An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

In time -at came to have the ultimate specialization of the feminine with
animate objects. Other features, such as form, tradition, and associations with
other words, contributed to the assignment of a noun’s gender. 34
6.4 Gender of Inanimates and Non-Animates
a There is no “natural” gender for inanimates (objects) and non-animates
(abstracts).
The earlier grammarians who sought to explain grammatical gender on such a
basis were[Page 103] misled in their correlation of linguistic and non-linguistic
phenomena. We analyze these nouns according to whether they have a Ø or -at
formative.
6.4.1 Zero-marked Gender Nouns
a Nouns with a Ø-gender formative may be treated in Hebrew as either masculine
or feminine, though most are masculine. With few exceptions no semantically
homogeneous value can be attached to the gender assignment. There are, however,
three semantic fields where the gender pattern deserves study: nouns referring to
body parts, place names, and figurative terms.
b Nouns referring to parts of the body tend to be feminine (## 1–17).
ֶ ֫
ָ ֶ
ֶ ֶ֫
ֶ
ַ ְ
ֵ
1. ןזֹא ear
2.
עבּ ְצא finger
3. ןטבּ belly
4. ךְר ֶ֫בּ knee
5. עוֹרז arm
6.
דָי hand
7.
ךְרָי thigh
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. ֫
13.
ף ָנ ָכּ wing
ף ַכּ palm
יחִ ְל jaw
ןוֹשֹׁ לָ tongue
ןִי ַע eye
ע ָל ֵצ side
34 Ibrahim, Grammatical Gender, 77–90. The terms “autonomous” and “nonautonomous”
are sometimes used for the “masculine” and “feminine” genders.