An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

30.
5.7 Patterns with Suffixing
ברָ ְכ ַע scorpion
a The suffixing patterns to be presented here are usually denominatives, that is,
they form nouns from other nouns, rather than from verbal roots.
b The most common suffix is -ôn ~ -ān. It may be used for adjectives (## 1–3),
abstract substantives (## 4–6), and diminutives (## 7–8).
1. ןוֹמדְ קַ eastern < םדֶ קֶ֫
east
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
ִ
ִ
ְ
ןוֹציח exterior < ץוּח outside
ןוֹשׁאר first
ןוֹרת ִפּ solution
< שׁאֹ ר head
ןוֹר ָכּזִ memorial
ן ָבּר ְקָ
offering
ןוֹשׁי ִ
ןוֹרוָּ ַצ necklace
א pupil (of the eye)
א person
< שׁי ִ
< ראוָּ ַצ neck
The ‘pupil’ or ‘apple’ of the eye is named for the little person seen reflected in
it, both in Hebrew and in Latin (pupillus, whence the English term ‘pupil’). The -
ôn ending is common in place names (e.g., ןוֹר ְבח), ֶ and the -ûn ending of
Yeshurun (ןוּר ֻשְׁי), a poetic term for Israel (cf. ר ָשָׁי ‘upright’), and Zebulun
(ןוּלבֻ ז) ְ is related.
c The -î suffix has established itself in English usage in forms like ‘Israeli,’ ‘Saudi,’
and ‘Farsi.’ In Hebrew, it serves to make adjectives from substantives (## 9–11),
including names (## 12–14). Names with the -î suffix are called gentilics or
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10.
11.
12.
13.
ethnica. 28
י ִלגְ ר ַ foot(-soldier) < ל ֶ ר֫
ֶ
ג foot
ִ
֫
ִ ְ ַ
ַ ַ֫
ִ
֫
ִ ָ
ָ
יר ְכ ָנ strange < ר ֶכֹנ strangeness
יתּחתּ lower < תחתּ below
יר ְב ִע Hebrew < ר ֶב ֵע
Eber
יב < ב
אוֹמ Moabite
אוֹמ Moab
~ approximately equal to
28
The ending î is cognate to Arabic -īy- and Akkadian -ayy- (Arabic Yahudīyun ‘Jew’;
Akkadian Ya˒udayyu ‘Judahite’); this ending is used most often for forming place-oforigin
names and is called the nisbe-ending (Arabic nisbatun ‘affinity, relationship’).