An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

2.13 לע
2.14 םע
2.15 תחתּ
11.3 Compound and Complex Prepositions
3.1 Complex Prepositions and Nouns
3.2 Complex Prepositions as Adverbials
3.3 Compound Prepositions
11.4 Aspects of the Syntax of Prepositions
4.1 Verbs with Accusative or Prepositional Objects
4.2 Prepositions with Multiple Objects
4.3 Supposed Ambiguity and Ellipsis
11.1 Introduction
a Prepositions are relational terms that stand before nouns and noun equivalents
(including certain verb forms) and thereby form phrases (4.3b); prepositional
phrases are used in a variety of ways. The class of prepositions is a closed class,
that is, a more or[Page 188] less small and well-defined group of words, unlike,
for example, the open class of verbs, which is both large and (in a living language)
readily expanded.
11.1.1 “Nominal” Perspective
a Hebrew prepositions can be considered in a variety of perspectives. Some
prepositions are derived from nouns, and the behavior of prepositions can be seen
in terms of nominal roles or functions. In this perspective prepositions are taken as
nouns in the adverbial accusative, governing nouns in the genitive. At least some
Hebrew prepositions in their archaic forms ended with a, the historical case
ending of the acccusative, and were used in the construct state; the noun governed
by them took the genitive case (see 9.3). Traces of such history can still be seen in
construct forms like ירֵ חֲ א ַ and the complex preposition ינֵ ְפל ִ ‘to the face of’ >
‘before’ (see 11.3.1); the cognate languages also support this view. 1 The
shortening of nominal construct forms is related to the unstressed status of many
prepositions, written as prefixes or as proclitics (with maqqeph, e.g., ־לע). On this
“nominal” view of prepositions, the close relationship of prepositional phrases and
the verbs governing them is emphasized; like other accusative roles, the
preposition is at base ad-verbial. Prepositions, nominal (and quasi-nominal)
expressions of various origins, supplement the accusative case to make more
1 In Classical Arabic, for example, the genitive case is used after prepositions. See
also Wolfram von Soden, Grundriss der akkadischen Grammatik (Analecta Orientalia
33/47; Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute, 1969) §114a / p. 164.