An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

ר ָפ ָעה ֶ the dust
15.
In sum, the basic a of the article
a. dissimilates to e before ח, ָ ח, ֳ non-stressed ָע, non-stressed ה ָ
b. lengthens to ā before א, ר, most other ע, stressed ה ָ
c. remains a elsewhere (i.e., before other ה, other ח)
d The form of the article has another variation: words beginning with yə or mə often
form the article without doubling; the word-initial shewa is silent (## 16–19).
16.
םידִ ָלְי הַ the children (haylādîm)
17.
דוֹסְיהַ the base (haysôd)
18.
םי ִשׁ ְק בַ ְמ הַ ֽ the searchers (hambaqšîm)
19.
םי ִלגְּ רַ ְמ הַ ֽ the spies (hamraggəlîm)
If the consonant after yə is ה or ע, this rule is not observed and the doubling is
found (## 20–21); if the consonant after mə is ה, ע, or ר, the doubling is also usually
found (## 22–24).
20.
םיד ִ וּהְיּהַ the Judahites (hayyəhûdîm)
21.
םיפִ ֵעְיּ ה ַ the weary (hayyə˓ēpîm)
22.
ה ָמוּה ְמּ ה ַ the confusion (hamməhûmâ)
23.
הרָ ָע ְמּ ה ַ the cave (hammə˓ārâ)
םי ִערֵ ְמּ ַבּ in the evildoers (bammərē˓îm)
24.
e A few words have a special shape after the article (## 25–29).
ֲ
ָ ָ
ֶ ֶ֫
ֶ ָ֫
ָ
ַ ָ
ָ ֶ
ָ
ַ
25.
ןוֹרא ןוֹראה 26.
ץרא ץראה 27.
גח/גח גחה 28. ם ַע/ם ָע ם ָעה 29. ר ַפּ/ר ָפּ ר ָפּה In some cases the form of these words with the ā is found without the article, but
in all cases the article requires the longer vowel.
[Page 239] f The article is generally shortened after a monographic preposition, bə, kə,
lə; the shewa of the preposition and the h of the article are elided, so the preposition
stands with the vowel of the article.
30.
שׁיאִ ָל to the man
31. םִימ ַ֫
ָשּׁ ַבּ in the heavens
This elision is not strictly phonological, since it does not occur with wə, and there
are various exceptions, most in later books (contrast ## 32–33).
32.
ם ָכחָ ֶל to the wise man
Qoh 7:19