An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

The plural of a singular collective noun can indicate composition, that is, that the
collectivity has been broken apart (cf. 6.3.2f). Thus for the following vegetable
nouns the singular refers to the product in its natural state, while the plural refers
to the gathered, measured, cooked or sewn material. (On the theory that
vegetables are for eating, etc., this is sometimes called the plural of result.)
7.
8. ֶ֫
9. ֫
10.
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11.
ָ ִ
ִ ִ
ֻ
ִ ְ ֻ
ֵ
ִ ִ
ָ
ִ
ִ ִ ֵ ִ
הטּח םיטּח wheat
ת ֶמ סּכּ םימסּכּ spelt
ת ֶשׁ פּ
םיתּ ְשׁ פּ flax
הרֹע ְשׂ םירֹע ְשׂ barley
םיטּח־רי ִצ ְק ימיבּ during wheat harvest
Gen 30:14
Generally human blood in its natural state in the body is called ם דָּ
; after it has
been spilled, the plural form is used.
12.
ךָיחִ֫ א ָ ימֵ דְּ
לוֹק
י ַלא ֵ םי ִק ֲעֹצ
Your brother’s blood cries out to me.
Gen 4:10
Animal blood is always referred to in the singular.
c Plurals of extension indicate that the referent of the noun is inherently large or
complex; the plural quality is the result not of a countable multiplicity, but of a
multiplicity that is nonetheless perceived as real. The plural may be variable;
English ‘water’ designates most quantities from the smallest up to the very great,
but truly enormous quantities take the plural: ‘the waters of the Great Lakes.’
Many plurals of extension are invariable; some English examples refer to body
parts, literal (‘guts’) or metaphorical (‘brains, wits, looks,’), while others refer to
complex non-animate entities (‘ashes, contents, dregs, stairs’), some abstract
(‘thanks, amends, auspices’). In Hebrew, some body parts are always plural, for
example, םינִ ָפּ ‘face’ and םירוֹח ִ א ֲ ‘back’; םירא ִ וָּ ַצ ‘neck’ is much more
common than the singular. Also pluralia tantum are two words referring to areas
around a person while reclining, תוֹשׁאֲ רַ ְמ ‘area around the head,’ and תוֹלגְּ רְ ַמ
‘area around the feet.’
13. ינַ ָפוּ ירֹח ֑ ָ א־ת ֲ א ֶ תי ָ ִ֫
ארָ וְ
וּארֵי ָ אֹ ל
You will see my back, but my face must not be
seen.
Exod 33:23