PREDICATE NOMINATIVE, or
function within a CONSTRUCT chain (11)
syllable a cluster of sounds, both consonant and vowel; all syllables in BH begin with a
consonant (except the prefixed conjunction -W); syllables are OPEN or CLOSED
telic a clause that identifies the intended or desired outcome—purpose or result—of an
event or state
temporal clause/phrase a clause or phrase that describes the time at which something happened (16)
Tetragrammaton “four letters” (Greek); the divine name hwhy; see YHWH (3)
tittle the small horizontal stroke that distinguishes, e.g., b from k, and d from r (1)
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tolerative a function of the nifal in which someone allows or permits something to be done (18)
topic the SUBJECT of a clause—what the clause is about (11)
toponym place name (reading notes, Gn 14.7)
transitive any FIENTIVE verb that can direct its action toward an OBJECT (15)
translate the process of attempting to present in one language a message originally expressed in
another (5)
transliterate to represent the sounds of one language in the alphabet of another; transliteration can
be phonetically technical or exact, or relatively casual (1)
ultima the final syllable of a word; in BH, the ultima is usually the accented syllable (2)
utterance any product of a linguistic act, whether written or oral
vague verb a verb that is functionally/semantically incomplete, and thus requires another form
(usually an infinitive construct in BH); e.g., “be able”, “finish” (16)
virtual doubling when a letter that is normally doubled in a given form lacks dageš forte, but the
preceding vowel is short, as though the letter had been doubled (22)
vocal šewa the main HALF-VOWEL (3)
volitional verbal forms that indicate the imposition of someone’s will on another person; a
collective term for the JUSSIVE, COHORTATIVE, and IMPERATIVE (8)
vowel letter letters of the alphabet used to indicate the presence of a long vowel (2)
VSO verb-subject-object as the usual word order of main narrative [PRETERITE] clauses (6)
weak verb verbal roots with consonants or vowel letters that are in the lexical form, but do not
appear in all verbal forms (24)
word any form in BH separated by a blank space or joined to another by MAQQEF
YHWH the TETRAGRAMMATON (“four letters”) the traditionally unpronounced proper name of
the God of the Bible, pointed hw"hy> in BHS (3)
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Appendix D. Paradigms
PRONOUNS
Person Suffixes
Gender Independent
Basic w/MS w/MP w/FS w/FP
Number (subject) Form Noun Noun Noun Noun
1cs ynIa] y -i ysiWs ys;Ws ytisW; s yt;AsWs
ykinao '
2ms hT'a; ^- ^s.Ws ^ys,Ws ^yt,sW' s ^yt,AsWs
2fs T.a; %- %seWs %yisW; s %yIts; W' s %yItA; sWs
3ms aWh A- AsWs Ats'Ws
h -o hsoWs
Wh - WhseWs
wy -' wys'Ws wyt'AsWs
3fs ayhi H -' Hs'Ws Ht'sW' s
awhi h' - h'ys,Ws h'yt,AsWs
1cp Wnx.na; ] Wn - WnseWs WnyseWs WntesW' s WnyteAsWs
Wnx.n;
2mp ~{ T,a; ~k, - ~k,sW. s ~k,yseWs ~k,ts. W; s ~k,yteAsWs
2fp !Tea; !k, - !k,sW. s !k,yseWs !k,ts. W; s !k,yteAsWs
hn'Tae ;
3mp ~he ~h, - ~h,yseWs ~h,ts. W; s ~h,yteAsWs
hM'he ~' - ~s'Ws ~t'AsWs
Am e -
3fp hN'he !h, - !h,yseWs !h,ts. W; s !h,yteAsWs
!' - !s'Ws
1. Throughout the Pentateuch, ayhi (3fs) is written awhi, with only eleven exceptions (e.g., Gn 14.2).
2. These suffixes are used with nouns, prepositions, infinitives construct, and participles. Suffixes on finite
verbs and the imperative are similar, but show greater variety in form.
a. if the verb ends in a vowel, the suffix either begins with or consists of a consonant (the 1cs
verbal suffix is yni -):
~Y"h-; la, ynIlyu jihw] : ynIWaf' Pick me up and throw me into the sea (Jon 1.12)
b. if the verb ends in a consonant, either silent šewa or a vowel links the consonantal suffix to
the verb; vocalic suffixes are affixed directly to the verb:
WhgErh. Y; w: : He killed him (Gn 4.8).
Hm'yrixY] w: : y[;h-' ta, [:vAu hy> dk;l' Joshua had captured Ai and destroyed it (Jos 10.1)
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STRONG VERB, I
Forms Qal Nifal Hifil Hofal Piel Pual Hitpael
P 1cs yTilv. ;m' yTilv. ;mn. I yTilv. m; h. i yTilv. m; h. ' yTilV. m; i yTilV. m; u yTilV. ;mt; h. i
2ms T'lv. ;m' T'lv. ;mn. I T'lv. m; h. i T'lv. m; h. ' T'lV. m; i T'lV. m; u T'lV. ;mt; h. i
2fs T.lv. ;m' T.lv. ;mn. I T.lv. m; h. i T.lv. m; h. ' T.lV. m; i T.lV. m; u T.lV. ;mt; h. i
3ms lv;m' lv;mn. I lyvimh. i lv;mh. ' lVemi lV;mu lVemt; h. i
3fs hl'v.m' hl'v.mn. I hl'yvimh. i hl'vm. h. ' hl'Vm. i hl'Vm. u hl'V.mt; h. i
1cp Wnl.v;m' Wnl.v;mn. I Wnl.vm; h. i Wnl.vm; h. ' Wnl.Vm; i Wnl.Vm; u Wnl.V;mt; h. i
2mp ~T,lv. ;m. ~T,lv. ;mn. I ~T,lv. m; h. i ~T,lv. m; h. ' ~T,lV. m; i ~T,lV. m; u ~T,lV. ;mt; h. i
2fp !T,lv. ;m. !T,lv. ;mn. I !T,lv. m; h. i !T,lv. m; h. ' !T,lV. m; i !T,lV. m; u !T,lV. ;mt; h. i
3cp Wlv.m' Wlv.mn. I Wlyvimh. i Wlv.mh. ' WlV.mi WlV.mu WlV.mt; h. i
F 1cs lvoma. , lveMa' , lyvima. ; lv;ma. ' lVema; / lV;mau / lVemt; a. ,
2ms/3fs lvomT. i lveMT' i lyvimT. ; lv;mT. ' lVemT; . lV;mTu . lVemt; T. i
2fs yliv.mT. i ylivM. T' i yliyvimT. ; ylivm. T. ' yliVm. T; . yliVm. Tu . yliV.mt; T. i
3ms lvomy. I lveMy' I lyvimy. : lv;my. " lVemy; > lV;myu > lVemt; y. I
1cp lvomn. I lveMn' I lyvimn. : lv;mn. " lVemn; > lV;mnu > lVemt; n. I
2mp Wlv.mT. i Wlv.MT' i WlyvimT. ; Wlv.mT. ' WlV.mT; . WlV.mTu . WlV.mt; T. i
2/3fp hn"lv. o©mT. i hn"lv. Me T' i hn"lv. me T. ; hn"lv. m; T. ' hn"lV. me T; . hn"lV. me Tu . hn"lV. emt; T. i
3mp Wlv.my. I Wlv.My' I Wlyvimy. : Wlv.my. " WlV.my; > WlV.myu > WlV.mt; y. I
V ms lvom. lveMh' i lvemh. ; lVem; lVemt; h. i
fs yliv.mi ylivM. h' i yliyvimh. ; yliVm. ; yliV.mt; h. i
mp Wlv.mi Wlv.Mh' i Wlyvimh. ; WlV.m; WlV.mt; h. i
fp hn"lv. ©om. hn"lv. Me h' i hn"lv. me h. ; hn"lV. me ; hn"lV. emt; h. i
NC lvom. lveMh' i lyvimh. ; lv;mh. ' lVem; lVemt; h. i
NA lAvm' lvoMh' i lvemh. ; lvemh. ' lVom; lVomu bToKt; h. i
ms lvemo lv'mn. I lyvimm. ; lv'mm. ' lVemm; . lV'mmu . lVemt; .mi
hl'v.mo hl'v'mn. I hl'yvimm. ; hl'vm. m. ' hl'Vm. m; . hl'Vm. mu . hl'V.mt; .mi
Participle
fs
tl,v,©mo
mp ~yliv.mo ~yliv'mn. I ~yliyvimm. ; ~ylivm. m. ' ~yliVm. m; . ~yliVm. mu . ~yliV.mt; .mi
fp tAlv.mo tAlv'mn. I tAlyvimm. ; tAlv.mm. ' tAlV.mm; . tAlV.mmu . tAlV.mt; .mi
1. If the verbal root begins with a sibilant (z, s, c, f, v), the t of the hitpael prefix and the sibilant
exchange positions (metathesize): yTirM . T; v; h. ,i “I kept myself”; if the root begins with c, the t both
metathesizes and becomes j (partial assimilation): qDejc; h . ,i “he sanctified himself”.
2. If the verbal root ends with t, this assimilates to the t of the perfect endings (e.g., 1cs, 2ms), which is
then written with dageš forte: T'rK ; ,' “you (ms) cut”. In some III-n verbs, final n occasionally assimilates to
the consonant of the ending: T'tn; " (< !tn, for which this is especially true); Wnk;v' (< !kv).
270
STRONG VERB, II
(with medial beged-kefet letter [occasional dageš lene])
Conj/Sbj Qal Nifal Hifil Hofal Piel Pual Hitpael
P1cs yTibt. K; ' yTibT. k; n. I yTibT. k; h. i yTibT. k; h. ' yTibT. K; i yTibT. K; u yTibT. K; ti h. i
2ms T'bt. K; ' T'bT. k; n. I T'bT. k; h. i T'bT. k; h. ' T'bT. K; i T'bT. K; u T'bT. K; ti h. i
2fs T.bt. K; ' T.bT. k; n. I T.bT. k; h. i T.bT. k; h. ' T.bT. K; i T.bT. K; u T.bT. K; ti h. i
3ms bt;K' bT;kn. I byTikh. i bT;kh. ' bT;Ki bT;Ku bTeKti h. i
3fs hb'tK. ' hb'Tk. n. I hb'yTikh. i hb'Tk. h. ' hb'TK. i hb'TK. u hb'TK. ti h. i
1cp Wnb.tK; ' Wnb.Tk; n. I Wnb.Tk; h. i Wnb.Tk; h. ' Wnb.TK; i Wnb.TK; u Wnb.TK; ti h. i
2mp ~T,bt. K; . ~T,bT. k; n. I ~T,bT. k; h. i ~T,bT. k; h. ' ~T,bT. K; i ~T,bT. K; u ~T,bT. K; ti h. i
2fp !T,bt. K; . !T,bT. k; n. I !T,bT. k; h. i !T,bT. k; h. ' !T,bT. K; i !T,bT. K; u !T,bT. K; ti h. i
3cp Wbt.K' WbT.kn. I WbT.kh. i WbT.kh. ' WbT.Ki WbT.Ku WbT.Kti h. i
F 1cs bToka. , bteKa' , byTika. ; bT;ka. ' bTeka; ] bT;kau ] bTeKt; a. ,
2m/3fs bTokT. i bteKT' i byTikT. ; bT;kT. ' bTekT; . bT;kTu . bTeKt; T. i
2fs ybiTk. T. i ybitK. T' i ybiyTikT. ; ybiTk. T. ' ybiTk. T; . ybiTk. Tu . ybiTK. t; T. i
3ms bToky. I bteKy' I byTiky. : bT;ky. " bTeky; > bT;kyu > bTeKt; y. I
1cp bTokn. I bteKn' I byTikn. : bT;kn. " bTekn; > bT;knu > bTeKt; n. I
2mp WbT.kT. i Wbt.KT' i WbyTikT. ; WbT.kT. ' WbT.kT; . WbT.kTu . WbT.Kt; T. i
2/3fp hn"bT. ko T. i hn"bt. Ke T' i hn"bT. ke T. ; hn"bT. k; T. ' hn"bT. ke T; . hn"bT. k; Tu . hn"bT. Ke t; T. i
3mp WbT.ky. I Wbt.Ky' I WbyTiky. : WbT.ky. " WbT.ky; > WbT.kyu > WbT.Kt; y. I
V ms btoK. bteKh' i bTekh. ; bTeK; bTeKt; h. i
fs ybitK. i ybitK. h' i ybiyTikh. ; ybiTK. ; ybiTK. t; h. i
mp Wbt.Ki Wbt.Kh' i WbyTikh. ; WbT.K; WbT.Kt; h. i
fp hn"bt. Ko . hn"bt. Ke h' i hn"bT. ke h. ; hn"bT. Ke ; hn"bT. Ke t; h. i
NC btoK. bteKh' i byTikh. ; bT;kh. ' bTeK; bTeKt; h. i
NA bwOtK' btoKh' i bTekh. ; bTekh. ' bToK; bToKu bToKt; h. i
ms bteKo bT'kn. I byTikm. ; bT;km. ' bTekm; . bT'kmu . bTeKt; .mi
fs hb'tK. o hb'Tk' n. I hb'yTikm. ; hb'Tk. m. ' hb'Tk. m; . hb'Tk. mu . hb'TK. t; .mi
Participle
tb,tK,© o
mp ~ybitK. o ~ybiTk' n. I ~ybiyTikm. ; ~ybiTk. m. ' ~ybiTk. m; . ~ybiTk. mu . ~ybiTK. t; .mi
fp tAbt.Ko tAbT.kn. i tAbyTikm. ; tAbT.km. ' tAbT.km; . tAbT.kmu . tAbT.Kt; .mi
1. When a verbal root begins with a sibilant (z, s, c, f, v), the t of the hitpael prefix and the sibilant
exchange positions (metathesize): yTirM . T; v; h. ,i “I kept myself”; if the root begins with c, the t both
metathesizes and becomes j (partial assimilation): qDejc ; h. ,i “Sanctify yourself!”.
2. When a verbal root ends with t, this assimilates to the t of the perfect endings (e.g., 1cs, 2ms), which is
then written with dageš forte: T'rK
; ,' “you (ms) cut”. The final !- of some III-n verbs occasionally
assimilates to the consonant of the ending: T'tn; " (< !tn, for which this is especially true); Wnk;v' (< !kv).
271
GUTTURAL VERBS
Verbs with gutturals (a, h, x, [) are strong (i.e., all three radicals of the root are present), except for occasional
forms of III-a roots (below). They differ from the strong verb for four reasons:
(1) The gutturals (and r) do not double
(2) The gutturals are followed by hatef-vowels rather than vocal šewa
(3) The gutturals tend to occur with a-vowels.
(4) When a comes at the end of a syllable, it becomes silent and the preceding vowel is long.
These characteristics mean that they differ from the strong verb in six ways (non-guttural forms in [ ] for
comparison):
1. long vowels instead of short; gutturals don’t double, so syllables that are closed in non-guttural forms are
open and short vowels lengthen:
dme[y' E 3ms N F [rmeVy' ]I %reBe 3ms D P [dBeK]i
2. a-vowels (especially patach and patach furtivum):
[m;vy. I 3ms Q F [bToky. ]I [M;vy; > 3ms D F [rMevy; ]>
3. hatef-vowels instead of vocal shewa under gutturals:
Wrx]B' 3cp Q P [Wbt.K]' ~T,dm. [; ] 2mp Q P [~Tebt

. K; ].
4. segol instead of hireq before non-final gutturals, especially in prefix:
lD;xy. < 3ms Q F [bToky. ]I
5. short prefix vowel followed by hatef-vowel instead of silent shewa:
dmo[y] : 3ms Q F [bToky. ]I dymi[y] : 3ms H F [lyvimy. ]:
6. III-a forms generally have the vowel of the basic verb after the second radical of the verbal root, if that
vowel is long. The t of PGN endings lacks dageš lene since it is preceded by a vowel (silent a is not
counted as a consonant).
ytiac'm' 1cs Q P [yTirm

. v; ]' aC'myu > 3ms Dp F [rM;vyu ]>
Some III-a forms lack the a completely (this is usually noted in the masora marginalis, as, e.g., in Ru
2.9, where tmicw' > is noted as a unique occurrence [i.e., lacking final a]):
tymicw' > 2fs Q P [T.rm

. v; ]' yticm' ' 1cs Q P [yTirm
. v; ]'
AbY"w: 3ms Q Pr [Qere: aAbY"w]:
III-h (h″l) VERBS

Conj/Sbj Qal Nifal Hifil Hofal Piel Pual Hitpael
P 1cs ytiynIB' ytiynEbn. I ytiynIbh. i ytiynEbh. ' ytiyNIBi ytiyNEBu ytiyNIBt; h. i
2ms t'ynIB' t'ynEbn. I t'ynIbh. i t'ynEbh. ' t'yNIBi t'yNEBu t'yNIBt; h. i
2fs tynIB' tynEbn. I tynIbh. i tynEbh. ' tyNIBi tyNEBu tyNIBt; h. i
3ms hn"B' hn"bn. I hn"bh. i hn"bh. ' hN"Bi hN"Bu hN"Bt; h. i
3fs ht'nB> ' ht'nb> n. I ht'nb> h. i ht'nb> h. ' ht'NB> i ht'nB> u ht'NB> t; h. i
1cp WnynIB' WnynEbn. I WnynIbh. i WnynEbh. ' WnyNIBi WnyNEBu WnyNIBt; h. i
2mp ~t,ynIB. ~t,ynEbn. I ~t,ynIbh. i ~t,ynEbh. ' ~t,yNIBi ~t,yNEBu ~t,yNIBt; h. i
2fp !t,ynIB. !t,ynEbn. I !t,ynIbh. i !t,ynEbh. ' !t,yNIBi !t,yNEBu !t,yNIBt; h. i
3cp WnB' Wnb.nI Wnb.hi Wnb.h' WNBi WNBu WNB;th. i
F 1cs hn<ba. , hn<Ba' , hn<ba. ; hn<ba. ' hN<ba; ] hN<bau ] hN<Bt; a. ,
2m/3f hn<bT. i hn<BT' i hn<bT. ; hn<bT. ' hN<bT; . hN<bTu . hN<Bt; T. i
2fs ynIbT. i ynIBT' i ynIbT. ; ynIbT. ' yNIbT; . yNIbTu . yNIBt; T. i
3ms hn<by. I hn<By' I hn<by. : hn<by. " hN<by; > hN<byu > hN<Bt; y. I
1cp hn<bn. I hn<Bn' I hn<bn. : hn<bn. " hN<bn; > hN<bnu > hN<Bt; n. I
2mp Wnb.Ti WnB'Ti Wnb.T; Wnb.T' WNb;T. WnbuT. WNB;tT. i
2/3fp hn"yn<bT. i hn"yn<BT' i hn"yn<bT. ; hn"yn<bT. ' hn"yN<bT; . hn"yN<bTu . hn"yN<Bt; T. i
3mp Wnb.yI WnB'yI Wnb.y: Wnb.y" WNb;y> WNbuy> WNB;ty. I
V ms hnEB. hnEBh' i hnEbh. ; hNEB; hN<Bt; h. i
fs ynIB. ynIBh' i ynIbh. ; yNIB; yNIBt; h. i
mp WnB. WnB'hi Wnb.h; WNB; WNB;th. i
fp hn"yn<B. hn"yn<Bh' i hn"yn<bh. ; hn"yN<B; hn"yN<Bt; h. i
NC tAnB. twonB'hi twonb.h; twOnb.h' twONB; twONBu twONB;th. i
NA hnOB' hnoBh' i hnEbh. ; hnEbh. ' hNoB; hNoBu hNoBt; h. i
ms hn<Bo hn<bn. I hn<bm. ; hn<bm. ' hN<bm; . hN<bmu . hN<Bt; .mi
Participle
fs hn"Bo hn"bn. I hn"bm. ; hn"bm. ' hN"bm; . hN"bmu . hN"Bt; .mi

mp ~ynIBo ~ynIbn. I ~ynIbm. ; ~ynIbm. ' ~yNIbm; . ~yNIbmu . ~yNIBt; .mi
fp tAnBo twOnb.nI twOnb.m; twOnb.m' twONb;m. twONbum. twONB;t.mi
273
III-h Verbal Roots
1. The final h- (originally y-) “appears” as y between the second radical and consonantal endings, and is
replaced by vocalic endings and the tA- of NC. Because the weakness lies at the end of the verbal root, it
affects all stems equally, but only the pointing after the second radical of the verbal root.
2. If there is no PGN ending, the ending is h -, preceded by the following vowels (all stems):
h -' perfect
h -e imperative
h ,- imperative, participle (ms)
h -o infinitive absolute
3. NC of all stems replaces final h with tA-.
4. Some forms of qal and hifil imperfect and preterite look exactly alike in roots which are both III-h
and I-guttural (especially I-[); the stem can be determined only from the context (e.g., if l[;Yw: : has a direct
object, it is H, if not, it is Q).
274
I-n (n″p) VERBS (see next page for !tn)

Conj/Sbj Qal Nifal Hifil Hofal D-Stems
P 1cs yTilP. n; I yTilP. h; i yTilP. h; u
2ms T'lP. n; I T'lP. h; i T'lP. h; u
2fs T.lP. n; I T.lP. h; i T.lP. h; u
3ms These forms lP;nI lyPihi lP;hu
3fs are the same hl'Pn. I hl'yPihi hl'Ph. u
as the strong verb
1cp
in qal perfect. Wnl.Pn; I Wnl.Ph; i Wnl.Ph; u
2mp ~T,lP. n; I ~T,lP. h; i ~T,lP. h; u
2fp !T,lP. n; I !T,lP. h; i !T,lP. h; u
3cp WlP.nI WlP.hi WlP.hu
F 1cs lPoa, vG:a, lyPia; lP;au
2m/3f lPoTi vG:Ti lyPiT; lP;Tu
2fs yliPT. i yviGT> i yliyPiT© ; yliPT. u
Verbs
3ms lPoyI vG:yI lyPiy: lP;yU based on I-n
1cp lPonI vG:nI Nifal lyPin: lP;nU roots are
2mp WlP.Ti WvG>Ti imperfect, WlyPiT© ; WlP.Tu strong
in all forms
2/3fp hn"lP. To i hn"vg. T: i imperative, hn"lP. Te ; hn"lP. t; u of the D-
and infinitives are
3mp WlP.yI WvG>yI the same as the
WlyPiy© : WlP.yU stems.
V ms vG: strong verb lPeh;
fs yviG> in N. yliyPih;
mp In qal, the WvG> WlyPih;
imperative,
fp
infinitives, and
hn"vG. :̈ hn"lP. he ;
NC participles tv,G,̈ lyPih; lP;hu
NA of o-imperfect vAgn" lPeh; lPehu
I-n verbs are the
ms
same as the strong
lP'nI lyPim; lP'mu
Participle
fs verb in Q. The participles hl'Pn' I hl'yPim; hl'Pm. u

are the same as
mp the strong verb. ~yliPn' I ~yliyPim; ~yliPm. iu
fp tAlP'nI tAlyPim; tAlP.mu
1. These roots are weak whenever the first radical of the verbal root is followed by silent shewa (qal F,V; N
P, Ptc; all forms of hifil and hofal); they are strong throughout the D-stems.
2. When followed by silent šewa, initial -n assimilates to the second radical, doubling it. In qal V and NC
of holem-imperfect roots, -n drops off; t , or t ; is added to NC (just as in some I-y verbs).
3. xql is formed just like vgn throughout the verbal system; any verbal form with -xq- is from xql.
275
!tn (all attested forms)

Conj/Sbj Qal Qal Passive Nifal
P 1cs yTitn; "
2ms T'tn; "
2fs T.tn; "
3ms !t;n" !T;nI
3fs hn"tn. " hn"Tn. I
1cp WNt;n" WNT;nI
2mp ~T,nn: >
3cp Wnt.n"
F 1cs !Tea,
2m/3f !TeTi !teNT" i
2fs ynITT. i
3ms !TeyI !T'yU !teNy" I
1cp !TenI
2mp WnT.Ti
3mp WnT.yI WnT.Ny" I
V ms !Te
hn"T.
fs ynIT.
mp WnT.
NC tTe !teNh" i
-TTi
(with suffixes)
NA !Atn" !AtN"hi
ms !tenO !Wtn" !T'nI
Participle
mp ~ynItn. o ~ynIWtn>
fp tAnWtn>
1. Forms listed do not occur; several forms occur only once or twice (e.g., 2fs qal P of !tn occurs only
twice, in Ezk 16.33, 36).
2. The final !- assimilates into all consonantal endings, doubling the consonant.
3. The initial –n assimilates into the medial -t- whenever silent šewa follows the first radical.
4. The stem-vowel in qal F, V, NC is siere.
276
I-y (y″p) VERBS

Conj/Sbj Qal Nifal Hifil Hifil (I-y) Hofal D-Stems
P 1cs yTivr. A; n yTivr. A; h yTibj. y; he yTivr. W; h
2ms T'vr. A; n T'vr. A; h T'bj. y; he T'vr. W; h
2fs T.vr. A; n T.vr. A; h T.bj. y; he T.vr. W; h
3ms These forms vr;An vyriAh byjiyhe vr;Wh
are the same
3fs
as the strong verb
hv'rA. n hv'yriAh hb'yjiyhe hv'rW. h
1cp in qal perfect. Wnv.rA; n Wnv.rA; h Wnb.jy; he Wnv.rW; h
2mp ~T,vr. A; n ~T,vr. A; h ~T,bj. y; he ~T,vr. W; h
2fp !T,vr. A; n !T,vr. A; h !T,bj. y; he !T,vr. W; h
3cp Wvr.An WvyriAh Wbyjiyhe Wvr.Wh
F 1cs vr;yai bveae vreWa" i vyriwaO byjiyae vr;Wa
2m/3f vr;yTi bveTe vreWT" i vyriwTO byjiyTe vr;WT
2fs yviry. Ti ybivT. e yvirW. T" i yviyriwTO ybiyjiyTe yvirW. T
3ms vr;yyI bveyE vreWy" I vyriwyO byjiyyE vr;Wy
Verbs based on
1cp vr;ynI bvenE vreWn" I vyriwnO byjiynE vr;Wn I-y roots are strong
2mp Wvr.yTi Wbv.Te Wvr.WT" i WvyriwTO WbyjiyTe Wvr.WT in all forms of the
2/3fp hn"vr. y; Ti hn"bv. T; e
hn'vr. W; T' i hn"vy. riwTO hn"bj. y; Te hn"vr. W; T D-stems.
3mp Wvr.yyI Wbv.yE Wvr.Wy" I WvyriwyO WbyjiyyE Wvr.Wy
V ms vr; bve vreWh" i vrewhO bjeyhe
fs yvir. ybiv. yvirW. h" i yviyriAh ybiyjiyhe
mp Wvr. Wbv. Wvr.Wh" i WvyriwhO Wbyjiyhe
fp hn"vr. ;© hn"bve© hn"vr. W; h" i hn"vr. we hO hn"bj. ye he
NC tv,r,© tb,v,© vreWh" i vyriwhO byjiyhe vr;Wh
NA vAry" bAvy" vroWh" i vrewhO bjeyhe vreWh
ms vreyO bveyO vr'An vyriAm byjiyme vr;Wm
fs tv,ry,© O tb,vy,© O hv'rA. n hv'yriwmO hb'yjiyme hv'rW. m
Participle
hv'ry. O hb'vy. O
mp ~yviry. O ~ybivy. O ~yvirA. n ~yviyriwmO ~ybiyjiyme ~yvirW. m
fp tAvr.yO tAbv.yO tAvr.An twOvyriwmO twOvr.Wm twObyjiyme
1. These roots are weak whenever the first radical of the verbal root is followed by silent šewa (Q F, V; N P,
Ptc; all forms of H, Hp); strong throughout D, Dp, Dt.
2. When followed by silent šewa, initial -y assimilates to the preceding vowel, which becomes long; the
initial -y may become a vowel letter or disappear.
3. In Q V and NC of many verbs the initial -y drops off and t -, or t -; is added to qal NC, so that some
forms look exactly like the corresponding forms of I-n roots.
4. %lh is formed like bvy (all forms).
277
HOLLOW VERBS (II-y/w or [-y/w)

Conj/Sbj Qal Nifal Hifil Hofal Polel Polal Hitpolel
P 1cs yTimq. ; ytimWo qn> ytiwmO qih] yTimq. W; h yTimm. q; o yTimm. q; o yTimm. q; to h. i
2ms T'mq. ; t'mWo qn> t'wmO qih] T'mq. W; h T'mm. q; o T'mm. q; o T'mm. q; to h. i
2fs T.mq. ; tmoWqn> twOmqih] T.mq. W; h T.mm. q; o T.mm. q; o T.mm. q; to h. i
3ms ~q' ~wOqn" ~yqihe ~q;Wh ~meqo ~m;qo ~meqto h. i
3fs hm'q' hm'wqO n" hm'yqihe hm'qW. h hm'mq\ o hm'mq\ o hm'mq] to h. i
1cp Wnm.q; WnmoWqn> WnwOmqih] Wnm.qW; h Wnm.mq; o Wnm.mq; o Wnm.mq; to h. i
2mp ~T,mq. ; ~t,wOmWqn> ~t,wmO qih] ~T,mq. W; h ~T,mm. q; o ~T,mm. q; o ~T,mm. q; to h. i
2fp !T,mq. ; !t,wOmWqn> !t,wmO qih] !T,mq. W; h !T,mm. q; o !T,mm. q; o !T,mm. q; to h. i
3cp Wmq' WmwOqn" Wmyqihe Wmq.Wh Wmm\qo Wmm\qo Wmm]qto h. i
F 1cs ~Wqa' ~wOQa, ~yqia' ~q;Wa ~meqao \ ~m;qao \ ~meqto a. ,
2m/3f ~WqT' ~AQTi ~yqiT' ~q;WT ~meqTo . ~m;qTo . ~meqto T. i
2fs ymiWqT' ymiwQO Ti ymiyqiT' ymiqW. T ymm]qTo . ymm]qTo . ymimq] to T. i
3ms ~Wqy" ~wOQyI ~yqiy" ~q;Wy ~meqyo > ~m;qyo > ~meqto y. i
1cp ~Wqn" ~wOQnI ~yqin" ~q;Wn ~meqno > ~m;qno > ~meqto n. i
2mp WmWqT' WmwOQTi WmyqiT' Wmq.WT Wmm]qTo . Wmm]qTo . Wmm]qto T. i
2/3fp hn"mq. To ' hn"mw. QO T© i hn"mq. Te ' hn"mq. W; T hn"mm. q; To . hn"mm. q; To . hn'mm. q; to T. i
hn"ym,WqT. hn"ym,yqiT.
3mp WmWqy" WmwOQyI Wmyqiy" Wmq.Wy Wmm]qyo > Wmm]qyo > Wmm]qto y. i
V ms ~Wq ~wOQhi ~qeh' ~meqo ~meqto h. i
fs ymiWq ymiwQO hi ymiyqih' ymimq] o ymimq] to h. i
mp WmWq WmwOQhi Wmyqih' Wmm]qo Wmm]qto h. i
fp hn"mq. o hn"mw. QO h© i hn"mq. he ' hn"mm. q; o hn'mm. q; to h. i
NC ~Wq ~AQhi ~yqih' ~q;Wh ~meqo ~m;qo ~meqto h. i
NA ~Aq ~AQhi ~qeh'
~Aqn"
ms ~q' ~wOqn" ~yqime ~q'Wm ~meqmo . ~m;qmo . ~meqto .mi
Participle
fs hm'q' hm'yqime hm'qW. m

mp ~ymiq' ~ymiqW. m
fp twOmq' twOmq.Wm
278
1. II-y verbs (e.g., ryvi, sing) look just like the II-w verbs (~Wq), except that they have hiireq-yod in the qal where
~Wq has šureq (qal F, V, NC).
2. Polel, polal, & hitpolel substitute for D, Dp, and Dt (and thus look like geminates). Most forms of polel and
polal look alike; hitpolel = polel with prefixed -t.hi / -t.yI / -t.m.i
3. The jussive and preterite of the hollow verbs have shorter vowels than the imperfect:
Qal Hifil
3ms Jussive ~qboy" ~qey"
3ms Preterite ~q'Yw©" : ~q,Yw©" :
279
GEMINATE ([″[) VERBS

Conj/Sbj Qal Nifal Hifil Hofal D-stems
P 1cs ytiwBO s; ytiwBO s;n> ytiwBO sih] ytiwBO s;Wh
2ms t'wBO s; t'wBO s;n> t'wBO sih] t'wBO s;Wh
2fs twOBs; twOBs;n> twOBsih] twOBs;Wh
3ms bs; bs;n" bsehe bs;Wh
3fs hB's; hB'sn; " hB'she e hB'sW; h
1cp WnwOBs; WnwOBs;n> WnwOBsih] WnwOBs;Wh
2mp ~t,wBO s; ~t,wBO s;n> ~t,wBO sih] ~t,wBO s;Wh
2fp !t,wBO s; !t,wBO s;n> !t,wBO sih] !t,wBO s;Wh
3cp WBs; WBs;n" WBsehe WBs;Wh
F 1cs bsoa' bSoa, bS;a, bsea' bs;Wa
2m/3f bsoT' bSoTi bS;Ti bseT' bs;WT Geminate verbs
have either
2fs ybisTo ' ybiST. i yBiST; i yBisTe ' yBisW; T the same forms
3ms bsoy" bSoyI bS;yI bsey" bs;Wy in the D-stems
1cp bson" bSonI bS;nI bsen" bs;Wn as the strong verb
2mp WBsoT' WbS.Ti WBS;Ti WBseT' WBs;WT or occur in
polel, polal, and hitpolel
2/3fp hn"yB,sTu . hn"bS. To i hn"yB,ST; i hn"yB,sTi . hn"yB,sW; T (and therefore cannot
3mp WBsoy" WbS.yI WbS;yI WBsey" WBs;Wy be distinguished
V ms bso bS;hi bseh' from hollow verbs).
fs yBiso yBiSh; i yBishe '
mp Wbso WBS;hi WBseh'
fp hn"yB,su hn"yB,Sh; i hn"yBeshi ]
NC bso bSehi bseh'
NA bwObs' bSehi bseh'
ms bbeso bs'n" bseme bs'Wm
Participle
fs hb'bs. o hB'sn. " hB'sme . hB'sW; m

mp ~ybibs. o ~yBisn. " ~yBisme . ~yBisW; m
fp twObb.so tABs.n" tABsem. tABs;Wm
1. There are three base forms of the geminates (bs [forms without PGN endings], -Bs; [forms with PGN
endings (except imperative)]; bbs [a few forms]).
2. Geminates are weak throughout Q, N, H, Hp. The D-stems either substitute polel, &c. (and thus look like
hollow verbs), or look like the strong verb.
3. -wO- joins the verbal stem to consonantal endings.
4. An alternate form of qal imperfect looks just like verbs I-n.
5. Hofal may have either šureq or qibbusi as its prefix vowel.
6. The preterite of geminates has shorter vowels than the imperfect (accent is on the PGN prefix).
bs'Yw" : 3ms Q Pr bs,Yw" : 3ms H Pr
280
Some Easily Confused Forms.1 Certain pairs of weak verbs which have two radicals in common can be
difficult to distinguish. These charts compare bWv/bv;y" (return/sit, dwell) and ha'r/' arey" (see/fear). Only forms
that actually occur are listed (but not all forms of each verb are listed).
Although these charts may be memorized (with difficulty!), it is more helpful to remember that these
verbs will not occur in the same contexts, since “return” and “sit” describe very different actions, as do
“seeing” and “fearing”.
Q H Hp
bWv / bvy
bWv bvy bWv bvy bWv bvy
P 3ms bv' bv;y" byvihe byviAh bv;Wh bv;Wh
F 3ms bWvy" bveyE byviy" byviAy bv;Wy
Pr 3ms bv'Yw" : bv,YwE : bv,Yw" : bveAYw: bveWYw:
V 2ms bWv bve bveh' bveAh
NC bWv tb,v©, byvih' byviAh
NA bAv bAvy" bveh'
Ptc ms bv' bveyO byvime byviAm bv'Wm
Q N H
har / ary
har ary har ary har
P 3ms ha'r' arey" ha'rn. I ha'rh. ,
F 3ms ha,ry. I ar'yyI ha,ry' E ha,ry. :
Pr 3ms ar<YwE : ar'yYIw: ar'YwE : areWY" wI : ar.Yw: :
V 2ms haer. ar'y> haerh' e
NC tAar. aroy> tAar'he tAar.h;
NA haor'
Ptc ms ha,ro areyO ha,rn. I ar'An ha,rm. ;
1
This comparison was suggested by my colleague Eric Houseknecht.
281
Appendix E. Reading Notes
Abbreviations
Grammatical Abbreviations
BH Biblical Hebrew N nifal (n-stem)

C cohortative NA infinitive absolute
D piel (D-stem) NC infinitive construct
Dp pual (passive of D) P perfect (qatal, suffix conj.)
Dt hitpael (D-stem+infix) pl. plural
F imperfect (yiqtol, prefix conj.) PGN person-gender-number (verbal subject
f feminine affixes & pronominal suffixes)
H hifil (H-stem) Pr preterite (wayyiqtol, narrative prefix conj.)
Hp hofal (passive of H) Ptc participle
J jussive Q qal
mp masora parva (marginalis) sg. singular
N footnote (followed by number or letter), in V imperative
reference grammars 1, 2, 3 first, second, third person
“See” (indicates a cross-reference to either
an earlier occurrence of the same word or
to a specific reference work)
Reference Works
Every reference in the following works is listed following the verse number.2
Dav Davidson, A.B. Hebrew Syntax. 3rd edition. Edinburgh: Clark, 1901.
Gib Gibson, J.C.L. Davidson’s Introductory Hebrew Grammar ~ Syntax. 4th ed. Edinburgh: T&T Clark,
1994.
GKC Kautzsch, E. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Second English edition, edited by A E Cowley. Oxford:
Clarendon, 1910.
IBHS Waltke, Bruce & M.P. O'Connor. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake:
Eisenbrauns, 1990; third reprinting with corrections, 1990.
J-M Joüon, Paul. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, translated and revised by T. Muraoka. Rome: Pontifical
Biblical Institute, 1923; 1991.
Wms Williams, R.J. Hebrew Syntax: An Outline. Toronto: University of Toronto, 1967; second edition,
1976.
2
From Frederic Clarke Putnam, A Cumulative Scripture to the Grammar & Syntax of Biblical Hebrew. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns,
1995.
282
On Reading Hebrew Narrative
1. Read the Hebrew text aloud, preferably more than once. Strive to read groups of words, rather than word-
by-word.
2. Find the preterites to trace the backbone of the narrative (Lessons 6, 25).
3. Use the major disjunctive accents (Lesson 29; HBI §4) to locate the logical and syntactical pauses or
breaks in each verse.
4. Read clause-by-clause. Every preterite begins a new clause (usually independent). Some conjunctions,
especially yKi and rv,a] also introduce [dependent] clauses.
5. The “translation” that you prepare in reading the text should be an inter-linear gloss of the Hebrew that
will give you enough information about the passage to discuss its content, and how the author has crafted
(structured) that message. See the suggested rules on the next page, which you and your teacher may want
to change to better realize the goals of your program.
6. If you get stuck, leave a blank at the appropriate place, and go on. If you spend more than a few minutes
staring at a form or syntagm, your mind is simply not seeing something. Better to go on than either
increase your frustration or “punt” by looking it up in an interlinear, or the like. [When you go on, you
may find something in the context that will help you figure out the word or expression that you were stuck
on.]
7. The main point of reading the text is to force ourselves to pay attention to what the text says, rather than
merely “glide” over its surface, hearing the story as we have been told it rather than reading it. Reading
the Bible in Hebrew compels us “to be attentive” to the text, (cf. “Readings”, by Czeslaw Milosz).
It is often helpful to write out two versions of the passage—the first as literal as you can make it,
but still intelligible, and one that is more idiomatic, and then to compare other English versions to your
work. The exercise of writing down a translation compels us to make choices, based on our knowledge of
the possibilities inherent in both the source and “target” languages (the latter will be English, for most
users of this book). For example, is a particular occurrence of the preterite of bWv a case of adverbial
hendiadys or is it the next event on the narrative backbone?
The goal is not getting the translation “right” (as if there an absolute or perfect translation could
exist), but understanding the Hebrew text. It is, of course, possible to mis-translate, but it is far easier to
identify a translation as inappropriate than to determine which of several possibilities is best.
8. These reading notes list all lexemes that occur fewer than fifty times in BH, together with statistics on
their occurrence (in parentheses). The statistics refer to:
for nouns: occurrences in this biblical book / total biblical occurrences; page no. in BDB
for verbs: occurrences of this verb in this stem in this book / total biblical occurrences of this stem /
total biblical occurrences of the verb; page no. in BDB
9. Always remember: The text made sense when it was written, and so should your reading of it.
283
Abraham
(Genesis 11.27 – 25.11)
Lemma Parsing/Gloss Notes

11.27ff GKC §111a
11.27
tAdl.To generations (13/39; 410; cf. dly); this form, which occurs only in plural, marks
the beginning of the major sections of Genesis (e.g., 2.4; 5.1; 6.9)
dylAh 3ms H P < dly In I-y verbs, the initial y disappears (Q V, NC) or becomes a vowel
letter when followed by silent šewa (i.e., Q F, Pr; N P, Ptc; all H &
Hp); they are always strong in the D-stems. The prefix vowel in Q
is long. Q NC adds a final t- (tkl < %lh).
xrT Terah
~rba Abram NB: Not [yet] Abraham!
rAxn Nahor
!rx Haran In English (but not in BH!), his name sounds like the city (11.31-
32).
jAl Lot
11.28 GKC §125h; J-M §131n
tmYw 3ms Q Pr < tWm die; hollow verbs use a-vowels in Q P, Pr, Ptc.
tdlAm relatives (9/22; 409; cf. dly)
rWa Ur
~yDfK Chaldeans LXX (alavo) followed the Mesopotamian form; the Hebrew
form reflects a phonological shift in the older Babylonian dialects
of Akkadian in which pre-dental /š/ became /l/ (*kašdu > kaldu). It
is possible that kašdu (an ethnic designation in Akkadian) derived
from the Sumerian GAL.DU (“master builder”).
11.29 GKC §146f; J-M §150q; IBHS 127 n7; Gib 12, 35, 55; vdM 315
xQYw 3ms Q Pr < xql xql is the only verbal root that is not I-n in which the first radical
assimilates into the second radical whenever it [the first radical] is
followed by vocal šewa. The main clue to a I-n verb is that there are
only two radicals, and the one right after the prefix is doubled. Any
verbal form with -xq- will be a form of xql.
l xql HBI §2.4.3; on the lack of concord, HBI §1.3.1a
yrf Sarai NB: Not [yet] Sarah!
hKlm Milcah
hKsy Jiscah
11.30 GKC §24a n1, 152o; J-M §160h; Gib 57, 178
rq[ barren (3/11; 785)
Hl !ya The l is possessive; !ya is past tense because of the context.
dlw child, offspring (1/1; 409; cf. dly)
284
Genesis 11.31-12.4
11.31 GKC §20f; Wms §309; IBHS 215; Gib 34, 40, 149; vdM 291
xQYw 11.29
!rx-!B Both construct chains describe Lot by apposition.
WnB-!B
hLK daughter-in-law (4/34; 483)
WacYw 3mp Q Pr < acy go out, leave; 11.27 on I-y verbs
!rx 11.27
tkll Q NC < %lh Like I-y verbs, %lh loses its first letter in Q NC and adds t
![;nK: . Canaan
WabYw 3mp Q Pr hollow verb
WbvYw 11.27
11.32
~ytam two hundred dual of ha'me
tmYw 11.28
12.1-4 IBHS 395 n38
12.1-2 IBHS 578
12.1 Dav §101, 101Rb; GKC §119s, 121c; J-M §114m, 132g, 133d; Wms §238, 272; IBHS 222,
242, Gib 9, 150; vdM 166, 240, 261
^l-%l, 2ms Q V < %lh Like I-y verbs, %lh loses its first letter in Q V ( 11.31); on the
syntax, 11.29, HBI §2.4.3
tdlAm 11.28
&'ara 1cs H F < har + Pronominal suffixes replace the final h- of III-h verbs.
2ms
12.2 Dav §62, 78R5; GKC §63q, 110i, 141d; J-M §116b, 116h; Wms §278; IBHS 209; Gib 82,
106, 114, 118
&'f[aw 1cs Q C < hf[ + 12.1
2ms
hlDgaw: 1cs D C + w This form is grammatically cohortative (cf. the ending), which
suggests that the 1cs forms connected to it are also cohortative (
HBI §2.2.4; 2.2.4a)
hyhw 2ms Q V + w waw+imperative after cohortative is often telic: “… so that you are
…”
12.3 GKC §116g; IBHS 391 n27, 395, 530, 618; Gib 82, 94, 171
Both participles are substantive.
raa 1cs Q F < rra curse
12.4 GKC §134h; Wms §97; IBHS 281; Gib 49
%lYw 11.31
hnv … !B “a son of X years” ~ “X years old”
AtacB Q NC < acy + 3ms 11.27
+B
285
Genesis 12.5-9
12.5 IBHS 114; Gib 40, 144
xQYw 11.29
vWkr property (11/28; 940); grammatically = Qp Ptc < vkr (i.e., something acquired)
vkr buy, get, acquire (5/5/5; 940)
hf[ BDB, 795a (top left quadrant of page)
WacYw 11.27, 31
tkll 11.31
AtacB Q NC < acy + 3ms 11.27; 12.4
WabOYw 3mp Q Pr < aAB Hollow verbs have their “theme” or “lexical” vowel in Q F, NC, and
Pr forms with PGN endings.
12.6 J-M §154h; Gib 150
~kv Shechem
!Ala terebinth (4/10; 18); a type of tall tree (pistacia terebinthia L.)
hrAm Moreh
ynI[n] K: . Canaanite(s)
12.7 Dav §99; GKC §116o; Wms §90, 218; IBHS 248, 621, 623; Gib 135; vdM 190, 240, 261,
275; vdM 190, 240, 261, 275
arYw 3ms N Pr < har III-h verbs lose the final h- in the preterite, and replace the silent šewa
after the first radical with a “helping” vowel.
!Ta 1cs Q F < !tn !tn is the only I-n verb that uses sere as its stem vowel.
!bYw 3ms Q Pr < hnB on arYw (this verse, above)
harNh ms N Ptc < har +
art.
12.8 Dav §140; GKC §113u; J-M §123s; IBHS 590; Gib 126
qt[ move (2/5/9; 801); long hiireq is attenuated to siere in Pr forms with no
ending
jYw 3ms Q Pr < hjn
lae-tyBe Bethel
y[; Ai always written with the article: “the heap/ruin” (except Is 10;28; Jr
49.3; these are the only occurrences outside the “historical” books)
… ~Ym Where English says “on the east of”, Hebrew says “from the east of”,
~dQm perhaps in the sense, “from the east side of”.
hOlha h -O = 3ms suffix
12.9 Dav §86R4; GKC §113u; J-M §123s; IBHS 590; Gib 126
[Syw 3ms Q Pr < [sn In I-n verbs, the -n assimilates into the second radical when followed by
silent šewa (i.e., Q F, Pr; N P, Ptc; all H & Hp; never in D, Dp, Dt; cf.
11.29
[snw %lh Q NA (both words) HBI §2.3.2 (adverbial hendiadys)
286
Genesis 12.10-15
12.10 Wms §579; Gib 97
yhyw This functions as a preterite, not an adverbial, since it modifies a
subject (b[r).
drYw 3ms Q Pr < dry 11.27; the yod is the subject marker, not the yod of the lexical form
hm'yr> c; m. i to Egypt the final h- is “accusative/directional” (§7.6.1)
rWgl Q NC < rWG The vocab form of hollow verbs is Q NC.
dbK severe (9/39; 458); this is an adjective (cf. 13.2, below)
12.11-14 Gib 99
12.11 GKC §111g, 114m; J-M §164a; Gib 33, 98
yhyw Since this is followed by a circumstantial clause (preposition +
infinitive construct), it marks a change in the situation of the story
(functions as an introductory particle, in contrast to 12.10, above),
and need not be represented ( HBI §3.2.1e).
rvaK HBI §3.3.4b
aAbl Q NC < aAb The lexical form of hollow verbs is Q NC; aAB here means “enter”
12.12 Dav §56, 146R1; GKC §112c, 112y, 112hh, 164d; J-M §119d, 154fb, 157b; IBHS 401 n22;
Gib 77,111; vdM 331
hyhw 12.11; here it refers to future events
yKi when HBI §3.3.5d
~yricm. i Egyptians gentilic
Wyxy %taw BH often inverts the syntax in order to show contrast; this is a
frequent use of disjunctive clauses ( HBI §3.2.2; 3.2.2b).
12.13 GKC §110d, 112p, 141l, 157a, 165b; J-M §119f, 157b, 157ca, 168d; Wms §175, 367, 521;
IBHS 511, 529, 579; Gib 4, 93, 111, 119, 159; vdM 150
l bjy to go well for someone / to be well with someone (when bjy is qal)
rWb[B because of (15/46; 721); rWb[ + B.
llgB because of (3/10; 164); llg + B.
12.14 Dav 34, 51; GKC §111g, 117h, 118u; J-M §157d; Wms §58, 262, 505; IBHS 202 n49, 205;
Gib 45, 98
awhi she (3fs pronoun) The usual form of the 3fs independent pronoun (ayhi) occurs only 11x
in the Torah.
12.15 GKC §118f; Gib 118
WarYw < har The subject ending replaces the final h- of III-h verbs.
h[rP Pharaoh
xQ;Tu 3fs Qp F < xql A “pual-like” qal passive; when the initial -l is followed by silent
šewa, it assimilates to the -q-, doubling it (cf. I-n verbs).
h[rP tyBe BH does not need a preposition or directional h- with verbs of motion
( BHI §2.4.2, 2.4.2a).
287
Genesis 12.16-13.3
12.16 GKC §145o, 154a n1a; J-M §177o; vdM 238
~rbalW Parenthetic disjunctive clause, describing Abram’s circumstance (
HBI §3.2.2; 3.2.2b).
l bjy 12.13
rWb[B 12.13
!Ata she-ass; female (4/35; 87)
donkey
12.17 Dav §67b; 67R2; GKC §117q; Gib 115
~y[gn [gn “Cognate objects”—objects with the same root as the verb—are fairly
common in BH (Κ HBI §2.4.2b).
rbD-l[ because of BDB 184 (§IV.8)
12.18 J-M §143g, 165b n2; IBHS 207; Gib 62, 110, 184
l arq summon, invite The difference is contextual.
12.19 Dav §48a, 73R5; GKC §111m, 117f, 147b; J-M §118h, 146i, 161m; Gib 5, 59, 91, 110, 111
xQ;aw, " Here the relationship between the clauses suggests result: so that I …
hT[w therefore By itself hT[ is temporal (now); with waw it usually introduces a
volitional verb (Coh, V, Juss), as here.
hNh HBI §3.3.3a
%lw xq ms Q V (both) %lh and xql lose the first letter in the qal imperative.
12.20
l[; concerning, about
-rv,a-] lK' all that he had; all Al = possessive l+3ms
Al that was his
13.1 J-M §146c; IBHS 219 n114, 295; Gib 22, 148; vdM 252
l[Yw The lack of any introductory formula (e.g., yhyw) suggests that Gn 12-
13 is a unit. On the lack of concord (singular verb + compound
subject), HBI §1.3.1a.
13.2 Dav §22d; GKC §126m, 154a n1a; J-M §137ia, 159f; IBHS 245, 668; Gib 28, 53, 168, 174
~rbaw Parenthetic disjunctive clause ( HBI §3.2.2; 3.2.2b).
dbK wealthy Probably an adjective, but could also be 3ms Q P (the forms are
identical).
13.3 Dav §101 Rb; GKC §91e, 138c, 154a n1, 154a n1b; J-M §94h, 129q n2; IBHS 200, 334;
Gib 9, 148
[Sm journey < [sn (1/12; 652)
~v … rva where The equivalent of the relative locative adverb where (cf. Gn 35.15,
27; HBI §1.5.4b(3)); BH occasionally uses rvaB with the same
function (e.g., Ru 1.16, 17).
hlha 12.8
hLxT beginning (4/22; 321); cf. llx
288
Genesis 13.4-10
13.4
~Aqm-la This parallels ~AqMh-d[ ( 13.3)
13.5 Dav §99; GKC §145o; J-M §138a; Gib 135, 174
jAll-~gw> Parenthetical disjunctive clause ( HBI §3.2.2; cf. 13.2)
13.6 Wms §572; Gib 128
alw Disjunctive ( HBI §3.2.2; cf. 13.2)
… afn On afn followed by NC, BDB, 671b; note the parallel Wlky al
tbvl (13.6b).
tbvl Q NC < bvy Most I-y verbs lose the initial -y in Q NC and V.
vWkr 12.5
13.7 Dav §22, 103; GKC §126m; IBHS 651 n14; Gib 28
yhyw 12.10
yZrP Perizzite
13.8 GKC §131b; J-M §131b; Wms §562, 579; Gib 82
an-la Let there be no Although an" usually follows a verb, an"-la; occurs dozens of times
yhT (e.g., Gn 18.3, 30, 32; 19.7; 47.29).
hbyrm strife, contention (1/2; 937); cf. byr
… ~yvna We are men who are
Wnxna relatives.
13.9 Dav §123, 130R2; GKC §51n, 56, 118f; 159r; J-M §176k; IBHS 571, 579; Gib 183
drp divide, separate (N) (7/12/26; 825)
l[m from The context suggests from against, although it is usually glossed
simply from (l[ + !m).
lamf choose/go to the left (1/5/5; 970); ; one of a handful of quadri-radical verbs in BH
(H)
!my choose/go to the (1/5/5; 412)
right (H)
13.10 Dav §29e, 108R3, 145; GKC §115I, 117h, 144h; J-M §125f, 155h, 157d; Wms §371; Gib
14, 42, 129, 131, 144, 157
yny[ afn look up “lift [one’s] eyes”
!Dery. : Jordan
HL'Ku all of it This is the form of lKo with pronominal suffixes.
hqvm watered Predicate participle; this word usually means cup-bearer (9x in Gn);
BDB suggests that the two glosses reflect two verbal roots.
ynpl The atnahi divides the verse; ynpl begins a new clause.
~ds Sodom (21/39; 690)
hrm[ Gomorrah (9/19; 771); zaqef means “pause here”; probably supply “it was”
!g garden (14/41; 171)
hkaB [as] you reach Q NC < aAb + 2ms sfx (hk-, with mater lectiones; cf. 10.19)
r[c Zoar
289
Genesis 13.11-18
13.11 Dav §11Rc; GKC §139e; J-M §147c; Gib 14; vdM 243, 248-49
l rxb choose l introduces the direct object of rxb ( HBI §2.4.3)
drp 13.9
vya each HBI §1.3.1b; the suffix on xa refers back to vya
13.12 Dav §142c; J-M §129f; Wms §310, 573; IBHS 129, 224, 482; Gib 65, 172
This v. stands out because it is asyndetic (not connected by a conjunction). The second clause
(jAlw) is disjunctive, but, apart from the conjunction, is syntactically identical to the first
(~rba)—there is no implied contrast cf. 11.27b). As the preceding verse was the climax, this
verse and the next are the denouement of one of the subthemes of Gn 12-13 (the relationship
between Abram and his nephew). Sarai’s barrenness (11.30) makes the question of Abram’s
successor (12.2a) a major theme of Gn 12-25; the story of Gn 13 eliminates Lot, a potential
contender for the rôle of Abram’s heir.
lha pitch a tent (2/2/3; 14); cf. lha
13.13 Dav §103; GKC §140a; Gib 142
yvnaw disjunctive; HBI §3.2.2a(3)
aJx sinner, sinful (1/19; 308)
13.14 GKC §104g, J-M §104d, 105c n2, 125f, 129q n2; Wms §360; IBHS 134 n19, 193; Gib 157,
179; vdM 150
hwhyw disjunctive; HBI §3.2.2a(3)
drp 13.9
af ms Q V 11.29
~dq east (3/26; 870); each directional term has directional h-
13.15 GKC §142g, 143c; J-M §121h n2, 154f, 155q, 156c; Wms §574; IBHS 183; Gib 117, 181,
182
hNnTa 1cs Q F + 3fs < !tn
13.16 Dav §11Rb, 130a; GKC §139d, 166b; J-M §125w N2, 147b, 155m, 158h n2, 169f; Wms
§465; Gib 14, 79, 153; 262
yTmfw 1cs Q P < ~yf ~yf here ~ make (BDB, 964 §5)
lkWy 3ms Q F < lky lky is the only verb that uses šureq as a prefix vowel in qal (which
makes it look like hofal of a hollow or I-y verb).
vya anyone BDB, 36a
hnm count (Q: 1/12/28; 584); appoint (D; cf. Jonah 2.1; 4.6-8)
(N: 1/6/28; 584)
13.17 GKC §120g; Wms §274; IBHS 206 n67
~Wq The imperative of ~Wq often precedes another imperative without
implying Stand up! ( GKC §120g; HBI §2.2.4).
lha BDB 234-36
hNhTa 13.15
13.18
lha 13.12
!Ala 12.6
armm Mamre (7/7; 577); place/personal name
290
Genesis 14.1-5
14.1 GKC §111f
yhyw Not preterite, but temporal, signalling a new story.
lprma Amraphel (2/2; 57); personal name
r[nv Shinar (4/9; 1042); place name
%Ayra Arioch (2/2; 73); personal name
rsLa Ellasar (2/2; 48); place name
rm[lrdK Chedorlaomer (5/5; 462); personal name
~ly[ Elam (2/17; 743); place name
l[dT Tidal (2/2; 1062); personal name
~yAG Goim(?) (2/3; 156-57); BDB: “probably mutilated name”
14.2 Dav §144R3; IBHS 130; Gib 12
[rB Bera (1/1; 140); personal name
~ds 13.10
[vrB Birsha (1/1; 141); personal name
hrm[ Gomorrah 13.10
banv Shinab (1/1; 1039); personal name
hmda Adma (3/5; 10); place name
rbamv Shemeber (1/1; 1028); personal name
~yybc Zeboim (2/5; 840); place name; the masora marginalis says that this should be
read (qere) as though it had A rather than y .o
[lb Bela (2/2[?]; 118); place name; also known as Zoar (below)
r[c Zoar (7/11; 858); place name
14.3 Dav §101; Wms §114; Gib 12
rbx unite [as allies] (1/11/28; 287)
~yDf Siddim (3/3; 961); place name
xlm salt (2/28; 571)
aWh The pronoun is the subject of the clause.
14.4 Dav §39a, 68; GKC §118I, 118k, 134o; IBHS 486; Gib 144
vlvW Adverbial disjunctive clause: in the thirteenth year … ( HBI
§3.2.2b); cf. textual note
drm rebel (1/25/25; 597)
291
Genesis 14.5-11
14.5 GKC §111a, 134o; J-M §118c, 142o; IBHS 119, 284
aB In hollow verbs the 3ms Q P & ms Q Ptc are identical; the word order
suggests that this is 3ms Q P.
~yapr Rephaites (2/19; 952); gentilic
trTv[ Ashtaroth (1/8; 800); place name
~ynrq Qarnaim (1/2; 902); place name (= two horns)
~yzWz Zuzites (1/1; 265); gentilic; the preposition may mean among or with
~x Ham(?) (1/1; 241); place name
~ymya Emites (1/2; 34); gentilic
hwv plain (1/1; 1001)
~ytyrq Qiriataim (1/8; 900); place name ~ “Two Cities”
14.6 Dav §29a; GKC §93aa, 131f; J-M §129u, 131h; IBHS 159; Gib 40
yrx Horite (5/7; 360); gentilic (always articular) and personal name
ry[f Seir (9/39; 956); place name, probably here in apposition to their hill
country
!raP lya El-paran (2/7; 18); place name
14.7 J-M §118c
bWv This is probably functioning verbally, not as adverbial hendiadys (
HBI §2.3.3)
jPvm !y[ En Mišpat (1/1; 745); the many biblical toponyms (place names) with !y[
illustrate the importance of water sources in Canaan.
vdq Qadeš (3/26; 873); place name; three places in Canaan had this name
yqlm[ Amalekite (1/13; 766); gentilic
!Accx Hazazon-tamar (1/2[?]; 346); place name
rmT
14.8
~Ta %r[ drew up [for] battle Both occurrences of the preposition ta in v. 9 are in apposition to this
hmxlm with [i.e., against] clause.
them
14.9 Dav §37R5; GKC §134k; IBHS 278; Gib 48, 119; vdM 269
14.10 Dav §28R6, 29R8; GKC §27q, 90c, 90I, 93aa, 123e, 130e; J-M §93c, 93d, 130r, 135e; Wms
§16; Gib 36, 42, 167, 171; vdM 338
raeB. pit, well (24/38; 91); on traB traB HBI §1.8.2f
rmx bitumen, pitch (2/3; 330)
hrh rh + locative h-
14.11
WxqYw The dageš forte drops out of some radicals when followed by vocal
šewa.
vWkr 12.5
lka food (16/44; 38)
292
Genesis 14.12-19
14.12 Gib 168
WxqYw 14.11
vWkr 12.5
14.13 Dav §24R3, 28R4, 138b; GKC §2b, 126r, 128u; J-M §129j, 137n; IBHS 150, 243; Gib 35,
168
jyLiP; fugitive (1/19; 812); on the article, HBI §1.4.3b
yrib[. i Hebrew (4/34; 720); cf. Gn 11.16 for Abram’s eponymous ancestor
hWhw> Abram is the antecedent.
!Alae 12.6
aremm. ; 13.18
lKova. , Ešcol (2/6; 79); personal/place name
rnE[' Aner (2/3; 778); personal name (2xx); place name (once)
yl[B BDB 127c
14.14
hbv be captive (N) (1/8/37; 985)
qyr muster (H) (2/17/19; 937)
%ynx trained(?) (1/1; 335)
dyly born (4/12; 409)
!D Dan
14.15 Gib 144
qlxYw Probably a reflexive nifal: He divided his forces (which included
himself, hence nifal)
hlyl adverbial: at/by night
hbAx Hobah (1/1; 295); toponym
qvmD Damascus (2/37; 199); toponym
14.16 Gib 171
bvYw 3ms H Pr < bWv
vWkr 12.5
14.17 Dav §90, 91R3, 145; GKC §115a; Wms §506; Gib 12, 128, 129, 157
tarql This form functions as Q NC for hrq, meet, happen
rm[lrdK 14.1
hwv Šaveh (2/2; 1001); toponym, cf. 14.5
14.18 GKC §129c; J-M §130b; Wms §573; IBHS 127 n6; Gib 53
qdc-yklm Melchizedek (1/2; 575); personal name
~lv Šalem/Salem (1/2; 1024); toponym
!Ayl[ Elyon/Most High (4/30; 751); upper in place names (22x)
14.19 Dav §22R3, 81; GKC §121f, 128a; J-M §129b, 132f, 137h n2; Wms §29, 82; IBHS 139,
250; Gib 29, 37, 54
hnq create, make (2/5/5; 888 [III])
293
Genesis 14.20-15.2a
14.20 Dav §22R3, 81; GKC §121f, 128a; J-M §129b, 132f, 137h n2; Wms §29, 82; IBHS 139,
250; Gib 29, 37, 54
!gm deliver (D) (1/3/3; 171)
rf[m tenth, tithe (1/31; 78); cf. rf[, ten
14.21 Gib 171
vWkr 12.5
14.22 GKC §106I; J-M §112f, 165b n1; Wms §164; IBHS 488; Gib 35, 61
hnq 14.19
ytmyrh 1cs H P < ~Wr
14.23 Dav §101Rb; GKC §102b, 109g, 135a, 149c, 154a n1b; J-M §103d, 116j, 165I; IBHS 295;
vdM 253, 340
~a not in an oath ( HBI §3.3.1b)
jWx cord, thread, rope (1/7; 296)
%Arf thong (1/2; 976)
l[n sandal (1/22; 653)
%l' This is the form of ^l. (l+2ms) in pause (and so is identical to
(l+2fs).
14.24 GKC §135c; IBHS 294 n22; Gib 38
yd[lB not [at all!] (3/5; 116)
rnE[' 14.13
lKova. , 14.13
aremm. ; 14.13
15.1-2 GKC §11a
15.1 Dav §4R1, 104b; GKC §126r, 131q; J-M §103a; Wms §360, 402; IBHS 129, 193; Gib 98,
147, 177; vdM 277
hzxm vision (1/4; 303); cf. hzx
rkf reward (7/28; 969)
^rkf This may begin the next clause (my preference) or be appositional.
hBrh H NA < hbr BDB 914 (§I.e)
15.2 Dav §70a, 138b; GKC §116n, 118n, 128v, 141e; J-M §16f n2; IBHS 124; Gib 7, 56, 98, 168
hwhy ynda Mp tells us that this is one of eight occurrences of this combination
(and one of four in Torah). hwhy has the pointing of ~yhla in order to
avoid reading adonai adonai.
yknaw The disjunctive clause is probably parenthetical and explanatory:
Since I am childless …
%leho ~ continue to be
yryr[ childless (1/4; 792)
The second half of this verse is extremely difficult (there are at least
seven major explanations), but Abram seems to be stating that since
he is childless, Eliezer [of Damascus?] will be his heir.
qvm possession(?) (1/1; 606); ytB qvm !B ~ my heir (?)
294
Genesis 15.2b-10a
qvmD 14.15
rz[yla Eliezer (1/14; 45); proper name. This is the only time that it refers to Abram’s
servant.
15.3 Dav §100R1; J-M §155q; IBHS 488, 678; Gib 59, 137
!h BDB 243c (§b)
hNhw Either Abram does not finish his conditional sentence, so that Here is
Eliezer begins a new sentence, or else this is Although you have not …
here is Eliezer …”
15.4 Dav §106; J-M §145a, 156k; IBHS 294 n 22; Gib 181
hNhw Probably the conjunction represents “but” (this phrase only occurs one
other time (1 Kg 19.9), according to Mp).
~a-yK but HBI §3.3.5c; BDB 474d-475a (§2b)
rva one who This is the subject of acy, and the entire clause is the subject of ^vryy,
to which it is connected by aWh (cf. zaqef).
h[m inward part, belly (2/31; 588)
15.5 GKC §150I; Wms §62; IBHS 185, 245; vdM 191, 307
acAYw The prefix vowel (hiolem) suggests that this is hifil of a I-yod verbal
root.
bbAk star (5/37; 456)
15.6 Dav §58R1, 80, 19R2; GKC §112ss, 122q, 135p; J-M §119z, 152b; IBHS 175, 305; Gib
103, 114
The shortest and most familiar v. in Gn 15. Who did what to whom
(note the PGN of the verbs and suffixes).
hbvxYw The suffix is 3fs, perhaps because its implicit referent is a feminine
noun (e.g., hnWma).
15.7 Dav §9a; GKC §29f, 66I, 138d; J-M §158n; IBHS 333; Gib 9
rWa 11.31
~yDfK
HTvrl Q NC < vry + 3fs object
15.8 Dav §7b; J-M §16f n2, 37d; IBHS 317, 325; Gib 7, 32, 185; vdM 325
hwhy ydna 15.2
hMB how? (1/29; 552); hm + B ~ By what [means]? How?
15.9 IBHS 422
hlg[ heifer (1/12; 722)
vlv divide in three (3/5/9; 1026); Dp Ptc ~ three-year-old
rT dove (1/14; 1076)
lzAG young (1/2; 160); here ~ young bird
15.10 Dav §11Rd, 110; GKC §139b, 139c; IBHS 200 n39, 406; Gib 14
Al xQYw HBI §2.4.3
rtB cut in two (1/1/2; 144); both biblical occurrences are in this v.
vya each distributive ( HBI §1.1.1d)
rtB half, piece (1/3; 144)
295
Genesis 15.10b-18
rPc bird (2/4; 861)
… taw contrastive disjunctive clause
15.11 GKC §126r; Wms §287; IBHS 216 n107
jy[ scavengers (birds) (1/8; 743)
rgP corpse, body (1/22; 803)
bvn drive away (1/2/3; 674)
15.12 Dav §51R1, 94, 113; GKC §111f, 114I; J-M §124l, 154d, 166d; Wms §196, 227; IBHS 610;
Gib 21, 59, 99, 131, 167; vdM 155
aAbl yhyw This combination apparently means that the sun was beginning to set.
aAB refers to the sun’s “going in” (sunset).
hmDrT deep sleep (2/7; 922)
hmya terror, dread (1/17; 33)
hkvx darkness (1/6; 365); cf. %v,xo
All three clauses in this v. are disjunctive, setting the stage for God’s
speech to Abram (13ff).
15.13 GKC §113o, 118k, 135p, 155e; J-M §113m, 123h, 149a; Wms §540; IBHS 303, 587 n32;
Gib 11, 144, 179
~hl The -l is possessive, but is negated by al.
~Wdb[w The subject and object switch between these two clauses (i.e., the
~ta WN[w subject of the first cl. is the object of the second).
15.14 GKC §29w, 116p, 119n; J-M §154fe n1; IBHS 628; Gib 77, 136; vdM 254
!D judge (4/23/24; 192); the ptc precedes its subject, perhaps due to the
complex syntax of the main and participial clauses.
vWkr 12.5
15.15 GKC §135a; Wms §252; Gib 78, 150, 178; vdM 254
hTaw The disjunctive cl. contrasts Abram’s fate with that of his progeny.
hbyf old age (5/20; 966)
15.16 Dav §71R1; GKC §118q
hNh to(ward) here (8/49; 244); to this place
~lev' full, complete (3/28; 1023)
hNh-d[ [up to] here (8/49; 244 §b)
15.17 Dav §113, 141;GKC §111g; J-M §150k; IBHS 200; Gib 21, 167; vdM 282
haB yhyw after sunset ( 15.12)
hlj[ deep darkness (1/4; 759)
rWNT firepot (1/15; 1072
!v[ smoke (1/25; 798)
dyPl torch (1/13; 542)
rzG piece, half (1/2; 160)
15.18 Dav §24a, 41a; GKC §106m, 136b; J-M §112g, 129f, 143j, 176h; Wms §42; IBHS 103, 153,
314; Gib 6, 40, 61; vdM 259
trP rhn Euphrates This is in apposition to the great river.
296
Genesis 15.19-16.7
15.19ff GKC §154a n1
15.19-21 GKC §154a n1a; IBHS 115
15.19 GKC §111a, 126m
15.21 Gib 28
16.1-2 GKC 111a
16.1 Dav §105R1, 113; GKC §142b, 156b; IBHS 232, 652 n15; Gib 21, 167
yrfw Three disjunctive clauses in this v. set the stage for the next episode.
tyrcm The fem. gentilic (cf. yrcm).
rgh Hagar (12/12; 212)
16.2 GKC §51g, 51p, 119x; J-M §105c, 155m, 164a; IBHS 579, 663; Gib 79, 132
rc[ restrain (3/36/46; 783)
tdLm Q NC + !mi Many I-y verbs drop the initial -y and add t- to form Q NC.
la aAB BDB 98a (§1e)
ylWa perhaps (12/45; 19)
16.3 Dav §28R5, 29a, 91R2; GKC §102f, 115f, 129f, 142g; J-M §103c, 124g; Wms §70; IBHS
232; Gib 36, 40, 130, 141
Note the appositional phrases that describe Sarai and Hagar.
tbvl Q NC + l The idea is Abram’s living …; Many I-y verbs drop the initial -y and
add t- to form Q NC.
hVal Al The first l is possessive, the second identifies the purpose for which
she was given (what she became).
16.4 GKC §67p; IBHS 392 n31
la aAB 16.2
hrh conceive (20/38/40; 247)
llq be despised NB: This verb is stative.
trbG mistress (3/15; 150); cf. rABGI
16.5 Dav §2, 23, 101Rd; GKC §5n, 103o, 135a, 135m; J-M §103n, 146a; Wms §110; IBHS 147,
201, 296, 303; Gib 2, 3, 32, 148, 149; vdM 252-53
ysmx This is probably a curse, along the lines of, May the violence done me
%yl[ be upon you!
qyx bosom (1/38; 300)
hrh 16.4
jPvy This is probably jussive, in context.
16.6 Dav §103
16.7 Dav §101Rd; GKC §60d, 127e; J-M §a137n; Gib 31
rWv Shur (3/8; 1004); place name
16.8 Dav §45R1, 100R1; GKC §10k, 76g, 107h, 116n; J-M §121h n1, 143k; IBHS 328, 329, 504,
626; Gib 76, 137, 185; vdM 326, 328
hZm-ya From where? (3/31; 32); 9/31 occurrences of ya are in the phrase hZm-ya.
hna To where? (3/39; 33); note the locative h-.
trbG 16.4
297
Genesis 16.9-16
Gn 16.9 Gib 89
trbG 16.4
16.10 Dav §101 Rc; GKC §166a; J-M §170I; Gib 124
16.11 Dav §117 R2; GKC §74g, 80d, 94f, 116n; JM §89j; Wms §300
%N"hi hNh + 2fs
hrh pregnant (20/38/40; 248); note its high occurrence in Genesis! The lexica
disagree about whether this is a verb or adjective.
T.dl. y; wO > As the footnote suggests, this is a “mixed form”, combining the fs Q
Ptc and 2fs Q P of dly (the same form occurs in Jg 13.5, q.v.).
yn[ affliction (4/36; 777)
16.12 Dav §24a; GKC §127c, 128l, 156b; J-M §129f; Wms §242; IBHS 197; Gib 32, 127
arP wild ass/donkey (1/10; 825)
16.13 GKC §116o; J-M §118j; IBHS 616; Gib 133, 184
rbeDho ; Although rbd occurs primarily in D (1087xx), it occurs in Q (41xx)
as a Ptc (40xx), without any apparent difference in function.
yar seeing (1/4; 909); MT apparently means “God of seeing”, whereas LXX and
Vulgate apparently interpreted this form as a participle with 1cs
suffix—“God who sees me” (as it is at the end of this v. and in the
middle of the next).
~lh here (1/11; 240); this difficult clause has caused much comment (see the
commentaries), but apparently means that she lives even though she
has seen “God” (i.e., the angel of YHWH). The footnote has no textual
support (prp = “I propose” or “It has been proposed”).
16.14 GKC §144d; J-M §155e; Gib 13
l arq [to] name l introduces the person or thing named
yar seeing (1/4; 909); MT apparently means “God of seeing”, whereas LXX and
Vulgate apparently interpreted this form as a participle with 1cs
suffix—“God who sees me” (as it is at the end of this v. and in the
middle of the next).
vdq Kadeš 14.7
drB Bered (1/1[?]; 136); there were, apparently, several places with the same root
in their names
16.15
arq [to] name here without l ( 16.14)
16.16 GKC §115f; Gib 128, 167
~rbaw A terminal disjunctive clause, finishing a narrative portion.
17.1-2 IBHS 578
17.1 GKC §110f; J-M §111I; IBHS 263
yDv Šaddai (6/48; 994); the proper gloss of this name is debated.
hyhw The syntax (imperative … w +imperative) may either suggest result
(cf. 12.2) or be a hendiadys ( HBI §2.3.1).
17.2 IBHS 654
tyrb !tn Although trk usually describes the making of a covenant, !tn also
occurs (Gn 9.12; Nu 25.12).
298
Genesis 17.3-13
17.3 GKC §114o n1
rmal Repeated quotation formulae embedded within a speech often indicate
a change of topic. In Gn 17, YHWH describes what he will do for
Abraham (4-8), what Abraham must do (9-14), and what he [YHWH]
will do for Sarai (15-16).
17.4 GKC §96 (p. 282), 143a; J-M §98b; IBHS 677; Gib 91, 181, 182
l hyh become 16.3
17.5 Dav §81R3, 155; GKC §117ii, 121b, 163a; J-M §98b, 125w, 128b, 172a, 172c; Wms §59,
552; IBHS 671 n 102; Gib 91, 114, 118, 173
~hrba Abraham (138/168; 4 [under ~rba])
17.6 IBHS 305
hrp be fruitful (5/7/29; 826); cf. yriP.
!tn make BDB 681a §3b
17.7
tyrB ~Wq ~Wq (in H) also refers to making a covenant ( 17.2)
17.8 GKC §128p; J-M §129f; IBHS 149
rWgm sojourning (6/11; 158); cf. rWG
17.9 GKC §94f, 142f n2; J-M §146c
… rmaYw 17.3
hTaw This disjunctive clause probably signals the transition from the
announcement that the covenant will be established (17.4-9) to the
description the covenantal sign (17.10-14).
17.10 Dav §88R5; GKC §113gg; J-M §123v, 130g; Wms §209; Gib 127, 178
lWm circumcise (13/17/29; 557)
17.11 Dav §72R3, 80; GKC §67dd, 112aa, 121d, 144b; J-M §126g; IBHS 181; Gib 117; vdM 331
lWm 17.10; cf. BDB 576d [llm]
hlr[ foreskin (6/16; 790)
17.12 Dav §9R2, 88R5, 101Rc; GKC §138b; J-M §126c, 130g, 158g; IBHS 172; Gib 47
lWm 17.10
dyly born (4/12; 409)
hnqm possession (5/15; 889); cf. hnq; i.e., something or someone purchased
rkn foreigner; stranger (4/36; 648)
17.13 Dav 88R5; GKC §113w; J-M §125q
lWm 17.10
dyly 17.12
hnqm 17.12
299
Genesis 17.14-24
17.14 Dav §72R3, 80; GKC §29q, 67v, 112mm, 121d, 158a, 167b n 1; J-M §170b; Gib 117, 178,
182
lr[lWm uncircumcised (1/35; 790)
lWm 17.10
hlr[ 17.11
rrP break, annul (1/41/44; 830)
17.15 GKC §143b; J-M §172c, 172c n 1; Wms §447, 555; IBHS 76, 671; Gib 174, 182; vdM 303
rmaYw 17.3
yrf 11.29
yKi for/because or but
hrf Sarah (37/38; 979)
17.16
l hyh become 16.3
17.17 Dav §24R3, 126R2; GKC §96 (p. 285), 100l, 107t, 134d, 150g, 167b n 1; J-M §102m, 152f,
152fa; IBHS 281; Gib184
qxc laugh (6/6/13; 850)
blB rma ~ think / say to rma alone can also refer to thinking
oneself
!bLh interrogative + preposition + noun; the verb is clause-terminal
~aw This introduces the “disjunctive or alternative question” (Gib 184):
Shall … or shall …?
tbh interrogative + noun (clause-terminal verb)
17.18 Dav § 134; GKC §151e; J-M §163c; Wms §460, 548; Gib 79, 186
Wl if only (4/19; 530)
17.19 GKC §49l, 116p; J-M §154fc, 164a n 2; IBHS 630, 672; Gib 137; vdM 309
lba no, not; but (2/11; 6)
qx'cy. I Isaac (88/109); the form is 3ms Q F < qxc laugh
17.20 GKC §106m, 112s; IBHS 207, 490, 532; Gib 59, 93, 102, 150
la[mvylW contrastive disjunctive clause
hrP 17.6
17.21 GKC §154a; Wms §268; IBHS 310; Gib 173
qxcy-ta with …
17.23
dyly 14.14
hnqm 17.12
lWm 17.10
hlr[ 17.11
~c[ BDB 782d-783a (§3)
300
Genesis 17.24-18.1
17.24 GKC §121d
lWm 17.10
hlr[ 17.11
Gn 17.25 Dav §72R3, 80; GKC §156d n 4; Gib 117, 145
lWm 17.10
hlr[ 17.11
17.26 GKC §72ee
~c[ 17.23
lWm 17.10
17.27 GKC §72ee; vdM 347
dyly 14.14
hnqm 17.12
rkn 17.12
lWm 17.10
p Unpointed p following 17.27 stands for petuhiah, “open”, and means
that the scribe copying the MS should begin the next verse on the next
line (even if there is space left on this line). If the scribe is supposed
to begin the next verse on the same line (or, slightly indented, on the
next line), it would be marked with s (semukah, “closed” [cf. 7.14]).
These marks are not consistently applied in BHS.
w©kq© © 126 (a dot over each The Jewish community in Babylonia read through the Torah every
letter signals a year, and so divided it into fifty-three (later fifty-four) parašot. The
numeral; a dot over beginning of each paraš is marked by the word vrp in the inner
the final letter margin of BHS (cf. 18.1); the end is marked with the number of
signals an verses in that paraš (this one began in 12.1—check their counting!).
abbreviated word)
18.1 Dav §69a, 138b; GKC §116o, 118g, 141e; J-M §126h, 159d, 166h, 166m; IBHS 170; Gib
143, 168; vdM 244
s seder The large s in the inner margin, “crowned” with a sideways qamesi,
marks the beginning of the fifteenth drs seder in Genesis. These
divisions enabled the Jewish community living in Palestine to read the
Torah in about three years (their total varies from 154 to 167 in
different MSS). According to the final masora (at the end of Genesis),
there are forty-five sederim in Genesis (h©m© ~yrdsw).
!Alae oak, terebinth (4/10; 18)
aremm. ; 14.13
~xo heat (1/1; 328)
301
Genesis 18.1-9
18.2 Dav §101Rd; IBHS 626; Gib 31, 59, 149; vdM 162, 329
wyl[ Since Abraham was sitting, the men were “above” him; they were,
however, far enough away that he ran to them.
WxT;vY. wI : 3ms Dt < hxv Either Dt of hxv (BDB, 1005) or hištafel of hwx. Forms ending in
šureq (W-) are singular, in WW- (doubled waw + šureq) are plural. It
describes an act of respect, reverence, or worship to a superior, and is
thus usually rendered bow or worship.
18.3 Dav §60; GKC §135q, 159n; J-M §167h; Wms §511, 515; IBHS 579; Gib 81
18.4 Dav §60; GKC §105b n 1 (p. 308); J-M §69c; IBHS 374; Gib 32, 118
xQ;yU Q passive IBHS 373-76
![v lean (N) (1/22/22; 1043); used with a number of prepositions ( BDB 1043),
apparently as lean on/against
18.5 Dav §151; GKC §158b n 1; J-M §69c, 103a, 170h n 1; IBHS 641; Gib 161
tP' morsel, bit (1/14; 837)
d[s sustain (1/12/12; 703)
18.6 Dav §29d, 29R4; GKC §90b n 3, 90c, 90i, 93q, 131d; J-M §69c, 102g, 127b, 131e; IBHS
173, 413; Gib 41
yrihm] ; 2fs D V The rather disjointed nature of 18.6b—Abraham’s directions to
Sarah—may be due to his haste, but we need not assume that every
word has been recorded.
has seah (1/9; 684); a unit of dry measure ~ 10.5 quarts
xmq flour (1/14; 887); a nominal hendiadys with tls ~ fine flour
yviWl 2ms Q V < vWl ~ (1/5/5; 534)
knead
hg[ bread (1/7; 728)
18.7-8 Wms §83; IBHS 242; vdM 190
18.7 Dav §21, 21d, 73R5; GKC §117f, 126r; J-M §137n, 146i; Wms §178, 588; IBHS 243, 244;
Gib 5, 26, 27, 28, 110
%r; tender (3/16; 940)
tAf[l The main verb is the NC, modified by the preterite.
18.8 Dav §138b, 142; GKC §116o, 141e; J-M §137f; Gib 26, 66, 168
hamx curd(s) (1/10; 326)
blx milk (2/44; 316)
hf[ prepare
~hyl[ To “stand over [by]” is to wait on, or serve, someone.
18.9 Dav §117, 117R3; GKC §5n, 147b; J-M §146h; IBHS 328; Gib 59, 185; vdM 49, 326, 330
wyla Mp reads: “One of ten words marked with extraordinary points in
Torah” (cf. 16.5), which probably means that a masoretic tradition
lacked this word.
hYa Where [is]? 4/44; 32)
302
Genesis 18.10-18
18.10 Dav §138b; GKC §113n, 118g, 118u; J-M §123e, 127c; Wms §262; IBHS 586; Gib 124, 143
hYx t[K A much-discussed phrase (also in 18.14; K2 4.16, 17), that may refer
to the time of pregnancy (“the time of [necessary for] life [i.e., to
develop]”); its function seems to be clarified by 17.21 (tr,xa , h; ' hn"VB' ;
hZ<h; d[eAMl;).
aWhw> If this should be 3ms (as it is written), then it probably refers to the
tent, not to Sarah. If it refers to Sarah, the confusion probably reflects
the qere perpetivum in Torah (awh for both 3ms and 3fs). See textual
note 10a.
18.11 GKC §116d, 146d; J-M §148a, 148d; Gib 21, 178; vdM 250
~yaB Mp Q Ptc; getting on BDB 399b (§4a); cf. 24.1; Josh 13.1; 23.1; K1 1.1 (my suggestion
~ymYB in years is very colloquial English)
18.12 Dav §11c, 41R2, 92, 121, 138a; GKC §106n, 139f, 141e, 150a, 150b; J-M §112j; Gib 67,
131, 167, 183
qxc laugh 17.17
hlb be worn out (1/11/16; 115)
hnd[ delight (1/1; 726)
!qz be[come] old (6/25/27; 278)
18.13 Dav §123R1, 138c; GKC §106g, 136c; J-M §112a, 143g, 155l, 159e; Wms §385; IBHS 324,
662 n 65; Gib 2, 63, 141, 143, 168, 184
@ah interrogative –h + @a
~n"ma. u truly, really (1/5; 53)
18.14 Dav §11Rb, 34R2; GKC §107t, 133c, 139d, 141m; J-M §147b; Wms §262, 318; IBHS 266;
Gib 14, 45; vdM 263, 289
alp be marvelous, (1/13/24; 810); here in the sense of difficult
wonderful, awesome
hwhym !m is comparative, used with a stative verb (~ “too difficult for”)
rbD Here in the sense of “anything”
hY"x; 18.10
18.15 Dav §118; GKC §106b, 163a; J-M §112c, 172c; Wms §398, 594; IBHS 486; Gib 62, 141,
174
vxk deceive, dissemble (1/19/22; 471)
qxc 17.17
yKi … yKi The first is causal, the second adversative.
18.16 GKC §116o, 141e
@qv look down (3/12/22; 1054)
~ds 13.10
xlv Here in the sense of “see someone off” (i.e., on their way).
18.17 Dav §100b, 104c, 122; GKC §100l, 143b; J-M §14c(6), 35c, 102m, 154fe; Gib 136, 183
303
Genesis 18.18-28
18.18 Dav §53a, 67a; GKC §75n, 113n, 142d; J-M §123e, 171f; Wms §179, 495; Gib 92
Ayh' Q NA < hyh (3/12/22; 1054)
l hyh become
~Wc[ powerful (1/31; 783)
18.19 GKC §114o, 165c; J-M §124o, 177j; IBHS 639; Gib 111, 159
rva ![ml so that, in order that
tAf[]l; gerundive ( HBI §2.2.6c)
18.20 Dav §118; GKC §128h, 148d, 159ee; J-M §164b; IBHS 132 n 17, 152, 668; Gib 141, 170
hrm[
18.21 Dav §2, 22R4, 62; GKC §10g, 48c, 100l, 108b, 135m, 138k; J-M §114d, 145e; IBHS 339 n
32, 579; Gib 3, 29, 82
Htq[cKh interrogative –h + preposition + noun (fem. sg. const.) + suffix (3fs)
18.22 Dav §100f, 145R3; GKC §116o, 141e; Wms §370; IBHS 221; Gib 4, 58, 137, 180
dmeA[ WNd,A[ The suffix on dA[ identifies the subject of this participial clause.
18.23
hps sweep away (2/8/18; 705)
18.24ff GKC §117g
18.24-25 Gib 179
18.24 Dav §37b, 73R5; GKC §122l; J-M §134m, 154k; Wms §365, 477; Gib 49, 57, 110, 149,
175, 184
yl;Wa perhaps, if (12/45; 19)
hps 18.23
afn Here in the sense of “forgive”.
![;ml; . on account of
18.25 Dav §93, 123, 151R2; GKC §112v, 115b, 161c; J-M §124I, 174k; Wms §256; IBHS 537,
642; Gib 79, 131, 183
hllx far be it! (2/21; 321); used with -l (where English uses “from”)
hyhw This introduces the result: “… so that it will be [is] …”
… jpevho ] Interrogative -h + subst. ptc.
18.26 Dav §37b; GKC §112ff.; J-M §176d; Wms §440, 453; IBHS 511; Gib 49, 63, 86; vdM 295
rWb[]B; 12.13
18.27 GKC §141e; J-M §171f; Wms §528; IBHS 133; Gib 1, 168
lay undertake, begin (2/18/18; 383); usually followed by inf. const.
rpa ashes (1/22; 68)
18.28 Dav §37f, 130a; GKC §47m, 117aa, 119p, 134l, 159n n 1, 159r; J-M §125d, 167v; Wms
§96, 247; IBHS 168, 198; Gib 49, 50, 113, 150, 153
ylWa 18.24
rsx lack, be lacking (3/20/24; 341)
tyxivt. h; ] Interrogative -h + imperfect.
304
Genesis 18.29-19.3
18.29 Dav §37$5, 90; GKC §134k; Gib 48, 58, 79, 128
@s,YwO : 3ms H Pr < @sy The hifil of @sy occurs with inf. const. to show that a deed is repeated.
Usually the inf. const. functions as the main verb and the hifil of @sy
adds the function of repetition or “again”. The PGN of @sy is the
subject of the action described by the inf. const. dA[ may or may not
be present, without any apparent difference in function.
ylWa 18.24
rWb[]B; 12.13
18.30ff GKC §108d
18.30 Dav §63; GKC §159n n 1; J-M §114I, 116b, 167v; IBHS 575; Gib 82, 106
yn"dao l; rx;yI 3ms Q J < hrx hrx is an “impersonal” verb; it only occurs in 3ms; a following -l
identifies the person who is angry.
ylWa 18.24
18.31
lay 18.27
ylWa 18.24
rWb[]B; 12.13
18.32 Dav §153; Wms §388; IBHS 575, 670 n 93; Gib 39, 142
hrx 18.30
~[;Ph; ; one [more] time ~[;P; here refers to “time” as in “once, twice, &c.” (also rendered as
“occurrence”)
ylWa 18.24
18.33 Dav §105; Gib 66, 167
rvaK Here ~ when
hLK Usually followed by inf. const. (as here).
~hrbaw> disjunctive clause “parallels” YHWH’s action (“Y. did this and A. did
that”), creating narrative closure rather than contrast.
19.1 Dav §140R1; GKC §116o, 141e, 141f, 156c; J-M §121f, 126f, 166h; Wms §219; W-O
549
~t'ar'ql. i Q NC < hrq meet 18.2
WxT;vY. wI : 3ms Dt Pr < hxv Forms that end in a single waw are singular.
19.2 Dav §55a; GKC §17e, 20d, 20g, 100o, 135q, 142g, 150n, 152c; J-M §18iN1, 105c, 119l,
136dN5, 155p, 172c; W-O 124, 550
bAxr' square, plaza (1/43)
19.3
rcp push, press; urge (3/6/7)
hT,v.mi feast, party (5/45); cf. htv drink
hC'm; unleavened bread (1/53); singular only four times (Lv 2.5; 8.26; Nu 6.19 [bis])
hpa bake (9/22/25); the root often occurs as Q Ptc hp,ao baker
305
Genesis 19.4-13
19.4 Dav §45, 127d; GKC §15l, 107c, 152r, 154aN1b, 164c; J-M §82h, 113j, 131i; Wms §167,
313, 327, 509
~rj not yet, before (5/16); usually precedes imperfect, which is rendered as past
WBs;n" 3cp N P < bbs
d[;w> … !mi both … and … The syntagm d[;w> … !mi is an inclusive formula (e.g., “both man and
beast”, “both great and small”).
19.5 GKC §29f; J-M §137f; W-O 246
hYEa; Where? (4/44)
hl'yL> h; ; “the night” in the sense of “this night” (i.e., “tonight”)
h['dn. wE > w+cohortative following imperative is often telic
19.6 GKC §93i; W-O 180
19.7 Dav §63, 127a; GKC §105bN1 (p. 308)
W[reT' 2mp H F < [[r
19.8 GKC §34b, 103b, 139d, 158bN1; GKC §105bN1 (p. 308); J-M §18iN1, 147b; Wms §253,
560; W-O 669
laeh' = hL,ahe ' cf. mp
hr'AQ roof; rafter, beam (1/5)
19.9 Dav §33, 86R1; GKC §66c, 113r; J-M §72c n1
vG 2ms Q V < vgn
ha'lh. ' outward(s), onward, (2/16)
further
^l. [r;n" The root [[r is stative in Q (“be evil/bad/wicked”); here (as often)
~h,me a stative verb occurs with !mi in a comparison.
rcp 19.3
19.10 Dav §17R4; W-O 180
19.11 Dav §22R1, 101Rb; GKC §126n, 154a n1b; J-M §126h, 136h; W-O 121, 246
… ta,w> This noun+relative clause is the object of WKhi.
tyIBh; ;
~yriwnE s> ; blindness (1/3); always plural, its other occurrences are in 2 Kgs 6.18
d[;w> … !mi 19.4
hal be weary, tired (1/3/19)
19.12 GKC §150b
d[o = dA[
hPo here, in this place (3/44)
!t'x' son-in-law (3/20)
aceAh ms H V < acy
19.13 Dav §100b, 100c; J-M §121e
~ytxiv.m; The participle probably refers to impending action: “We are about to
…”
hq[c outcry 18.21
306
Genesis 9.14-23
19.14 Dav §98b; GKC §20g, 116d
!t'x' 19.12
tyxiv.m; 19.13
qxc ms D Ptc; sport, jest, (5/17/23)
play; laugh
19.15 Dav §83R4, 145; GKC §152w; Wms §262, 500
AmK. like; when (here)
rx;v; dawn (3/23)
#wa hasten, act quickly (1/2/10); object introduced with -b..
(H)
hps be swept away (N) (2/9/18)
19.16 Dav §91a, 91b; GKC §15f, 45d, 55g, 115f; J-M §170j
Hhm linger, tarry (Hitpal) (2/9/9); in this stem, the first and second radicals are both repeated
hl'mx. , mercy, compassion (1/2)
WhaucYi wO : The hifil of I-y verbs usually has -A- as its prefix vowel; in this form,
long hiireq is defective (rsx; i.e., written without the yod); “-ūhū”
ending is always mp+3ms suffix.
19.17 GKC §107p; Wms §295
hps 19.15
19.18 GKC §152g
19.19 Dav §53c, 93; GKC §60d, 72n, 105bN1 (p. 308), 107f, 152w, 154a; J-M §63a, 125b,
155m; W-O 579
tAyx]h; H NC < hyx “cause/allow to live” (H); probably gerundive; “by … -ing”
ynIqB; d' T. i The pronominal suffix here indicates the “indirect” object.
yTim; 1cs Q P < tWm The final t- of the root has assimilated to the PGN ending.
19.20 Dav §96Obs; GKC §109f; J-M §116d
r['c.mi small/insignificant (2/6)
thing
19.21 Dav §95; GKC §61a; J-M §158i
^yn<P' afn To “lift up someone’s face” is to accept them, or to agree to their
request.
yTilb. li . negates the following NC
yKiph. ' Q NC < %ph + 1cs
T'rB. d; i The object is implicit.
19.22 Dav §83; GKC §120g; J-M §155e
rhem; ms D V adverbial hendiadys with the following imperative “Quickly …”
rb'D' here, “anything”
r[;Ac Zoar (7/10); place name
19.23 GKC §164b; J-M §166c
acy The sun “comes out” (acy) in the morning and “goes in” (aAB) at
night.
307
Genesis 19.24-34
19.24
rjm rain (vb.) (3/16/17)
tyripG. " brimstone (1/7); linked to fire (Ps 11.6; Ezk 38.22) and salt (Dt 29.22)
19.25
la these form of hL,ae
xm;c, [plant] growth, (1/12)
sprout
19.26
bycin> pillar (1/11); apart from this v., bycin> refers to a military rank or outpost
xl;m, salt (2/28)
19.27 Dav §101; J-M §129qN2, 133b
19.28 GKC §126o; J-M §137i; W-O 245
@qv look down (H) (3/12/22)
rjoyqi smoke (2/4); cf. the root rjq cause [incense] to smoke
!v'bK. i furnace (1/4)
19.29 Dav §91R1; GKC §115a, 115eN1, 124o; Wms §586
hk'phe ] overthrow (n.) (1/1)
19.30 GKC §126r; J-M §137n; W-O 606
r[;Ac 19.22
hr'['m. cave (11/40)
19.31 GKC §133f, 152o; J-M §104c, 160h
hr'ykiB. firstborn (fem.) (5/6)
ry[ic. young(er) (8/22)
!qz be[come] old (6/25/27); this form could be either a verb (3ms Q P) or adjective
(ms)—the forms are identical
19.32 Dav §83R4, 117; GKC §69x, 117cc; J-M §105e, 177fN1; Wms §191
hk'l. ms Q V Her reason for using a masculine form is not clear; SamPent has 2fs
(ykl).
hqv cause to drink (H)
hY<xn; W> In D, hyx functions as preserve alive; revive
19.33 Dav §6, 32R3; GKC §5n, 47l, 61c, 93s, 126y; J-M §44d, 65b, 138h; Wms §74; W-O 313
n22
!'yq,vT. w; : 2fp H Pr 19.32; the ending !'- has the same function as hn"w>
hr'ykiB. 19.31
19.34 GKC §126b; Wms §323; W-O 212 n97
tr'x]m; the next day (1/32); trad., the morrow
hr'ykiB. 19.31
hr'y[ic. 19.31
vm,a, yesterday (3/5)
308
Genesis 19.35-20.4
19.35 Dav §83R4, 152; J-M §65b
ry[ic. young(er) 19.31
ylWa 18.24
rWb[]B; 12.13
19.36 J-M §44d, 132f n1
rhT conceive; be (20/28/40)
pregnant
19.37
hr'ykiB. 19.31
ba'Am Moab i.e., perhaps “from [my] father”, even though it lacks the “correct” form;
eponymous ancestor of the Moabites
19.38
hr'y[ic. 19.31
yMi[-; !B, i.e., “son of my [father]”; eponymous ancestor of Ammonites
!AM[;-ynEB. the standard biblical name for the Ammonites
20.1 GKC §90c
vdeq' 14.7
rWv 16.7
rr"G> Gerar (8/10); place name (note the pun of rr"G> and rg"Yw" ):
20.2 Dav §101Rb, 146R1
la, Since it is highly unlikely that Abraham said these words to Sarah, la,
must here mean “about” or “concerning” (cf. l[;); cf. Abimelech’s
statement (v. 5).
%l,my, bia] Abimelech (23/65); the name refers to five individuals: the king of Gerar in the
days of Abraham (Gn 20-21); and of Isaac (26); a son of Gideon (Jg 8-
9; 2 Sam 11.21); a priest (1 Ch 18.16); and the Philistine king of Gath
(Ps 34.1 [title])
20.3 Dav §98b, 138a; J-M §121e, 170h; Wms §214, 291; W-O 218, 627
~Alx]B; The noun is anarthrous (and construct); the preposition is followed by
patahi because of the following half-vowel.
tme ^N>hi This syntagm (hinneh – subject – participle) often suggests the
immediate future (“… is/are about to …”); the subject may be nominal
or pronominal (which tends to be suffixed)
l[; contexually, “on account of”, “because of”
tl;W[B. fs Qp Ptc < l[b construct passive participle
marry
l[;B; contextually “husband” (cf. the preceding participle; qamesi under the
first radical is due to pausal lengthening)
20.4 Dav §39c, 110; Wms §379, 495; W-O 367, 402
qyDic; contextually “innocent” (i.e., of the particular accusation); cf. !AyQ'nI (v.
5)
-~G: yAgh] The syntax is unique (the only occurrence of interrogative+noun – gam,
qyDic; and the only occurrence of noun – gam – adjective in which the
adjective modifies the noun that precedes gam).
309
Genesis 20.5-14
20.5 Dav §123; GKC §32l; Wms §579; W-O 132, 241
-~G:-awhiw> Another unique syntagm (pronoun – gam – pronoun; in which both
awhi pronouns refer to the same person)
~T' integrity (2/23; 1070); cf. ~mt be whole, complete, perfect; have integrity
!AyQ'nI innocence (1/5; 667); cf. yqin" innocent
20.6 Dav §65d, 107; GKC §66b, 75qq, 114m, 157bN2; Wms §193; W-O 122, 221
~T' 20.5
%fx hold back, hinder (4/26/28; 362)
Ajx] Q NC < ajx It is not unusual for III-a verbal forms to lack the final a-.
yli l often indicates the object of the verb ajx (the person sinned
against).
la, [gn The prepositions -b, lae, and l[; indicate the object of [gn, as well as
the object marker (twice: Gn 12.17; Kgs 15.5).
20.7 Dav §100d, 104b, 127b; GKC §63q, 110i; J-M §125f, 154l; W-O 202, 430
aybin" The first biblical occurrence of the root abn (as a noun or verb).
lLePt; y. wI > V – w+F is often telic (purpose or result)
d[;B; on behalf of
hyExw. < This w+imperative is also telic ( 12.2).
20.9 Dav §30, 44a; GKC §107w; J-M §113m, 158f, 169e; Wms §172; W-O 509
hm,W … hm, English usage suggests that the second hm, be rendered “how?”
^l. 20.6 (-l ajx)
~yfi[]m; This is the object of t'yci[.'
ydiM[' i §14.1(5d)
20.10 Dav §150; GKC §107v, 166b; J-M §160e; Wms §527; W-O 323
20.11 Dav §57R1, 127b; GKC §112x, 153; J-M §119e, 164a; W-O 534
ha'ry. I fear (1/45; 432)
ynWgr;hw] : Patahi under waw reflects the following hiatef-vowel.
rb;D-. l[; 12.17
20.12 GKC §152d; J-M §93h; W-O 557
hn"ma. ' truly, indeed (1/2; 53); cf. !ma be faithful, true, trustworthy
20.13 Dav §9d, 31, 116R4; GKC §119u, 124hN1, 127e, 141f, 145i, 167b; J-M §158mN1; W-O
210, 334
rv,aK] ; In circumstantial clauses, rv,aK
] ; is usually temporal: “when”.
h[T wander (1/21/49; 1073); the plural suggests that the subject is “gods”, rather
than “God” (Samaritan Pentateuch reads h[th [3ms]).
ydiM[' i 20.9
yli 20.2, which describes the same situation, but uses the preposition
lae.
20.14 J-M §177o
!TeYwI : The object is contextually implicit.
310
Genesis 20.15-21.7
20.15 Dav §103; J-M §125f
bAJB; The adjective is substantive (nominal): “in what[ever] is good”; this
is the “object” of bve.
20.16 Dav §37R4; GKC §116s, 134n; J-M §142n
tWsK. covering; (1/8; 492); cf. hsK cover; aWh apparently refers to the silver.
concealment
tx;kA' n fs N Ptc < xky the participle is substantive (nominal): “… who chides, condemns”
20.17 Dav §113; GKC §145u; Wms §300; W-O 184 n39
hm'a' maid; maidservant (7/50; 51)
20.18 GKC §106f, 113n
rc[ 16.2
d[;B; This preposition often follows verbs of closing, shutting, &c.; it may
be left untranslated here.
~x,rª, womb (4/33; 933)
21.1 W-O 652 n15
dqp “Visit” is the traditional gloss for this root, which refers to doing
something to or for someone in either judgment or blessing, as
shown by the parallel expression (f[;Yw: : and he did).
21.2 Dav §9b, 83R4
hrh conceive, be[come] (20/38/40; 247)
pregnant
~ynIWqz> old age (4/4; 279); cf. !qez" be[come] old (v.); old, elderly (adj.)
Atao This could a form of the preposition tae with + a 3ms suffix.
21.3 Dav §22R4; GKC §138k; J-M §132c; W-O 340
qx'cy. I 17.19 [compare this v. to 16.15b]
21.4
lm'Yw" : < lWm 17.10
… -!B, age formula ( 12.5)
21.5 Dav §81R3; GKC §121b, 128v; J-M §128b, 129j; Wms §59; W-O 150, 182
… -!B, age formula ( 12.5)
dl,Wh" Bi . N NC + -B. In the nifal of I-y/w verbal roots, the first radical is a doubled waw
(followed by qamesi (-W"-)) in all forms except P and Ptc (which begin
with -An).
21.6 Dav §87, 101Rb; GKC §10g, 64h, 114c; J-M §124c
qxoc. laughter (1/2; 850)
qxc 17.17
21.7 Dav §17R3, 41R2, 111; GKC §106p, 124o, 142f, 151a; J-M §112j, 136j
llm speak (1/4/4; 576); cf. hL'mi word, saying; mainly in Job (34/38x)
qny nurse; suckle (2/10/18; 413)
~ynIWqz> 21.2
311
Genesis 21.8-17
21.8 Dav §30, 81R3; GKC §51m; J-M §51b, 128b; Wms §59; W-O 258
ldg grow [up]
lmg be weaned (N) (2/3/37; 168)
hT,v.mi feast (5/45; 1059); cf. htv drink (which may suggest the nature of the
“party”)
21.9 Dav §70a; GKC §52n; J-M §126b; W-O 172 n19
qxc play (5/7/13; 850); Sarah’s response (v. 10) suggests that this is more
than “playing”
21.10 Dav §29a, 29b; W-O 219
vrg drive away/out (3/35/48; 176)
hm'a' 20.17
21.11 GKC §67p; J-M §152d
tAdAa-l[; because of; on (3/11; 15); the noun hd'Aa occurs in construct, follows -l[; (as here),
account of and has this function
21.12 Dav §109; J-M §152d; W-O 569
hm'a' 20.17
21.13 GKC §143c; J-M §156c
hm'a' 20.17
21.14 Dav §24b, 41R3; GKC §95l, 128q, 156dN4; Wms §287
tm,xe waterskin (3/3; 332)
~k,v. shoulder (6/22; 1014); this is also the name of the town of Shechem, which is
on the “shoulder” of the mountain.
dl,Yh< -; ta,w> A much-discussed phrase: It seems unlikely that Abraham put
Ishmael on her [other] shoulder, since he would have been 13 years
old.
h[t wander; be lost (2/26/49; 1073)
[b;v, raeB. Beersheba (10/33); location
21.15 J-M §137v; W-O 251
tm,xe 21.14
x:yvi bush, shrub (2/4; 967)
21.16 GKC §75kk, 108b, 113h, 119k, 119s; J-M §114c, 123r, 133d; Wms §184, 204, 272, 401;
W-O 573
dg<N<mi opposite, across (2/26; 617); dg<n< + !mi
from
qxerh. ; H NC < qxr H NC of stative verbal roots can function as an “adverb”, in this
case “at a distance” (4x in BH); cf. hBerh
. ; greatly (c. 52x).
hwx shoot (1/1; 377); nominal [substantive] mp D Ptc
21.17 Dav §8R3, 10R3; GKC §138e; J-M §158m; W-O 134N19, 323
%L'-hm; What’s wrong with The function of this fairly common clause (c. 36x) depends heavily
you? or What do you upon its context. Here, YHWH’s messenger appears to be asking
need/want? why she was weeping.
rv,aB] ; where rv,a] occurs occasionally with prepositions (20x with -B.)
312
Genesis 21.18-29
21.18
yaif. 2fs Q V < afn This may suggest that Hagar had been carrying Ishmael.
21.19 GKC §117cc
xqp open (1/17/20; 824)
raeB. well, pit (24/38; 91)
tm,xe 21.14
21.20 GKC §131b; J-M §121f n1
hbr shoot (1/1/1; 916)
tV'q; bowman, archer (1/1; 906)
21.21
!r'aP' Paran (1/11; 803)
21.22 J-M §176f; Wms §484, 580
%l,my, bia] 20.2
lAkypi Phicol (3/3; 810)
21.23-24 W-O 296
21.23 GKC §20f, 51o; J-M §42f, 158j, 165d; Wms §72
hN"he here (8/49; 244)
~ai not In oaths, ~ai is a negative.
rqv deal/act falsely; lie (1/1/6; 1055); cf. rq,v, lie, falsehood
!ynI descendants, (1/3; 630)
offspring
dk,n< offspring, (1/3; 645); these two words occur together (Gn 21.23; Jb 18.19; Is
descendants 14.22)
21.24 Dav §107R1; GKC §51p, 135a; J-M §146a; W-O 391
21.25 Dav §58b; GKC §112rr; J-M §119z
x:kAi hw> 3ms H P < xky What is the function of this w+perfect? This is probably one which
refers to a past [narrated] event.
tAdAa-l[; 21.11
raeB. 21.19
lzg seize (2/29/30; 159)
21.26 Dav §8, 125; GKC §162b; W-O 319
yTilB. i except, until (4/24; 116); often negates NC (cf. yTilb
. li ).
21.27
21.28 GKC §91c, 127e
hf'bK. i ewe lamb (3/8; 461)
db;l. alone, only Often in the sense of “by […]self” in which the blank is filled by the
pronominal suffix. Here, “by themselves”.
21.29 GKC §91f, 126x; J-M §94h, 138b; W-O 260
hf'bK. i 21.28
hn"Db" l; . = !h,Db
. l; .
313
Genesis 21.30-22.6
21.30 Dav §72R4; GKC §117d, 157b; J-M §125h, 150g, 157c, 157ca, 157e, 168e; Wms §522;
W-O 180
hf'bK. i 21.28
rWb[]B; in order that, so that Followed by a verbal clause, this is telic (as here); followed by a
pronominal or nominal “object” 12.13.
hd'[e witness (2/3; 729); cf. d[e witness, testimony (c. 70x)
rpx dig (7/22/22; 343)
raeB. 21.19
21.31 Dav §108
!Ke-l[; therefore, thus
[b;v-, raeB. 21.14
21.32 GKC §138f, 146h
yTivl. Pi . Philistine(s) (8/294; 814)
21.33
lv,a, tamarisk [tree] (1/3; 79)
21.34 Dav §68
22.1 GKC §111g
hsn test (N) (9/36/36); cf. the place name Massa’ (Ex 17.7; Ps 95.8)
ynINhE i Here I am This is a standard response to a superior (cf. Gn 37.13; 1 Sa 3.5, 6,
8; Is 6.8)
22.2 Dav §35R2; J-M §112a, 113l, 129f(8), 133d, 137v, 142b; W-O 233, 251, 275, 464, 508
n29
dyxiy" only; solitary (3/12)
hYrm Moriah (1/2)
rm;ao 1cs Q F rma is one of five I-a verbs in which the 1cs prefix assimilates to
the initial -a.
22.3 GKC §135i; J-M §140a, 177a; W-O 276
~KevY. w: : ~kv is often used in adverbial hendiadys
vbx tie, bind; saddle (1/27/31)
(animal)
hl[ yc[ a nice example of an “objective” construct chain: “wood for …”
22.4 Dav §50b; GKC §111b; J-M §125ia, 176hN1; W-O 553
yvylv the ending y -i shows that it is the ordinal
22.5 Dav §62, 101Rb; GKC §119s; J-M §16i, 133d; W-O 573
hPo here (3/44)
hKo-d[; to here(?) This phrase (5x in BH), apparently refers to Abraham’s intent to go
and return “here” (“to this place”, “this far”).
hWxTvnw Because the preceding and following 1cp verbs are formally
cohortative, this verb probably shares the same function.
22.6 Dav §21d; Wms §85; W-O 243, 415
~fYw The direct object is contextually implicit.
tlkam knife (2/4); cf. the root lka eat
314
Genesis 22.7-16
22.7 GKC §147b; J-M §102k; Wms §277; W-O 677
yba ba is one of several common words that form their construct with y
-i (cf. xa' brother, hP, mouth); this form is vocative
yNINh< i 22.1; cf. the great respect with which Abraham answers Isaac
hf, sheep (4/44)
22.8 Wms §573
AL-ha,ry. I Traditionally translated “provide” or “furnish”, even though the
verbal root’s normal and usual function is “see”.
hf, sheep 22.7
22.9
rma The perfect suggests “had …”
dq[ tie, bind (1/1/1); this is the verb from which this story gets its common name
of “Akedah”.
l[;M;mi on top of l[;m; + !mi
22.10 J-M §125ia, 146g
tlkam 22.6
jxv slaughter almost always refers to slaughtering an animal for sacrifice!
22.11 J-M §139c
22.12 Dav §11Rb, 63, 65R3, 98b, 104b; GKC §116g, 158a; J-M §121l, 147b, 170c; Wms §451;
W-O 617
hMWam anything (6/32)
arey> fearing (1/46); a noun
%fx 20.6
dyxy 22.2
22.13 J-M §103a, 125ia, 146i; Wms §352
rx;a; another An ironic statement—Isaac was the first “ram”!
%bs thicket, bush, (1/3)
undergrowth
tx;T; This means “instead [in place] of” as well as “under”.
22.14 Dav §150; GKC §130dN2; J-M §169f; Wms §492; W-O 639
ha,ry. I 22.8; this is the source of “Jireh” (cf. “Jehovah Jireh”)
22.15 J-M §102f, 142q
tynIve second ordinal (cf. Jon 3.1)
22.16 Dav §40b, 120R5, 147; J-M §112f, 165i, 170f, 170n; Wms §363, 534; W-O 640
yBi the preposition -B. is often used in oaths (“against/by/on myself”)
rv,a] ![;y: because (33x); compound conjunction
%fx 22.12
dyxy 22.2
315
Genesis 22.17-23.2
22.17 GKC §75ff; J-M §123e, 123p; W-O 395, 582, 586
bk'AK star (5/37)
lAx sand (3/22)
vr;ywI > 3ms Q F < vry Most forms of vry have the initial -y (mp says that this form occurs g©
times)
22.18 J-M §170g; Wms §534; W-O 391 n27, 395, 641
rv,a] bq,[e because (2/15)
22.19
[bv raB Beer-sheba
bv,YwE : Compare this form to the first word in the v.—a good example of the
difference between hollow and I-y verbal roots in Q.
22.20 Dav §29a; J-M §155m; W-O 232, 554
hK'l.mi Milcah Abraham’s sister-in-law (11.29)
rAxn" Nahor Abraham’s brother (11.27-29)
22.21 Dav §29a
#W[ Uz personal name
zWB Buz (or Booz) personal name
laeWmq. Kemuel personal name
~r'a] Aram personal name
22.22 W-O 127
dv,K, Keshed personal name
Azx] Hazo personal name
vD'lP. i Pildash personal name
vl'dy. I Jidlash personal name
laeWtB. Bethuel personal name
22.23 Dav §36R4; GKC §134k
hq'br. i Rebecca personal name
22.24 Dav §50b, 106a; GKC §111h, 147e; W-O 553
vg<ly, Pi concubine (4/37); female “partner” of uncertain [to us] status
hmWar. Reumah personal name
xb;j, Tebach personal name
~x;G: Gacham personal name
vx;T; Tachash personal name
hk'[]m; Maacah personal name
23.1 Dav §37c; GKC §134d, 134h
yYx life, lifetime Like ~ynIP' face, ~yYIx; is always plural.
316
Genesis 23.2-12
23.2
ty:rq. i Kiriat Arba (2/9); place name (another [older] name for Hebron )
[B;ra. ;
!Arb.x, Hebron (5/57)
dps mourn, lament; (2/27/29)
weep, wail
23.3 GKC §122f
ynEP. l[;me often as “from the presence of”
txe Heth (13/14); personal name, usually (10/14) in the phrase txe ynEB;. cf. yTixi
Hittite(s)
23.4 GKC §52f, 128m; J-M §116b, 129f; W-O 153, 649 n5
bv'AT sojourner, resident (1/14); tends to occur together with rGE (8/14), as here; cf. bvy settle,
alien dwell, stay
hr'Bq. a. w, > Following an imperative, w+cohortative is often telic.
23.5 GKC §110e; J-M §163c n2
23.6 GKC §75qq, 119x, 128r, 142fN2, 152b; J-M §78g, 129k; W-O 124, 154, 268
ynIdao ] Note the rebia’!
rx'b.mi choice[st] (1/12)
aOl … vyai This combination often functions as “no one”.
hl,ky. I < alk withhold, (2/17); it is not unusual for III-a verbs to be written without the final
shut up; hinder a- (cf. mp)
rboQ.mi Q NC + !mi a “privative” use of !mi, meaning that the event described by the NC
will not occur
23.7 J-M §131i
23.8 GKC §61g; W-O 609
ta, vyE-~ai opens a conditional clause
[gp approach, meet; (3/30/46)
ask, plead
!Arp.a, Ephron (12/14); personal name
rx;co Zohar (3/5); personal name
23.9 GKC §119p; J-M §130c
hr'['m. cave (11/40)
hl'Pke .m; Machpelah (6/6); location
hN"NT< y. I Here !tn functions as “sell”.
23.10-11 W-O 489
23.10 Dav §98R1; GKC §116h, 141b, 143e; J-M §121n, 125b, 125l; W-O 148, 617
yTixi Hittite (9/46); gentilic
23.11 GKC §106m, 152c; J-M §112g, 163c n2
!tn occurs three times in this v. ( 23.9)
hr[m 23.9
23.12
317
Genesis 23.13-24.4
23.13 Dav §134; GKC §110e; J-M §112g, 163cN2; W-O 489, 578
Wl if only (4/19)
yTitn; " perhaps a performative: “I hereby give …”
23.14
23.15 W-O 327
#r,a, This is probably functioning as “[The value/price of the] land …”
… ynIyBe This is a clause, with the interrogative (unusually) near the end.
tazO
23.16 J-M §158i
lqv weigh, measure (1/19/22); a lq,v, is a unit of weight (just under ½-oz. ), not a fixed
value
rxeso merchant, trader (2/16)
23.17
~q'Yw" : ~Wq belong to “The field …” is the subject; the sentence continues into v. 18 (cf.
Lv 25.30; 27.19; Gn 23.20 (below))
hr[m 23.9
23.18
hn"q.mi property, (5/15)
possession
23.19
hr[m 23.9
23.20 GKC §111k; J-M §118i; W-O 550
~q'Yw" : 23.17
hr[m 23.9
24.1 W-O 492
!qz be/grow old (6/25/27); stative vb.
aB' !qez" grow [very?] old This clause occurs five times in BH, three times referring to Joshua
~ymiYB" ; (Jos 13.1; 23.1, 2), once to David (1 Kg 1.1), and seems to signal
that the person is older than merely !qz alone.
24.2 W-O 571
AtyBe !q;z> a definite substantive adjective can function as the superlative
%r,y< thigh, loin (9/34)
24.3 Dav §9c, 28R4; GKC §128a, 165b; J-M §129b; W-O 139, 626
rv,a] introduces the content of the oath
ABr.qBi . National groups are often referred to with 3ms forms, as here.
24.4 Dav §29a; Wms §70, 179; W-O 232, 528
yKi here: “but”
td,lA, m relatives, family 12.1; Abraham directs his servant using the language of YHWH’s
command
qx'cy. I 21.3
318
Genesis 24.5-11
24.5 Dav §9d, 43b, 86a; GKC §100n, 113q
yl;Wa 18.24
hb,ato 2fs Q F < hba hba is one of five I-a roots that uses hiolem for prefix vowel in Q
yr;xa] ; Most suffixes are attached to prepositions with the vowels of a plural
noun (but not -B., -K., -l.)
bvehh' , The first -h is the interrogative (here attached to NA).
24.6 Dav §127c; GKC §51n, 152w; J-M §133d; Wms §461
rmeVh' i ms N V nifal of rmv is reflexive: “Watch yourself”, i.e., “Be very careful”,
and occurs frequently in Dt (13x); it is always followed by another
verb that describes what one is to be careful to do (or avoid)
!P, here, either as “lest” or “that [you do not …]”
24.7 Dav §53a, 106; GKC §138a; J-M §156e; W-O 294 n22
td,lA, m 12.1
aWh The first half of the v. (to the atnahi) describes the subject (hwhy); this
pronoun “resumes” the subject after the extended description.
24.8 Dav §32R3, 63R2; GKC §75x, 109d, 126y; J-M §79h, 114l, 129e, 138g, 176d; Wms §74,
390; W-O 310
hb,aTo 24.5
hqn be free (2/23/36); cf. yqin" innocent, free (adj.)
h['Wbv. oath (2/30)
24.9 Dav §4R1; GKC §16h
%r,y< 24.2
24.10 Dav §24R6, 36a, 138a; J-M §131n
hr'f[' ] ten
bWj good things, goods (4/32)
~r'a] Aram Naharaim (1/5); territorial name: “Aram of the two rivers”, i.e., upper (NW)
~yIrh; n] : Mesopotamia, between the Euphrates and Tigris
rAxn" Nahor (15/17); personal name
24.11 Dav §22R3, 91a
%rB cause to kneel (H) This is the only occurrence of this root in hifil.
#Wxmi outside (prep./adv.) #Wx + !mi
la, near, beside here its function overlaps that of l[;
raeB well; pit (24/38)
bav draw water (7/18); the text (fp Q Ptc) assumes that women draw the water; the
participle is the subject of the preceding NC.
319
Genesis 24.12-18
24.12 Dav §29R2; Wms §70, 331; W-O 219, 232 n12
| rm;a
¦ YOw: The paseq after this word and the šalšelet above it show that the next
word is not the subject, but begins the direct quotation.
hrq ms H V (2/3/27)“cause to happen”, “bring to pass”
ds,x, hf[ In this not-uncommon syntagm (c. 30x) the “object” (ds,x), may refer
to the manner in which someone acts, i.e., the “content” of the deed
(in 24.49 it refers to Rebekkah’s brother). It tends to occur with
either ~[i (as here) or -l..
24.13
bC'nI ms N Ptc
l[; Thus the servant describes it; the narrator used lae (24.11).
bav 24.11
24.14 Dav §1R2, 57, 72R1, 148; GKC §112bb, 135p, 167c; J-M §152b; W-O 110, 305
r'[N] h: ; maiden, girl This is a qere perpetuum in the Torah—spelling the feminine form
(hr'[n] ): without the final h- (cf. 24.16, &c.). A qere perpetuum is a
“perpetual reading”, or a word that is regularly written with the
“wrong” consonants (e.g., awhi for ayhi—also throughout Torah), or
without a consonant (usually a final vowel letter, as here).
rm;ao 1cs Q F < rma
yJih; fs H V < hjn a doubly weak root
dK; jar (9/18); all nine occurrences in Genesis are in this story (Gn 24)
hT,va. w, > telic after imperative
T'xk. h; o 2ms H P < xky here: “appoint”, …
24.15 Dav §138a, 141R1; GKC §106f, 107c, 152r; J-M §113j; W-O 651, 678
~r,j, not yet; before (5/16)
hq'br. i Rebecca (30/30); note her extended genealogy—highly unusual for a woman!
[For the other names 11.27-30.]
dK; 24.14
~k,v, shoulder (6/22)
24.16 Dav §24d, 69b; J-M §159f; W-O 151
hl'WtB. virgin(?); young (1/50); probably refers primarily to a girl of marriageable age
woman
hn"y[> h; ' !yI[; + locative/directional h-
dK; 24.14
24.17
Ht'ar'ql. i Q NC + 3fs + l probably arq functioning as hrq (“to meet”, not “to call”)
amg give a drink (H) (1/1/2); “cause to swallow” (H)
dK; 24.14
24.18 Dav §83; GKC §120d; Wms §224
dr,Two : I-y roots use -A- as the prefix vowel; this form is defective.
dK; 24.14
320
Genesis 24.19-25
24.19 Dav §41c, 51R1, 145; GKC §106o, 164b; J-M §112i, 166b; Wms §378, 457, 496
bav 24.11
~ai d[; until compound preposition
24.20 GKC §75bb; W-O 243
hr[ empty (v.) (1/8/14)
dK; 24.14
tq,vo watering trough (2/2)
raeB. 24.11
bav 24.11
24.21 Dav §100b, 125; GKC §130a, 150i; J-M §160j; W-O 428
haeTv' m. i ms Dt Ptc < hav (1/1/1)
look, gaze (Dt)
vyrixm] ; ms H Ptc; be quiet, (2/38/46)
silent (H)
x:ylich. hi ] interrogative -h: “whether …”
aOl-~ai or not functions with the interrogative -h (above)
24.22 Dav §24b, 36R3, 37R4, 139R1, 145; GKC §134n, 156b; J-M §142n, 158b, 166n; Wms
§500; W-O 134, 278
rv,aK] ; when rv,aK] ; is usually temporal when it follows hy"hw' > or yhiww> :
tATv.li Q NC < htv NC ofen follows the piel of hlK
~z<n< ring (4/17)
[q;B, beka (1/2); a unit of weight, ½-shekel (slightly more than 6 grams, or
2/10-ounce)
lq'vm. i weight (3/48)
dymic' bracelet (3/6)
bh'z" hr'f[' ] This was probably weighed in bekas, like the gold ring (above).
24.23 Dav §7a, 20, 60, 69a, 122, 126; GKC §37a, 118g; J-M §81b, 126h, 144a; W-O 170, 317
ymi-tB; A construct chain asking “Whose …”
tyBe vyEh] interrogative -h + vyE; English here requires “in” or “at”
!ylil' Q NC < !yli
24.24 J-M §154g
laeWtB. 22.22
hK'l.mi 22.20
rAxn" 22.20
24.25 Dav §136; GKC §154aN1c; J-M §177q; Wms §330; W-O 606
!b,T, straw (2/17)
aAPs.mi feed, fodder (4/5)
!Wll' = !ylil' (above) one of a number of hollow roots that occur as both medial yod and
waw
321
Genesis 24.26-39
24.26 GKC §67g
dQoYwI : 3ms Q Pr < ddq (3/15/15); this root is always followed by a form of hxv worship, do
bow obeisance, bow; apart from the stem (hxv is always Dt), the forms
are identical (i.e., both 3ms Pr, as here)
24.27 Dav §83, 106c; GKC §75ll, 135e, 143b; W-O 77
%WrB'' ms Qp Ptc 14.19-20
ynIxn; " 3ms Q P < hxn (1/14/40); cf. Ps 23.3
(+1cs) guide, lead
tyBe English requires “to” (or the like)
24.29 GKC §115e n1, 156b
hq'br. li W. possessive -l
!b'l' Laban (46/46)
24.30 Dav §91c, 91R1, 100a; GKC §115e n1, 116s; J-M §146h, 154c; Wms §587; W-O 604, 624,
678
~z<n< 24.22
dymic' 24.22
24.31 Dav §98b, 105; GKC §116l; J-M §113d, 121p
hwhy %WrB' vocative: “[The one] blessed of/by YHWH” (or “YHWH’s blessed
one”)
hnP clear, prepare (D) (“turn” in Q)
24.32 W-O 145
xtP loosen, ungird (“open” in Q); the idea may be to “open” the camel’s bands/ties
!b,T, 24.25
aAPs.mi 24.25
24.33 GKC §73f; J-M §112i, 129d; W-O 143, 375 n32
~f'yYUw: Cf. Mp: ~f'WYw: 3ms ketib (what is “written” in the consonantal text) is 3ms Q Pr; the
Hp Pr Masoretes corrected this in the marginal qere (what should be “read”
instead of the ketib)
~ai-d[; until compound function
24.34 Dav §104b
24.35 GKC §154aN1a; J-M §177o; Wms §269
!T,YwI : lD'gY> wI : Abraham is the subject of the first preterite; YHWH of the second (as
the atnahi suggests)
24.36
hn"qz. I old age (1/6); a noun, but probably functioning as “after she was [had
become] old”
Al … Al two different persons: Isaac, then Abraham
24.37 GKC §149c
24.38 Dav §53a
aOl-~ai but(?) Samaritan Pentateuch reads ~ai yKi : “but”
24.39
yl;au perhaps (12/45); defective spelling, as Mp says (cf. 24.5)
322
Genesis 24.40-51
24.40 Dav §53a
24.41 GKC §95n, 107cN3, 117f, 164d; J-M §146i, 176d
hqn 24.8
hl'a' oath, vow (3/36)
yqin" free (adj.) (2/43); cf. hqn (above), and !AyQ'nI innocent (20.5)
24.42 Dav §130a, 135R1; GKC §159v, 167c; J-M §154l; Wms §479
This v. parallels, but does not repeat 24.12.
^v.y< the suffix is the modified by the participle (x:ylc.m);
24.43 GKC §112t; W-O 539, 623
hm'l[. ; young woman (1/9)
bav 24.11
dK; 24.14
24.44 GKC §154aN1c, 162b; J-M §177q
bav 24.11
xky decide, judge, lacking the usual -A- prefix vowel of the H of I-y roots
appoint
24.45 Dav §45, 127d; GKC §135a; J-M §113j, 159d
~r,j, 24.15
dK; 24.14
~k,v, 24.15
bav 24.11
24.46
rhemT; w. : adverbial hendiadys, modifying the following verb
dK; 24.14
24.47 for this v. cf. 24.23
ymi-tB; 24.23
~z<n< 24.22
dymic' 24.22
24.48 GKC §75t
ddq 24.26
hxn 24.27
24.49 Dav §152; GKC §159v; J-M §102k, 154l, 160j
hT'[w; > Having finished his exposition, the servant comes to the point.
24.50 W-O 602
lk;Wn 1cp Q F < lky followed by NC, as usual
bAj-Aa [r; not that they have nothing to say, but that they cannot argue
against his conclusion
24.51 GKC §109f, 117f; J-M §146i; Wms §565
%lew" xq; 12.19
323
Genesis 24.52-67
24.52
hwhyl He was not honouring them; they were only obeying YHWH.
24.53
aceAYw: The -A- prefix vowel is the only grammatical signal that this is H; the
direct objects syntacically signal the same thing.
hn"Dg' >mi choice thing(?) (1/4)
24.54 J-M §130fa; Wms §328; W-O 219
ynIxLu v. ; mp D V + 1cs cf. Mp, which notes that this form is defective (rsx)
24.55 GKC §139h, 146f; J-M §147bN2; W-O 654
rAf[' ten (days) “days or ten” clearly meant something quite specific, perhaps even
more specific than “[nine] or ten days”, such as “up to ten days”
24.56 Dav §138c; GKC §142d; J-M §116b, 159e, 170c; Wms §495; W-O 651
rxa keep/hold back (2/15/17)
ynIWxL.v; same form as in 24.54, but here male’ (as Mp says)
24.57 Dav §62; J-M §114bN1, 116b; W-O 565 n3
24.58 Dav §122, 126; GKC §150n; J-M §113n, 143d, 161l; Wms §171, 541; W-O 509
24.59
tq,ny< me nurse (2/5)
24.60 Dav §107; GKC §63q, 97g, 134g; W-O 281, 572
hb'br' . ten thousand (1/16)
anEfo enemy (1/41); ms Q Ptc < anf hate
24.61 GKC §146g, 146h; J-M §150q
24.62 Dav §105R1; J-M §170c
aABmi aB' “had come [in] from going [to]”(?)
raeB. 16.14
yairo yx;l;
24.63 Dav §12; GKC §114fN1; J-M §126bN1; W-O 107, 608
xwf walk around(?); (1/1/1)
meditate(?)
tAnp.li toward -l + NC can express time
24.64 Dav §21d; W-O 243
lPoTwi : dismounted; got probably not “she fell”
down
24.65 Dav §6, 21d, 104c; GKC §34f; J-M §36b, 137f; Wms §86, 581; W-O 131, 196, 243, 307,
308, 318
hz<Lh' ; this (2/3); article + form of the demonstrative
@y[ic' veil (3/3); its other occurrences describe Tamar (Gn 38.14, 19)
24.66
24.67 Dav §20R4, 145R1; GKC §127f; J-M §146g
~xn be comforted (N)
324
Genesis 25.1-1
25.1 Dav §83; GKC §120d, 120h; J-M §177c; Wms §224; Gib 120
@s,YwO : do something again This form is usually followed by NC that identifies the action that
was repeated; here a second preterite fills that function.
hr'Wjq. Keturah (2/4); personal name
12.13
25.2-4 Lots of names—you’re on your own!
25.5-6 Gib 171
25.5 GKC §16a
25.6 Wms §499; Gib 36, 58
vg<ly, Pi concubine (4/37)
hn"T'm; gift (1/17); cf. the root !tn
dA[B. while still
~d,q, east[ward]; land of
the east
25.7 Dav §37c; GKC §134h; Gib 49
25.8 Dav §70a; J-M §47b; IBHS 171 n 18; Gib 56
[wg die, perish, expire (6/24/24)
hb'yfe old age (5/20)
[:bfe ' satisfied (adj.) often used of having enough (a satiety) of something
25.9 N.B.: Names are as in 23.9ff.
hr'['m. 23.9
hl'Pke .m; 23.9
25.10 IBHS 421
rB;qu 3ms Dp P This is the only Dp occurrence of this vb.; it occurs 6x in D.
25.11 Wms §329; IBHS 219; Gib 148
The stories go on, of course, but this ends Abraham’s life. As the psalmist says,
yCiqi hwhy ynI[ye diAh

ayhi-hm; ym;y" tD;mWi
`ynIa' ldex-' hm, h['da. e
(Psalm 39:5)
325
Appendix F. Bibliography
Grammar & Syntax

*indicates works indexed in Putnam (1996a)
Ben Zvi, Ehud, Maxine Hancock, & Richard Beinert. 1993 Readings in Biblical Hebrew: An Intermediate
Textbook. New Haven: Yale University.
Annotated biblical texts with notes on morphsyntax. This would be especially helpful for someone trying to regain
competency in reading BH.
Chisholm, Robert B., Jr. 1998. From Exegesis to Exposition: A Practical Guide to Using Biblical Hebrew.
Grand Rapids: Baker.
Davidson, A. B. 1996. Hebrew Syntax. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1901; 3rd ed. Book International.
A traditional approach to syntax, now revised as Gibson (1994).
Davis, John J. 1995. Hebrew Language: An Analysis of the Strong Verb. Quakertown, PA: Stylus Publishing.
A laminated card-guide to the strong verb (only), punched for a three-ring binder.
Driver, S. R. 1998. A Treatise on the Use of the Tenses in Hebrew and Some Other Syntactical Questions.
Oxford: Oxford Universtiy, 1892; reprinted, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
The classic work, presenting a clausal approach to the verbal system, describing the conjugations as primarily aspectual
(e.g., perfect ≈ completed action; imperfect ≈ non-complete).
*Gibson, J. C. L. 1994. Davidson's Introductory Hebrew Grammar ~ Syntax. 4th ed. Edinburgh: T. & T.
Clark.
A clarification and update of Davidson (1996), largely traditional in approach.
Horsnell, Malcolm J. A. 1998. A Review and Reference Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Hamilton, Ontario:
McMaster University Press.
A traditional grammar, designed to help second-year students to review first-year grammar, but without exercises or
indices. Students who have neglected Hebrew for a year or two may find this helpful.
*Joüon, Paul. 1991. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. 2 vols. Editrice Pontificio Instituto Biblico; 1927; trans.
& rev., T. Muraoka. Subsidia Biblica 14/1-2. Rome.
An translation and extensive revision of Joüon’s grammar of 1927, which closely parallels GKC (below).
*Kautzsch, E. 1910. Ed., Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar. 2nd English ed., trans. & rev. A. E. Cowley. Oxford:
Clarendon.
Despite its age, still the standard in Hebrew morphology, although often out-of-date, especially with regard to cognate
information and overall approach to syntax (although many of his basic insights remain valid). Abbreviated as GKC.
Putnam, Frederic Clarke. 1996a. A Cumulative Index to the Grammar and Syntax of Biblical Hebrew. Winona
Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns.
A verse-by-verse index to standard reference works in English (Gibson (1994), Joüon-Muraoka (1991), Kautzsch (1901),
Walter & O’Connor (1995), Williams (1976)), & German (Bauer-Leander (1962), Beer (1972), Bergsträsser (1962),
Brockelmann (1956), Richter (1980), Jenni (1981), Schneider (1974)), including some not otherwise indexed. Works
indexed are marked with * in this bibliography.
.1996b. Card-Guide to Biblical Hebrew. Quakertown, PA: Stylus.

Laminated card with nominal, pronominal, and verbal paradigms of the complete verbal system; punched for three-ring
binders. Far more extensive than Davis (1995), which covers only the strong verb.
326
. 1996c. Hebrew Bible Insert: A Student’s Guide to the Syntax of Biblical Hebrew. Ridley Park, PA:
Stylus.
Booklet covering nominal, adjectival, pronominal, verbal, and clausal syntax, as well as the “major” masoretic accents and
complete verbal paradigms.
van der Merwe, Christo H. J., Jackie A. Naudé, & Jan H. Kroeze. 2000. A Biblical Hebrew Reference
Grammar. Biblical Languages: Hebrew, ed. Stanley E. Porter & Richard S. Hess, 3. Sheffield:
Sheffield Academic.
An “intermediate” grammar, somewhat based on discourse principles of language; much more useful than Horsnell (1998).
*Waltke, Bruce K., & M. O’Connor. 1995. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake:
Eisenbrauns, 1990; 5th printing with corrections.
Massively detailed application of traditional analytical methods to syntax; the chapters that introduce each section are
helpful.
Watts, James Washington. 1964. A Survey of Syntax in the Hebrew Old Testament. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans.
*Williams, R. J. 1976. Hebrew Syntax: An Outline. Toronto: University of Toronto, 1967; 2nd ed.
Essentially bound class notes, listing traditionally-derived functions for nouns, adjectives, &c., with copious examples, but
little or no discussion or explanation.
Discourse & Text Linguistics
Bergen, Robert D., ed. 1994. Biblical Hebrew and Discourse Linguistics. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns.
Bodine, Walter R., ed. 1992. Linguistics & Biblical Hebrew. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns.
, ed. 1995. Discourse Analysis of Biblical Literature. What It Is and What It Offers. Atlanta: Scholars
Press.
Dooley, Robert A., & Stephen H. Levinsohn. 2001. Analyzing Discourse. A Manual of Basic Concepts.
Dallas: SIL.
Grimes, Joseph E. 1975. The Thread of Discourse. Janua Linguarum Minor. The Hague: Mouton.
Longacre, Robert E. 2004. Joseph: A Story of Divine Providence: A Text Theoretical and Textlinguistic
Analysis of Genesis 37and 39-48. 2nd edition. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns.
. 1996. The Grammar of Discourse. Topics in Language and Linguistics. New York: Plenum.
Lexica
Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, & C. A. Briggs. 1907. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament.
Oxford: Clarendon.
Still the standard Hebrew-English lexicon, despite its age (it predates, e.g., the discovery of Ugaritic), arranged
by “root”.
Clines, David J. A., ed. 1993 - . The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew. 10 vols. (projected). Sheffield, England:
Sheffield Academic Press.
327
A new type of concordance, DCH—ordered alphabetically—offers complete collocations for every word (e.g.,
under a particular verb, every occurrence of every subject modified by, and every object governed by, that
verb, as well as every preposition with which it occurs).
Davidson, Benjamin. 1970. The Analytical Hebrew & Chaldee Lexicon. London: Bagster & Sons, 1850;
reprinted, Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Lists and parses [nearly] every verbal form in BH.
Feyerabend, Karl. 1965. Langenscheidt’s Pocket Hebrew Dictionary to the Old Testament. 5th ed. New York:
Barnes & Noble.
Offers one- or two-word gloss for each word, arranged by “root” (cf. BDB); glosses generally reflect KJV or
RV/ASV.
Holladay, William L. 1971. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament Based upon the
Lexical Work of Ludwig Koehler & Walter Baumgartner. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
The first edition of Koehler-Baumgartner, minus the German and etymological/comparative data, and a
minimal listing of lemmas for each word. Ordered alphabetically. Easy to use, and for that reason popular, but
quickly outgrown by diligent students.
Koehler, Ludwig, & Walter Baumgartner. 2001. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 3rd
ed. Ed., Walter Baumgartner & Johann Jakob Stamm. Study ed. 2 vols. Leiden, The Netherlands: E.
J. Brill.
The best modern lexicon of BH, with entries arranged alphabetically (i.e., not by “root”), with an extensive
bibliography. One- or two-word glosses (which can be difficult to find in longer articles).
Vocabulary
Andersen, Francis I., & A. Dean Forbes. 1989. The Vocabulary of the Old Testament. Rome: Pontifical
Biblical Institute.
The basis of the statistics used in this grammar, this shows how grammatical forms (e.g., participles) and “frequent” words
are distributed among the books and genres of the Hebrew Bible, correlates the three major concordances (Even-Shoshan,
Mandelkern, Lisowsky), and lists all verbs according to their distribution among the roots (e.g., all verbs that occur in two
stems, by those stems, and how many times in each stem).
Armstrong, Terry A., Douglas L. Busby, & Cyril E. Carr. 1989. A Reader's Hebrew-English Lexicon of the
Old Testament. Four volumes in one. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Verse-by-verse list of all vocabulary that occurs fifty times or less in the Bible, with statistics on occurrence and page no. in
BDB. Sections on the latter prophets and Writings include idioms and glosses that are more context-sensitive.
Beall, Todd S., William A. Banks, & Colin Smith. 1990. Old Testament Parsing Guide. Chicago: Moody.
Verse-by-verse morphology [parsing] of every verb in the text of BHS, along with page numbers in BDB and KBL, and a
suggested gloss.
Einspahr, Bruce. 1976. Index to Brown, Driver & Briggs Lexicon. Chicago: Moody Press.
Verse-by-verse list of all words indexed in BDB, with gloss (BDB’s primary listing) and location (page and quadrant no.).
Landes, George M. 1961. A Student's Vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew Listed According to Frequency and
Cognate. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
A list of Hebrew words and glosses that occur ten times or more, arranged for self-study in order of descending frequency;
the cognate listings are helpful.
328
Mitchell Larry A. 1984. A Student's Vocabulary for Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Essentially an update of Landes (1961) that lists Hebrew words used ten times or more with a gloss in order of descending
frequency; includes the vocabulary of Biblical Aramaic. Indexed.
Owens, John Joseph. 1990. Analytical Key to the Old Testament. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Verse-by-verse morphology of every word in the text of BHS, along with the correesponding page number in BDB, and a
suggested gloss (based on RSV).
Watts, James Washington. 1967. Lists of Words Occurring Frequently in the Hebrew Bible. Grand
Rapids/Leiden: Eerdmans (1960) / E. J. Brill.
Concordances
Although electronic [computer-based] databases have begun to replace concordances, it is still wise to have
one or more of the following as a check on the electronic information, since the various programs can yield
different results.
Even-Shoshan, Abraham, ed. 1989. A New Concordance of the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Modern concordance of the entire vocabulary of BH, arranged alphabetically and analyzed (you can look up, e.g., every
occurrence of the 2ms H P + waw of a particular verb); glosses, book titles, chapter numerals in [Modern] Hebrew.
Lisowsky, Gerhard. 1981. Konkordanz zum hebräischen Alten Testaments. 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche
Bibelgesellschaft, 1958.
A hand-written concordance of the nouns, verbs, adjectives, and aderbs of BH, arranged alphabetically.
Mandelkern, Solomon. 1967. Concordance on the Bible. 2 vols. rev., F. Margolin (Berlin, 1925); rev., Moshe
Henry Goshen-Gottstein. New York: Shulsinger Brothers.
Analytical (cf. Even-Shoshan, above) concordance of the vocabulary of BH, arranged by “root”. Glosses in Latin; multiple
“editions” and “publications”, some abridged. Beware!
Wigram, George V., ed. 1843. The Englishman’s Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance of the Old Testament. 2
vols. London (often reprinted).
Textual Criticism & Masora
Brotzman, Ellis R. 1994. Old Testament Textual Criticism: A Practical Introduction. Grand Rapids: Baker.
A basic and learner-friendly introduction to textual criticism. The most helpful part may be the final chapter, in which he
discusses every textual note in BHS for the book of Ruth.
Ginsburg, Christian D. 1966. The Massorah. 4 vols. London, 1880-1905; reprint ed., New York: KTAV.
. 1966. Introduction to the Massoretico-Critical Edition of the Hebrew Bible. London: Trinitarian
Bible Society, 1897; reprint ed., New York: KTAV.
The classic introduction to the Masoretes and their concerns, with helpful discussions of many aspects of the text merely
referred to in later works. Eminently readable, this provides source material and statistics for many later works.
Goshen-Gottstein, Moshe H. 1983. “The Textual Criticism of the Old Testament: Rise, Decline, Rebirth” JBL
102, 365-99.
The Göttingen Septuagint. 1922 – .

The standard critical edition LXX (not yet complete); individually edited volumes (one biblical book per volume) contain
an eclectic text and thorough textual apparatus. Companion volumes on the translation technique of some books are also
available (but not listed separately in this bibliography).
329
Greenberg, Moshe. 1977. “The Use of the Ancient Versions for Interpreting the Hebrew Text” Congress
Volume, pp. 131-48. Vetus Testamentum Supplement 29. Leiden: Brill, 1978.
Kelley, Page H., Daniel S. Mynatt, & Timothy G. Crawford. 1998. The Masorah of Biblia Hebraica
Stuttgartensia. Introduction and Annotated Glossary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
The first three chapters comprise the most helpful introduction to the subject available in English; Chapter Four lists the
notes of mp alphabetically, and translates and explains examples for each listing. Yeivin (1980) also does this (and in more
detail), but Kelley’s material is much more clear and easier to use.
Klein, Michael L. 1974. Textual Criticism of the Old Testament: From the Septuagint to Qumran. Guides to
Biblical Scholarship. Old Testament Series. Philadelphia: Fortress.
Another basic guide, without as much information or detail as Brotzman, focussing far more on the value and use of LXX.
McCarter, P. Kyle, Jr. 1986. Textual Criticism: Recovering the Text of the Hebrew Bible. Guides to Biblical
Scholarsip. Old Testament Series. Philadelphia: Fortress.
Mynatt, Daniel S. 1994. The Sub Loco Notes in the Torah of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. BIBAL
Dissertation Series, 2. Berkeley: BIBAL.
Explains a particular type of reference in the Torah of BHS, e.g., the footnote referred to by the superscript “21” on the first
note on Gn 37.22. The note reads “Mp sub loco”, which means “see Mp at the [appropriate] location”, referring to a
projected supplement to BHS that was never produced.
Rahlfs, Alfred, ed. 1935. Septuaginta. 2 vols. Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibelanstalt.

The first modern eclectic edition of LXX, based on a handful of MSS; underlies most electronic databases.
Scott, William R. 1990. A Simplified Guide to BHS: Critical Apparatus, Masora, Accents, Unusual Letters &
Other Markings. 2nd ed. Berkeley: BIBAL, 1987.
Briefly explains how to read Mp (pp. 1-17), with notes on other masoretic materials.
Talmon, Shemaryahu. 1970. “The Old Testament Text”. The Cambridge History of the Bible. Vol. 1: From
Beginnings to Jerome, pp. 159-99. Ed. Peter R. Ackroyd & Christopher F. Evans. Cambridge:
Cambridge University.
Tov, Emanuel. 1992. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress.
The primary and standard introduction to textual criticism, far more detailed, technical, and theoretical than Brotzman.
Vasholz, R. I. 1983. Data for the Sigla of BHS. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns.
A pamphlet with a table of information about the sources used in the text-critical footnotes of BHS.
Waltke, Bruce K. 1989. “Aims of OT Textual Criticism” WTJ 51, 93-108.
. 1979. “The Textual Criticism of the Old Testament” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ed. Franke
E. Gaebelein, 1, pp. 211-28. Grand Rapids: Zonderan.
Weil, Gerhard. 1971. Massorah Gedolah, vol. I. Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute.
Conceived as Volume Two of BHS, this contains lists of all of the Masora gedola (including Weil’s corrections). The
appropriate list can be found via the “Mm” footnotes in BHS, referred to by the raised numerals in the masora marginalis.
Some of this data can be retrieved more quickly with a Hebrew concordance or electronic database.
Williams, Prescott H., Jr. 1965. An English Key to the Symbols and Latin Words and Abbreviations of Biblia
Hebraica. Stuttgart: Wurttenbergischen Bibelanstalt Stuttgart.
Printed as part of the forematter in the newest permutation of BHS.
330
Wonneberger, Reinhard. 1984. Understanding BHS. A Manual for the Users of Biblia Hebraica
Stuttgartensia, trans. Dwight R. Daniels. Subsidia Biblica, 8. Rome: Biblical Institute Press.
Explains the logic and syntax of the text-critical footnotes of BHS, with a brief discussion of Mp (61-68).
Würthwein, Ernst. 1995. The Text of the Old Testament. Trans. Erroll F. Rhodes. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans.
Explains the symbols used in the text-critical footnotes of BHS, with a brief discussion of Mp and textual criticism. The
second half of the book consists of two-page spreads of a photograph and description of various manuscripts (Hebrew,
Greek, DSS, Samaritan, &c.).
Yeivin, Israel. 1980. Introduction to the Tiberian Masorah, trans. & ed., E. J. Revell. Masoretic Studies, ed.
Harry M. Orlinsky, 5. Scholars Press.
Covers the same ground as pp. 33-156 of Kelley, et al. (1998), but adds extensive discussions of the Masoretic accents.
History of Hebrew; Modern Hebrew
Chomsky, William. 1957. Hebrew: The Eternal Language. Philadelphia: JPS.
Healey, John F. 1990. The Early Alphabet. Reading the Past. Berkeley/London: University of
California/British Museum.
Morag, Shelomo. 1996. A History of the Hebrew Language. New York: Cambridge University.
The best history of Hebrew in print—beginning with a discussion of Hebrew’s emergence among the Semitic languages
and extending to the twentieth century.
Muraoka, Takamitsu. 1982. Modern Hebrew for Biblical Scholars. An Annotated Chrestomathy with an
Outline Grammar and a Glossary. JSOT Manuals, 2. Sheffield: JSOT.
Sketches basic differences between BH and Modern Israeli, followed by three sets of articles (grouped by field—language,
Biblical studies, and archaeology), in which the first is fully pointed (with an English translation included in the
appendices), the second less so, and the rest unpointed. All reading selections have some morphosyntactical notes.
Sivan, Reuven, & Edward A. Levenston. 1975. The New Bantam-Megiddo Hebrew & English Dictionary.
New York: Bantam.
A pocket dictionary of Modern Hebrew, based on The Megiddo Modern Dictionary (same authors), one of the standard
dictionaries of Modern Hebrew. A brief “preface” sketches verbal and nominal morphology, and lists the numerals. The
“dictionary” indicates each word’s gender and offers a one- or two-word gloss.
331

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Appendix C. Glossary of Morphosyntactical Terms

dme[y' E 3ms N F [rmeVy' ]I %reBe 3ms D P [dBeK]i

2. a-vowels (especially patach and patach furtivum):

[m;vy. I 3ms Q F [bToky. ]I [M;vy; > 3ms D F [rMevy; ]>

3. hatef-vowels instead of vocal shewa under gutturals:

Wrx]B' 3cp Q P [Wbt.K]' ~T,dm. [; ] 2mp Q P [~Tebt

lD;xy. < 3ms Q F [bToky. ]I

5. short prefix vowel followed by hatef-vowel instead of silent shewa:

dmo[y] : 3ms Q F [bToky. ]I dymi[y] : 3ms H F [lyvimy. ]:

ytiac'm' 1cs Q P [yTirm

tymicw' > 2fs Q P [T.rm

III-h (h″l) VERBS

fs hn"Bo hn"bn. I hn"bm. ; hn"bm. ' hN"bm; . hN"bmu . hN"Bt; .mi

III-h Verbal Roots

3. NC of all stems replaces final h with tA-.

I-n (n″p) VERBS (see next page for !tn)

fs verb in Q. The participles hl'Pn' I hl'yPim; hl'Pm. u

!tn (all attested forms)

I-y (y″p) VERBS

HOLLOW VERBS (II-y/w or [-y/w)

fs hm'q' hm'yqime hm'qW. m

GEMINATE ([″[) VERBS

fs hb'bs. o hB'sn. " hB'sme . hB'sW; m

bs'Yw" : 3ms Q Pr bs,Yw" : 3ms H Pr

Appendix E. Reading Notes

BH Biblical Hebrew N nifal (n-stem)

On Reading Hebrew Narrative

Lemma Parsing/Gloss Notes

yCiqi hwhy ynI[ye diAh

Grammar & Syntax

.1996b. Card-Guide to Biblical Hebrew. Quakertown, PA: Stylus.

Discourse & Text Linguistics

Textual Criticism & Masora

The Göttingen Septuagint. 1922 – .

Rahlfs, Alfred, ed. 1935. Septuaginta. 2 vols. Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibelanstalt.

Waltke, Bruce K. 1989. “Aims of OT Textual Criticism” WTJ 51, 93-108.

History of Hebrew; Modern Hebrew

Chomsky, William. 1957. Hebrew: The Eternal Language. Philadelphia: JPS.

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