An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

In most of these examples the vowel of the first, prefixed syllable is a (## 2–5,
7–9); in the others it is i. The first syllable of # 3, mô-, is contracted from maw-;
the ô is also seen in Niphal, Hiphil, and Hophal forms of yšb and various other
initial-waw verbs. In the feminine examples cited, the corresponding masculine
form either does not occur (## 5, 9) or has a different sense (# 8, cf. # 7).
c A t-prefix noun usually designates the action of the verb it is derived from (##
10–12). Many such nouns, including the examples, are derived from initial-waw
ֶ֫
ַ ֫
ָ
roots.
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10.
ת ֶלחוֹתּ expectation (fem.; < yḥl)
11. תח ַכוֹתּ argument (fem.; < ykḥ)
12.
הדוֹתּ thanksgiving (fem.; < ydy)
d Nouns with prefix m, t, and y often seem closely related in meaning. Jacob Barth
argued, in his classic study of noun formation, 23 ִ ְ
ִ ְ ַ
ֶ
ָ ִ
ֲ
ִ ֲ ַ
ְ
֫
that certain m and t pairs of nouns
(## 13–15) and even a y and t pair (# 16) and an m and y pair (# 17) had no
significantly different senses.
13. תיבּר ַמ תיבּרתּ interest, increase (< rby)
14.
הו ְק ִמ הו ְק תּ hope (< qwy)
15. םיִי ֻלח ַמ םיא ֻלחתּ illness (< ḥly/˒)
16. ה ָעוּשְׁי ה ָעוּשׁתּ salvation (