An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

8.
9.
1 Kgs 2:13
וֹדּסְ ח ַ םלוֹע ָ ְל י ִכּ because his mercy is eternal
יתִּ ְנֹט֫ ָ
Ps 136:1
ק I am small.
Gen 32:11
d Thus, the reliance on adjectival constructions for attribution and predication is
limited in Hebrew. Also limited is the morphological distinctiveness of the Hebrew
adjective: both substantives and adjectives are formed from the same patterns, for the
most part (5.1). Despite these two interrelated limitations, the adjective is an
important part of the study of Hebrew syntax. Two classes of adjectives are not
considered in this chapter: numerals (Chap. 15) and demonstratives (Chap. 17), both
of which present special problems.
14.2 Agreement
a Adjectives are subordinate to the nouns they qualify in that they mostly agree with
them in gender and number (## 1–4).
1. ךְז ָ תִיז ַ֫
ן ֶמ ֶשׁ ֫ pure olive oil
2.
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3.
4.
הזָּ ַע ה ָמ ֵ
םירי ִ דִּ א ַ םִי ֫
Exod 27:20
ח strong wrath
Prov 21:14
מ ַ mighty waters
Exod 15:10
תוֹנּ ַנאֲ ַשׁ תֹחוּנ ְמ secure dwellings
Isa 32:18
An attributive adjective also agrees with the modified noun (or head) in
definiteness (14.3.1).
b Adjectives do not form the dual number; dual substantives take plural adjectives.
6.
7.
8.
5.
תוֹרוְ ִע םִיני ַ֫
ֵע blind eyes
Isa 42:7
תוֹל ְשֹׁכּ םִי ַכּ֫ רְ ִבּ failing knees
תוֹפר ָ םִי ַ֫
םידִ בֵ ְכּ ה ֶשֹׁמ ידי ֵ ִ
Isa 35:3
דָי feeble hands
Job 4:3
ו The hands of Moses were heavy. 3
Exod 17:12
3 Only here is yd masculine; cf. Ezek 2:9. For the word order, see 8.4.2d.