johns a short grammar of biblical aramaic

7/22/2019 Johns a Short Grammar of Biblical Aramaic

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A S H O R T G R A M M A R O F B I B L I C A L A R A M A I C



A N D R E W S U N I V E R S I T Y M O N O G R A P H S

V O L U M E I

A SHORT GRAMMAR

O F

BIBLICAL ARAMAIC

b y

Alger F. Johns

A N D R E W S U N I V E R S I T Y P R E S S

B E R R I E N S P R I N G S , M I C H I G A N



C o p y r i g h t © 1 9 6 3 b y A l g e r F . J o h n s

C o p y r i g h t © 1 9 6 6 b y A n d r e w s U n i v e r s i t y

C o p y r i g h t © 1 9 7 2 R e v i s e d E d i t io n b y A n d r e w s U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s

A n d r e w s U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s

2 1 3 I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e s B u i l d i n g

B e r r i e n S p r i n g s , M I 4 9 1 0 4 - 1 7 0 0

T e l e p h o n e : 2 6 9 - 4 7 1 - 6 1 3 4 ; F A X : 2 6 9 - 4 7 1 - 6 2 2 4

E m ai 1: i n f o @ a n d r e w s u n i v e r s i t y p r e s s . c o m

W e b s i t e : w w w . a n d r e w s u n i v e r s i t y p r e s s . c o m

A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . N o p a r t o f t h i s b o o k m a y b e u s e d o r r e p r o d u c e d in a n y

m a n n e r w i t h o u t w r i t t e n p e r m i s s i o n f ro m t h e p u b l i s h e r e x c e p t in t h e c a s e o f

b r i e f q u o t a t i o n s e m b o d i e d i n c r i t ic a l a r t i c l e s a n d r e v i e w s .

P r i n t e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a

0 7 0 6 05 0 4 0 3 13 12 11 10 9

I S B N 0 - 9 4 3 8 7 2 - 7 4 - X

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P R E F A C E

T h e p u rp o s e o f t h i s g r ammar i s t o co v e r ad eq u a t e l y , y e t a s co n c i s e l y a s

p o s s i b l e , t h e e s s en t i a l e l emen t s o f B i b l i ca l A rama i c . T h e g o a l h a s b een t o mee t

t h e n eed s o f t h e t y p i ca l t h eo l o g i ca l s emi n a ry s t u d en t . T o r each t h i s g o a l t h e

g rammar i s co n cen t r a t ed o n B i b l i ca l A rama i c , o n l y t o u ch i n g l i g h t l y t h e v as t

a r e a s o f o t h e r A r a m a i c l a n g u a g e s a n d d i a l e c t s .

Fo r man y y ea r s s ev e ra l ex ce l l en t an d co mp reh en s i v e g rammars o f B i b l i ca lA r a m a i c w r i t t e n i n t h e G e r m a n l a n g u a g e h a v e b e e n i n e x i s t e n c e . H o w e v e r ,

the i r fu l l va lue has no t been read i ly access ib le to those seminary s tuden t s who

a re mo re f ac i l e i n t h e c l a s s i ca l l an g u ag es t h an i n t h e mo d e rn l an g u ag es . Fo r

t h e l a s t f ew y ea r s , i n co n n e c t i o n w i t h h i s t e ac h i n g p ro g ra m , t h e au t h o r h as b een

p rep a r i n g t h i s g r ammar i n t h e E n g l i s h l an g u ag e t o h e l p mee t t h e n eed s o f s u ch

s t u d e n t s . T h e r e c e n t a p p e a r a n c e o f a g o o d A r a m a i c g r a m m a r w r i t t e n i n t h e

E n g l i s h l an g u ag e h as n o t b een a d e t e r r en t t o t h e co m p l e t i o n o f t h e p ro j ec t , f o r

t h e t w o w o rk s a r e q u i t e d i l T e ren t i n ap p ro ach . W h i l e t h e re i s v e ry l i t t l e t h a t

can b e p re s en t ed i n a w o rk o f t h i s k i n d t h a t i s r ea l l y n ew , y e t t h e me t h o d o l o g y

o f ap p ro ac h can v a ry g rea t l y i n d i ff e r en t g r a m m ars .

I t i s a l m o s t an i n v a r i ab l e ru l e t h a t s emi n a ry s t u d en t s l ea rn H eb r ew b e fo re

t h ey b eg i n a s t u d y o f B i b l i ca l A rama i c . T h i s g rammar w as w r i t t en o n t h e b as i s

o f t h a t a s s u m p t i o n , a n d f r e q u e n t c o m p a r i s o n s a r e d r a w n b e t w e e n t h e t w o

l a n g u a g e s . W h e n e v e r s o m e g r a m m a t i c a l t e r m o r u s a g e c o m m o n t o b o t h

l an g u ag es i s u s u a l l y co v e red t h o ro u g h l y i n a s t u d y o f H eb rew g rammar , o n l y

a s h o r t r e s u me o r ex p l an a t i o n i s g i v en i n t h i s g r ammar fo r t h e s ak e o f b rev i t y .

In ad d i t i o n , h o w ev e r , t h e g en e ra l f r amew o rk o f co mp ara t i v e Semi t i c s t u d i e s

h as b een u t i l i z ed w h ere i t co u l d a i d i n t h e u n d e r s t an d i n g o f B i b l i ca l A rama i c .

In th i s co nn ec t ion , th e a u t ho r f ree ly ackn ow ledg es h i s ind eb ted ne ss , f ir st, t o

Wi l l i am Foxwel l Albr igh t , h i s es teemed professor in Semi t i c s tud ies in genera l ,

an d s eco n d l y , t o P ro fe s s o r J o s ep h F i t zmy er , S.J.,- h i s t eac he r o f Bib l i ca l

A r a m a i c . T h e b a s ic s t r u c t u r e o f t h i s g r a m m a r is t h a t o f t h e " B a l t i m o r e

s ch o o l . " H o w ev e r , t h e me t h o d o l o g y o f ap p ro ach h as b een s i mp l i f i ed t o b e t t e r

fu l f i l l the purpose o f meet ing the needs o f the seminary c lass room.

T h e t ex t u a l b a s i s o f t h i s g r am m ar is K i t t e l ' s Biblia Hebraica, t h e e i g h t hed i t i o n (b as ed o n t h e t h i rd ed i t i o n ) . T h e v o cab u l a ry i s p ro g re s s i v e l y b u i l t u p

by the use o f s imp le exerc i ses . A s soo n as pos s ib le , th e s tud en t i s in t ro du ce d to

ac tua l Bib l i ca l passages in the exerc i ses , modi f i ed to some ex ten t by the



V I

T h e d eman d fo r t h e f i r s t ed i t i o n o f t h i s g r ammar w as g rea t e r t h an e i t h e r

t h e a u t h o r o r t h e A n d r e w s U n i v e r s i t y P u b l i c a t i o n s C o m m i t t e e a n t i c i p a t e d

an d s o t h e s u p p l y h as b een ex h au s t ed s ev e ra l y ea r s b e fo re w e ex p ec t ed . H o w

ev e r , t h i s s eco n d ed i t i o n h as g i v en o p p o r t u n i t y fo r n u mero u s mi n o r co r r ec

t i o n s an d a f ew ma j o r o n es t o b e mad e . A co n t i n u i n g d eman d a t t h e p re s en t

l ev e l can b e me t b y t h e s eco n d ed i t i o n fo r man y y ea r s t o co me .

N o v emb er , 1 9 7 1

v o cab u l a ry av a i l ab l e a t t h a t s t ag e o f s t u d y . T h e ex amp l es i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e

g rammar h av e b een ch o s en w i t h s p ec i a l c a re t o f a l l w i t h i n t h e s co p e o f t h e

s t u d e n t ' s p r o g r e s s iv e u n d e r s t a n d i n g . A t t e n t i o n i s f o cu s e d o n t h o s e f o r m s

w h i ch ac t u a l l y o ccu r i n B i b l i ca l A rama i c , a l t h o u g h t h e au t h o r s u s p ec t s t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y (d i f f i cu l t t o p ro v e ) t h a t t h e ea r l i e s t Mas o re t e s o r p r e -Mas o re t i c

s c r i b es w ere n o t q u i t e a s ca re fu l w i t h t h e A rama i c p o r t i o n s o f t h e B i b l e a s w i t h

t h e H e b r e w p o r t i o n s . H o w c o u l d t h e b o o k s w r i t t e n p a r t i a l l y i n A r a m a i c

o ccu p y q u i t e a s h i g h a s p o t i n t h e can o n a s o t h e r s w r i t t en en t i r e l y i n t h e

" s a c r e d " l a n g u a g e , H e b r e w ?

D ecemb er , 1 9 6 2 .

T h e f i r s t l i mi t ed p r i n t i n g o f t h i s g r ammar w as ex h au s t ed mu ch mo re q u i ck l y

t h an an t i c i p a t ed . I t s eemed ad v i s ab l e t o i s s u e t h e s eco n d p r i n t i n g i n r eg u l a r

b o o k fo rm w i t h c l o t h co v e r s r a t h e r t h an t o u s e o n ce ag a i n an e l ec t ro -p h o t o -

s t a t i c p ro ces s fo r p r i n t i n g a n d ca rd b o a rd co v e r s fo r b i n d i n g . Sp ec i a l t h an k s

a r e d u e t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d b o a r d o f A n d r e w s U n i v e r s i t y f o r t h e i r

w i l l i n g n es s t o u n d e rw r i t e t h e ad d i t i o n a l o u t l ay t h a t t h i s s eco n d p r i n t i n g en t a i l s .

I t i s an honor to be the f i rs t in a ser ies ent i t led Andrews University Monographs.

T h e s eco n d p r i n t i n g h as p re s en t ed an o p p o r t u n i t y fo r co r r ec t i n g t h e mi s p r i n t s p r e s en t i n t h e o r i g i n a l w o rk a s w e l l a s fo r mak i n g a f ew mi n o r ch an g es

t o c l a r i fy t h e t ex t . I n t h i s co n n ec t i o n t h e au t h o r w i s h es t o ex p re s s h i s d eep es t

ap p re c i a t i o n t o h i s co l l eag u es D r . S i eg fr i ed H . H o r n an d D r . L eo n a G . R u n n i n g

fo r t h e i r h e l p fu l s u g g es t i o n s an d p a i n s t ak i n g ca re i n r ead i n g t h e p ro o f s . I t i s

o u r s in ce re h o p e t h a t t h e s e i m p ro v e m en t s w i l l h e l p t h i s g r am m ar t o fu lfill

m o r e a d e q u a t e l y i t s o r i g i n a l p u r p o s e .

D ecemb er , 1 9 6 5 .



Vl l

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

P R E F A C E V

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S vii

I N T R O D U C T I O N T O B I B L I C A L A R A M A I C 1

1. B i b l i ca l O c cu r ren ces 1

2 . T h e N a m e 1

3. D i s t r i b u t i o n o f S e m i t ic L a n g u a g e s 1

4 . C la ss if ic at io n o f A r a m a ic L a ng u ag es a n d D i al ec ts . . . 2

5. T h e A l p h a b e t 3

6 . Th e Scr ip t 3

7 . T h e T o n e 3

8 . T h e V o cab u l a ry 3

L E S S O N I . P H O N O L O G Y O F B IB L I C A L A R A M A I C . . . 5

1. T he D ev e l o p m en t o f P ro t o - S em it i c C o n so na n t s . . . . 5

2. Se l ec t ed Ph o n e t i c Ru l e s fo r V o w e l s 6

3. S e l ec t ed P h o n e t i c R u l e s f o r C o n s o n a n t s 7

4 . V o c a b u l a r y 8

5 . Exe rc i ses 8

L E S S O N I I . N O U N S A N D A D J E C T I V E S 9

1. G e n d e r 9

2 . N u m b e r 9

3 . S t a t e 9

4 . A d j ec t i v a l M o d i f i ca t i o n 1 0

5 . T h e C o n s t r u c t C h a i n 1 0

6. U se s of •? 10

7 . T h e D i re c t O b j ec t an d n ; 1 1

8 . V o ca b u l a ry 1 1

9 . Exe rc i ses 11



V l l l

L E SS O N i n . I N D E P E N D E N T P E R S O N A L P R O N O U N S A N D

S U F F I X E S O N N O U N S 12

1. I n d e p e n d e n t P e r s o n a l P r o n o u n s 12

2 . U ses o f th e I n d ep en d en t P e r s o n a l P ro no un s . . . . 12

3. P ro n o m i n a l Suf fix es o n N o u n s 13

4. Uses o f the P ro no m in al Suff ixes 14

5. V o cab u l a ry 14

6. Ex ercis es 15

L E S S O N I V. O T H E R P R O N O U N S 16

1. D e m o n s t r a t i v e P r o n o u n s 16

2. T h e P r o n o u n n 16

3. I n d e p e n d e n t P o s se s si v e P r o n o u n s 17

4 . I n t e r r o g a t i v e P r o n o u n s 17

5. In d e f i n i te P r o n o u n s 17

6 . V o cab u l a ry 17

7. Ex erc ises 18

L ES S O N V . T H E V E R B A L S Y S T E M : T H E P E R F E C T . . . 19

1. T h e Co n j u g a t i o n s 19

2. D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e C o n j u g a t i o n s 19

3 . S t a t i v e F o r m s 2 0

4 . Co n j u g a t i o n o f t h e Pe r f ec t 2 0

5. Use s o f th e Per fe c t 21

6 . V o cab u l a ry 2 2

7. Ex ercise s 22

L E S S O N V I. T H E V E R B A L S Y S T E M : T H E I M P E R F E C T , T H E

I N F I N I T I V E , E T C 2 3

1. Co n j u g a t i o n o f t h e Imp er fec t 2 3

2. Uses o f the Im per fec t 23

3. T he In f in i t ive 24

4 . T h e I m p e r a t i v e 2 45. T h e Pa r t i c i p l e s 2 5

6 . Uses o f the Ac t ive Pa r t i c ip le 25

7 . Uses o f the Pass ive Par t i c ip le 26



X

8. A ct iv e V e rb F or m s W it h P ass iv e M ea n in g s . . . . 26

9 . T h e C o p u l a 2 6


11. Exe rc i ses 27

L E S S O N V l l . C L A S S E S O F N O U N S 2 8

1. Sy stem s of Cla ss i f icat io n 28

2. In f l ec t ion o f the Fi r s t N ine Classes 28

3 . N o u n s o f U n i q u e F o r m a t i o n 2 9

4. V o cab u l a ry 3 1

5. Exe rcises 31

L E SS O N V l l l . T H E D E R I V E D A C T I V E C O N J U G A T I O N S . 32

1. P r in c ip a l P ar t s . . . 32

2. Re g u l a r an d I r r eg u l a r V e rb s 3 3

3. Th e Pae l 33

4 . T h e H a p h e l 3 4

5. T h e A p h e l 3 56 . Th e Sh aph el 35


8. Exe rcises 36

L E S S O N I X . T H E P A S S IV E A N D R E F L E X I V E C O N J U G A T I O N S 37

1. Th e Pass ive C on jug at io ns 37

2. Th e Ref lex ive C on jug at io ns 383 . T h e H i t h p ee l 3 8

4. T h e H i t h p a a l 3 9

5. T h e H i s h t a p h a l 4 0


7. Exe rcises 40

L E S S O N X . L A R Y N G E A L V E R B S 4 1

1. Lary ngea l Ve rbs 41

2. Pe L a ry n g ea l V e rb s 4 1

3. A y i n L a ry n g ea l V e rb s 4 2



4 . L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l V e r b s 4 3

5. T h e I t h p e e l C o n j u g a t i o n 4 4

6 . V e rb s D o u b l y L a ry n g ea l 4 5

7 . V o cab u l a r y 4 5

8 . Exe rc i ses 45

L E S S O N X I . P E N U N , P E Y O D H , A N D P E A L E P H V E R B S . . 47

1 . Pe N u n V erb s 4 7

2 . V e r b s P e N u n a n d A y i n L a r y n g e a l 4 8

3. V e r b s P e N u n a n d L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l 4 8

4 . P e Y o d h V e r b s ( I n c l u d i n g P e W a w ) 4 8

5. T h e S h a p h e l a n d S a p h e l C o n j u g a t i o n s 4 9

6 . V e rb s Pe Y o d h an d A y i n L a r y n g ea l 5 0

7 . V e r b s P e Y o d h a n d L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l 5 0

8 . P e A l e p h V e r b s 5 1

9 . V e rb s Pe A l ep h an d A y i n L a ry n g ea l 5 2

10. V e r b s P e A l e p h a n d L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l 5 2

11. V o c a b u l a r y 5 2

12. Exe rc i ses 52

L E S S O N X I I . H O L L O W V E R B S 54

1. T h e H o l l o w V e r b s 5 4

2 . A y i n W a w V e r b s 5 4

3 . T h e P o l e l a n d H i t h p o l e l C o n j u g a t i o n s 5 5

4 . T he H i t h ap h e l ( H it t a p h e l ) C on j u g a t i o n . . . . 5 6

5 . A y i n Y o d h V e r b s 5 66 . V e rb s Pe L a ry n g ea l an d H o l l o w 5 7

7 . V e r b s L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l a n d H o l l o w 5 7

8 . V e r b s P e N u n a n d H o l l o w 5 7

9 . V o c a b u l a r y 5 7

10. Exe rc i ses 58

L E S S O N X I I I . G E M I N A T E V E R B S 59

1 . G em i n a t e (o r A y i n A y i n ) V e rb s 5 9

2 . T h e S h a p h e l a n d H is h t a p h a l C on j u g a t i o n s . . . . 60

3 . T h e H i t h p o e l ( I t h p o e l ) C o n j u g a t i o n 6 0



XI

L E S S O N X V I . V E R B A L S U F F I X E S : W I T H T H E P E R F E C T . . 7 4

1. V erb al Suffixes 74

2 . F or m at io n o f Suff ixes on th e Per fe c t 74

3 . T ab le of Suffixes o n th e Pe rfec t 75

4 . T h e Suffixes o n '•n-S 76

5. V o c a b u l a r y 7 6

6. Exe rcises 76

4. V e r b s P e L a r y n g e a l a n d G e m i n a t e 6 0

5. V erb s A y i n L a ry n g ea l an d G em i n a t e 6 1

6 . V e rb s Pe N u n an d G em i n a t e 6 2

7 . Vo cab ular y 62

8. Exe rcises 62

L E S S O N X I V . L A M E D H H E V E R B S 6 3

1. T h e D ev el o pm e nt o f t h e L a m e d h H e F o rm a t i o n s . . . 6 3

2. T h e D er i v ed Co n j u g a t i o n s o f t h e L a m ed h H e C l a s s . . 6 4

3. V e r b s P e L a r y n g e a l a n d L a m e d h H e 6 5

4 . V e r b s A y i n L a r y n g e a l a n d L a m e d h H e 6 6

5. V e r b s P e N u n a n d L a m e d h H e 6 7


7. Exe rcises 68

L E SS O N X V . O T H E R D O U B L Y W E A K A N D I R R E G U L A R

V E R B S 6 9

1. V e rb s Pe A l e p h an d L a m ed h H e 6 9

2. T h e H a p h e l P a s s iv e C o n j u g a t i o n 6 9

3. V e r b s P e Y o d h a n d L a m e d h H e 6 9

4 . V erb s Pe L a ry n g ea l an d A y i n L a r y n g ea l 7 0

5. V erb s P e L a ry n g e a l a n d L am ed h L a r y n g e a l . . . . 7 0

6 . P s e u d o - G e m i n a t e V e r b s 7 0

7 . O t h e r I r r eg u l a r V e rb s 7 2


9 . Exe rc i ses 73



XII

L E S S O N X V I I . V E R B A L S U F F I X E S : W I T H T H E I M P E R F E C T ,

T H E I N F I N I T I V E , E T C 77

1. F o r m a t i o n o f Su ff ix es o n t h e Imp er fec t 7 7

2. T ab le of Suff ixes on th e Im perf ect 77

3. T ab le of Suff ixes on th e Infini t ive 78

4 . Ta b le o f Suff ixes on the Im pe ra t iv e 79

5. Suffixes on th e Pa rt ic ipl e 79


7. Ex erc ises 79

L E S S O N X V I I I . N O U N T Y P E S 8 0

1. De f in i t ion o f N o u n Typ es 80

2. Re co g n i t i o n o f N o u n T y p es 8 0

3. T a b l e o f N o u n T y p es O c cu r r i n g i n BA 8 1

4 . V o c a b u l a r y 8 3

5. Exe rc i ses 83

L E S S O N X I X . S I M I L A R N O U N C L A S S E S 8 4

1. Co nfu s ion o f S im i la r N o un Classes 84

2 . N o u n s Be l o n g i n g t o C l a s s 1 8 4

3. N o u n s Be l o n g i n g t o C l a s s 2 8 5

4 . D is t i n gu i s h in g B e tw een S im ila r N o u n C la sse s . . . . 85

5. S i m i l a r N o u n C l a s s e s i n t h e P l u ra l 8 5


7. Exe rc i ses 86

L E S S O N X X , T H E N U M E R A L S 87

1. T h e C a r d i n a l N u m e r a l s 8 7

2. U s e s o f t h e C a r d i n a l N u m e r a l s 8 7

3. S t a n d a r d N u m e r i c a l F o r m u l a s 8 8

4 . T h e O r d i n a l N u m e r a l s 88

5. V o c a b u l a r y 8 9

6 . Exe rc i ses 89

P A R A D I G M S 9 0

G L O S S A R Y 9 6



I N T R O D U C T I O N T O B I B L IC A L A R A M A I C

1. Biblical Occurrences: In t h e O l d T e s t am en t , B i b l i cal A ra m a i c i s fo u n d

i n f i v e p as s ag es : G en . 3 1 : 4 7 ; J e r . 1 0 : 1 1 ; E z ra 4 : 8 t o 6 : 1 8 ; E z ra 7 : 1 2 -2 6 ; an d

D an . 2 : 4 b t o 7 : 2 8 .

2. The Name: T h e n a m e o f t h e l a n g u a g e " A r a m a i c , " i s d e r iv e d f r o m

t h e H e b r e w w o r d J T ' O ' i K (E z ra 4 : 7 an d D an . 2 : 4 a ) . I t w as , o f co u r s e , o r i g i n a l l y

s p o k en b y v a r i o u s A ra m ae an t r i b e s fo r cen t u r i e s b e fo re t h e t i m e o f t h e o l d es ti n s c r i p t io n s i n " O l d A r a m a i c " ( w h i ch d a t e t o a b o u t t h e 1 0 th c e n t u r y B . C . ) .

A s t h e A r a m a e a n s m o v e d i n t o A s s y r i a a n d B a b y l o n i a , th e i r la n g u a g e g r a d u a l l y

s u p e r s ed ed A cca d i an a s t h e l i n g u a f r an ca o f t h e r eg i o n , ev en t u a l l y b ec o m i n g

the o f f i c ia l l anguage o f the Pers ian Empi re . In th i s per iod i t i s spoken of as

Reichsaramdisch o r " I m p e r i a l A r a m a i c . " T h e E l e p h a n t i n e p a p y r i , f o r e x a m p l e ,

a re in Reichsaramdisch. B i b l i ca l A ra m a i c (h e rea f t e r ab b rev i a t ed BA ) i s o f t en

a l s o s o c la s si fi ed, for t h e A ch a em en i d d o c u m en t s o f E z ra a r e in Reichsaramdisch,

and the l anguage o f the book of Danie l i s c lose ly re la ted to i t .

G r a m m a r i a n s o f t h e p r e v io u s c en t u ry c a ll ed B A " C h a l d e e " o r " C h a l d a e a n . "

O n e r ea s o n fo r t h i s i s p ro b a b l y t h a t ex c av a t i o n s i n Ba b y l o n i a i n t h a t cen t u ry

f oc u se d a t t e n t i o n o n t h e C h a l d a e a n ( N e o - B a b y l o n i a n ) e m p i r e , a n d s i n ce t h e

s e t t i n g o f t h e b o o k o f D an i e l i s a t t h e h e i g h t o f t h a t em p i re , it w o u l d b e n a t u r a l

t o u se t h e n a m e " C h a l d e e " o r " C h a l d a e a n " f or t h e n o n - H e b r e w l a n g u a g e o f

the book [c f . Dan . 1:4and 2 : 2 6 i n t h e L X X ] . H o w e v e r , t h i s d e s i g n a t i o n i s n o

l o n g e r u s ed , b u t o n l y t h e n am e "A ra m a i c , " fo r a f t e r a l l , t h e l an g u ag e o r i g i

n a t e d w i t h t h e A r a m a e a n s r a t h e r t h a n w i t h t h e C h a l d a e a n s .

3 . Distribution of Semitic Languages:

I N o r t h w es t Sem i t i c 11 N o r t h e a s t S e m i t i c

( A ) A r a m a i c ( A ) A c c a d i a n

( B ) C a n a a n i t e ( 1) A s s y r i a n

( I ) U g a r i t i c ( 2) B a b y l o n i a n( 2 ) P h o e n i c i a n

(3 ) H eb rew , e t c .



I l l So u t h w es t Sem i t i c

(A ) H e j az

(B) Nejd( C ) Q a y s

( D ) Y e m e n

[Of these , (A) p reva i l ed as

c l a s s i c a l ( N o r t h ) A r a b i c ,

b as ed o n t h e w r i t i n g s o f

M o h a m m e d . M o d e r n A r a b i c

h a s i n n u m e r a b l e s p o k e n

d i a l ec t s . ]

I V S o u t h e a s t S e m i t ic

( A ) S o u t h A r a b i c

( 1 ) Q a t a b a n ( Q a t a b a n i a n )( 2 ) S a b a ' ( S a b a e a n )

( 3 ) M a ' i n ( M i n a e a n )

( 4 ) H a d r a m a u t

[ M o d e r n ]

( 5 ) M a h r i

( 6 ) S o q o t r i ( S o q o t r i a n )

(7 ) Seh au r i , e t c .

(B) E t h i o p i c [ c l a s si ca l -G e ' ez ]

(1 ) T igre

(2) T igr i i l a

(3 ) Amhar ic (o f f i c ia l )

( 4 ) G u r a g e

( 5 ) H a r a r i , e t c .

4 . Classification of Arama ic Languages and Dialects:A n c i e n t A r a m a i c i n c l u d e s " O l d A r a m a i c , " Reichsaramdisch, an d BA . T h e

l a t t e r t w o a re c l a s s i f i ed b y mo s t au t h o r i t i e s u n d e r "W es t A rama i c . " H o w ev e r ,

i t i s bes t no t to make an eas t -wes t d iv i s ion a t th i s ear ly t ime.

L at er A ra m ai c i s usu a l ly class i fi ed as fo l low s :

I W e s t A r a m a i c

(A)

(B)

( Q

(D )

(E)

Pa l e s t i n i an J ew i s h

( 1 ) T a r g u m i c

( 2 ) J e r u s a l e m T a l m u d i c

P a l e s t i n i a n C h r i s t i a n

S a m a r i t a n ( A r a m a i c )

P a l m y r e n e

N a b a t a e a n

I I E a s t A r a m a i c

( A ) N o r t h

(1) Syr iac

(a ) E as t Sy r i ac (N es t o r i an )

(b ) Wes t Syr iac ( Jacob i te )

[ M o d e r n ]

( c ) T o r a n i

(d ) Fe l l ih i

(2) [So me au t h o r i t i e s p l ace

BA h e re ]( B ) S o u t h

( 1) T a l m u d i c ( B a b y l o n i a n

T a l m u d )



[ M o d e r n ]

( F ) M a ' l u l a

( G ) B a h ' a( H ) J u b b a ' d i n

( 2 ) M a n d a e a n

( a ) M a n d a '

( b ) Y a d a '( c ) G n o s t i c

5. The Alphabet: T i i e a l p h ab e t o f BA , l i k e t h a t o f B i b l i ca l H eb rew

(h e rea f t e r ab b rev i a t ed BH ) , i s co mp o s ed o f 2 2 co n s o n an t s . T h e n ames o f t h e

l e t t e r s a r e t h e s a m e a s i n H e b r e w . T h e M a s o r e t e s e m p l o y e d t h e s a m e v o w e l s

f o r t h e B A p o r t i o n s o f t h e O T a s f o r t h e B H p o r t i o n s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , B A a n d

B H h a v e t h e s a m e f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e s o f p r o n u n c i a t i o n , w i t h b u t m i n o r e x cep t i o n s . T h e co m m o n l y u s ed v o w e l s y s t em fo r t h e M as o re t i c t ex t i s t h e T i b e r -

i an voca l i za t ion . Th i s i s car r i ed ou t in BA as wel l as BH. An a l t e rna te sys tem i s

k n o w n a s Ba b y l o n i an v o c a l i za t i o n . T h e re a r e o n l y a f ew ex am p l es o f t h i s , b u t

t h ey d o i n c l u d e BA as w e l l a s B H . N o t i n BA , b u t i n ex i s t en ce fo r B H a re

a l s o a f e w e x a m p l e s o f P a l e s t i n i a n v o c a l i z a t i o n a n d Y e m e n i t e v o c a l i z a t i o n .

6 . The Script: T h e s c r i p t em p l o y ed fo r BA i s t h e s am e a s t h a t u s ed fo r

BH . A c t u a l l y , t h i s s c r i p t i s o f A rama i c o r i g i n , f o r t h e s o -ca l l ed " s q u a re" l e t t e r s

e m p l o y e d i n t h e H e b r e w s c r i p t u r e s w e r e d e v e l o p e d f ro m t h e O l d A r a m a i c a n d

n o t t h e O l d H e b r e w s c r i p t . T h i s s c r i p t w a s t a k e n o v e r fr o m A r a m a i c , a n d

a l r ead y b y t h e b eg i n n i n g o f t h e Ch r i s t i an e r a w as i n co mmo n u s e fo r co p y i n g

t h e Sc r i p t u re s , j u s t a s i t h ad l o n g s i n ce b een em p l o y e d a s t h e u s u a l s c r i p t fo r

o rd i n a ry co r r e s p o n d en ce o r o t h e r w r i t i n g . L i k e H eb rew , BA u s es a f i n a l fo rm

o f t h e fo l l o w i n g l e t t e r s SBaJD m a k i n g t h e m a p p e a r a s a t t h e e n d o f

w o r d s .

7 . The Tone: T h e t o n e o r accen t i n BA g en e ra l l y fo l l o w s t h e ru l e s o faccen t u a t i o n o f BH . Fo r p u rp o s es o f s i mp l i f i ca t i o n , t h e accen t w i l l n o t u s u a l l y

b e m a r k e d i n t h e v o c a b u l a r y . T h e M T h a s t h e s a m e a c c e n t m a r k i n g s i n t h e B A

p o r t i o n s a s i n t h e B H p o r t i o n s .

8. The Vocabulary: I t w i l l b e r eco g n i zed a t o n c e t h a t w i t h s u ch a l i m i t ed

b o d y o f l i t e r a t u re , BA h a s a co m p ara t i v e l y s m a l l v o c ab u l a ry . A s i n m o s t

g ra m m ars o f B H , t h e t h i r d p e r s o n m as cu l i n e s i n g u l a r o f t h e p e r f ec t o f t h e

s i mp l e s t fo rm o f t h e v e rb w i l l b e u s ed fo r t h e v o cab u l a ry fo rm o f v e rb s , ex cep t

i n t h o s e ca s e s w h e re o n e o f t h e ro o t l e t t e r s w o u l d t h u s b e e l i m i n a t ed . In s u ch

cas es , an d a l s o fo r a l l v e rb s o f t h e d e r i v e d co n j u g a t i o n s , t h e t h r ee r o o t l e t t e r s

a l o n e w il l b e g i v en , w i t h o u t an y v o w e l s . T h e n u m b e r i n p a r en t h es e s fo l l o w i n g



the nouns or adjectives represents the noun class (which will be discussed in

a subsequent lesson). In a few inst ances it is impossib le to determine with

certainty the original form of the absolute state of certain nouns, so the vowels

in question have been omitted in the vocabularies (e.g. Tjnan' niVS/ etc.).

Those who have learned BH will find many words in BA identical to common

BH words, besides a host of others with but minor differences. The following

vocabulary is a representative (but by no means complete) list of common words

which are identical to BH in the singular absolute form, and are either identical

or virtually identica l in thei r meanings . Howeve r, they are by no means identica l

to BH in the plural, no r necessarily so in the construct form.

nsN —

S73-JK —

n n x —

3 —

D''? —

13 —

ns —

r' -

n —

—

acn —1 —

n —

Dbnn —

nr —

— stone (1)

— not

— these

— cubit (7; pi. 5)

— also

— four

— lion (10)

— in; by (means of)

— house; > temple (10)

— field (3)

— bath; > a liquid

measure (5)

right, justice, j udg me nt ,

council (of jud gme nt) (4)

interrogative particle

h e ; that

s h e ; t h a tan d; (for, then, etc. )

living, alive; (pi.) life (5)

strength;army (1)

wisdom (7)

magician (5)

dew (5)

day (4; [also 7 in pi.])

a s ; according to; about

whole; all, every

p — th us ; (so)

V — to , for ; sign of dir ect

object

N"? — n o t ; [as a noun] nothi ng,

nought

inb — therefore [Heb.]

na — what? that which

— king (1)

p — from; out of; than

n m p — (grain) offering (7)

IV — un t o; until

rV— eye(l)

—( up )o n, over; against ;

concerning

D » — people, na ti on (5 ; [also

10 in pi.])

DS? — (along) wi th

Dl f — to rise, st an d; end ure

n^P — village, town , city (10)

PI? — ho rn (1)

3 T — gre at , big; chief (5 ; pi.10)

n n — wind; spirit (4)

n ' t?—to place, lay; make,

establish

nXB? — rest , remai nd er (4)



L E S S O N I

P H O N O L O G Y OF B I B L IC A L A R A M A I C

1. The Development of Proto-Sem itic Conso nants: A l t h o u g h the c o n s o

n a n t s of BA and BH deve loped genera l ly a long the same l ines f rom the i r

c o m m o n P r o t o - S e m i t i c o r i g i n , yet in a few of the c o n s o n a n t s t h e r e o c c u r r e d

imp o r t an t d iv e rg en c ie s . Th i s d ev e lo p men t can b e s t be u n d e r s t o o d by c o m p a r i n g

spec i f ic consonan ts in severa l of the p r i n c i p a l S e m i t i c l a n g u a g e s . [ N o t e t h a t a

c o n s o n a n t is " v e l a r i z e d " or " g l o t t a l i z c d " w h e n t h e r e is a g lo t t a l c a t ch at the

same t ime the c o n s o n a n t is p ro n o u n c e d . T h u s t , d , z , ^ (or $ ["thorn"] or d),

6 (or 5), and s w h e n so p r o n o u n c e d b e c o m e t, d , ? , ^ ( o r $ o r ^ ) , $ (or S) and §.]

Th is d ev e lo p men t , as genera l ly he ld by g r a m m a r i an s , is f rom Pro to -S em i t i c

t o U g a r i t i c , H e b r e w , A r a m a i c , A c c a d i a n , A r a b i c , and E t h i o p i c as f o l lo ws :

P S Ug. H e b . A r a m . A c c . A r a b . Eth.

6,S d t 1 z i z

z z t T z J z

t t t n n t t

t n § s

h s § ft? ft? s §

h s s s s

s s s 0 0 s a s

? ?.g s s

S2 § s s s

? 3 9,6 s § d

In BA 0 and ft? were o f t en u sed in t e r ch an g eab ly , and b o t h b e c a m e sin Syr iac .

T h e use of specif ic examples in c o m p a r i s o n of BH and BA c o g n a t e s may

b es t i l l u s t r a t e th e se d ev e lo p men t s . For " z a y i n one" BH has anj w h i l e BA has

ari'T. For " z a y i n t w o " BH has S ^ T and BA has S7*it.F o r " s h i n on^" BH has iriVe*, 1X6^ etc. w h i l e BA has nVri- ir\\ etc . For

" s h i n t w o " BH has ift?» and BA has ft?5? For " s h i n t h r e e " BH has pa?"? and

B A has IB*"?.



F o r " j a d e o n e " B H h a s p f e s w h i l e B A h a s i D p . F o r " § a d e t w o " B H a n d

BA b o th h av e »aSK. "Sa d e t h r e e" b ecame j? in ea r ly Ar am a ic , an d l a t e r

b ecam e » . Th u s B H h as wh i l e BA h as » 8 [ fro m »»] an d fo r t h e BH f "^K,

B A h a s b o t h p l . s a n d S7"1K.

In BA as in BH Pro to -Semi t i c g h ay in an d ' ay in h av e f a l l en to g e th e r an d a r e

wr i t t en » . L ik ewise in b o t h BA an d B H n r ep re sen t s P ro to -Sem i t i c h an d h .

Th o u g h f a l l en to g e th e r , t h e co r r ec t p ro n u n c ia t io n i s h .

2. Selected Phon etic Rules for Vow els: I n th e t r e a t m en t o f v o we l s BA an d

BH d ev e lo p ed a lo n g so mewh a t d iv e rg en t l i n e s , a l th o u g h th e r e a r e a l so so me

sim i la r i t ies . Th e f ir st th r ee o f the fo l lowing ru les represen t espec ia l ly im po r ta n t

d i f fe rences be tween BA and BH.

A — Sh o r t v o we l s in a p r e to n ic o p en sy l lab le b eco m e sh ewa , an d a r e n o t

l e n g t h e n e d a s t h e y o f te n a r e i n B H : * k a t a b a > a n s . ( B H n i ^ , Vpj?,

e tc . B A T\y^, VDJ ^ , e tc . )

B — S h o r t a in c losed , acc en ted final sy l lab les rema ins sh or t a nd i s n o t

l en g th en e d a s i t o f t en is i n B H : *k a tab a > 3 P 3 . (BH aaa^ , e t c .

B A aaa^p, e tc . )

C — T he ear ly H eb rew sh if t o f a to d un de r th e acce n t o r ton e does no t

o ccu r in BA. (BH tbilK, a iD , e t c . BA B ^ I N , a p , e t c . )

D — T h e d i p h t h o n g aw a lway s b e co m es 6 in BA.

E — Sh or t a in a c los ed , una cce n ted sy l lab le i s re ta i ned nex t to a la ryngea l .

O th e rwise i t f r eq u en t ly b eco mes / .

F — Sh or t /• in a c lose d , un acc en ted sy l lab le beco me s seghol before a

la ryngea l , un less a doubled consonan t fo l lows. Otherwise i t i s usua l ly

r e t a i n e d .

G — Sh or t « in a c losed , una cce n te d sy l lab le i s e i the r re ta ine d or becomes

q a m e s h a t u p h .

H — S h o r t i in a c losed , accen ted sy l lab le i s e i th er re ta ine d or becom essere ( th is la t te r §ere i s changed to seghol before a maqqeph) .

I — S ho r t « in a c losed , acce n ted sy l lab le becom es ho le m in no un s .

J — A l l sh or t vowe ls bec om e pa th ah before final resh , he th , an d ' ay in .

K — A pa th ah fu r t ive i s inser ted be tw een a he te rog ene ous long vowel and

final heth or 'ayin .

L — I f tw o u n a ccen ted , o p en , sh o r t v o we l s p r eced e th e to n e o r accen t , t h e

p re to n ic v o we l i s co mp le t e ly sy n co p a ted (b eco min g s i l en t sh ewa) .

M — Af ter a la ryng ea l , a reduc ed vowel i s a lways a ha t eph (usua l ly ah a t e p h p a t h a h ) .

N -— Af ter th e la ryng ea ls he , he th , an d ' ay i n a t the end of an un acc en t ed ,



med i a l s y l l ab l e , a h a t ep h i s i n s e r t ed , co r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e p reced i n g

v o w e l .

0 — I n T i b e r i a n v o c a l i z a t i o n t h e r e w a s a n o c c a s i o n a l p a u s a l l e n g t h e n i n go f a s h o r t v o w e l .

P — T h e d i p h t h o n g % d e v e l o p s a s f o l l o w s :

a . i n a c l o s ed p r i m ary -acc en t e d s y l lab l e i t b ec o m es

b . in a c lose d sec on da ry- acc en ted sy l l ab le i t be co m es "•_.

c . in a f inal o p e n syl lab le i t be co m es

d . i n a m ed i a l o p en s y l l ab le i t i s r e t a i n e d o r b ec o m es

Q — In B A t h e g en t i l i c en d i n g i s v ( r a t h e r t h an •>_ a s i n B H ) .

3. Selected Phonetic Rules for Consonants:

1 — T h e n S S l U l e t t e r s b e c o m e s p i r a n t s a f te r a v o w e l . T h i s a s p i r a n t i -

za t i o n i s r e t a i n ed ev en w h en t h e v o w e l w h i ch cau s ed i t i s d ro p p ed .

2 — A 1 i s o f t en a s s i m i l a t ed t o a fo l l o w i n g co n s o n an t ( ev en a l a ry n g ea l ) .

3 — Co n v e r s e l y , t h e d o u b l i n g o f a co n s o n an t i s s o m e t i m es r e s o l v ed b y a i

f o ll o w e d b y t h e c o n s o n a n t i n q u e s t i o n .

4 — F i n a l d o u b l ed co n s o n a n t s a r e s imp l if ied t o s i n g le co n s o n a n t s .

5 — F i n a l s q u i e s ces , w i t h t h e co m p en s a t i v e l en g t h en i n g o f t h e p rec ed i n g

v o w e l : H_ > N_ a n d x _ > « _ [ a l so w r i t t en r t - f o r N _ a n d

for

6 — In i t i a l i bec om es •'.

7 — D o u b l e d co n s o n a n t s b e fo re a s h ew a a re s i mp li f ied an d t h e s h ew a i s

e l i mi n a t ed . H o w ev e r , i f t h e d o u b l ed co n s o n an t o ccu r s b e fo re a fu l l

v o w e l i n o t h e r fo rms o f t h e w o rd , t h e n t h e d o u b l i n g i s u s u a l l y r e t a i n e d

b e f o r e t h e s h e w a a l s o ( b y p a r a d i g m a t i c a n a l o g y ) .

8 — L a r y n g e a l s a n d r e s h a r e n o t d o u b l e d i n B A . I n c o m p e n s a t i o n t h e

p reced i n g v o w e l m ay b e l en g t h en ed a s fo l l o w s :

a . a l w ay s b e fo re a l ep h an d r e s h .

b . o f t en b e fo re ' ay i n .

c . onc e in BA before he .

d . never before he th (do ub l ing i s im pl ic i t ) .

In subsequen t l essons re ferences to these phonet i c ru les in Lesson 1

wi l l be abbrev ia ted as fo l lows : re ferences to the ru les fo r vowels , ( I A) , ( I C) ,

( I Q) , e t c . ; re fe rences to the ru les fo r consonan t s ( I 2 ) , ( I 7 ) , e t c .



4 . Vocabulary:

— m a n , m a n k i n d ( 4 ) t o n g u e ; l a n g u a g e ( 4 )

w o o d , b e a m ( 4 ) a3B*a — bed (3)d ig i t ; toe ; f inger (2 ; p i .8 ) i f a i — p r o p h e t ( 1 0 )

s?1>< — ear t h (1 ) -ini — r iver (2)

n x — s i g n ; mi rac l e (4 ) 1?? - to g ive

a nn — gold (2) •Vy — e t e rn i t y , r emo t e t i me (3 )

g e n e r a t i o n ; l i f e t i m e ( 4 ) t en

x n i — g r a s s ( 1 ) Vijj? — to ki l l

VD n — p a l ace ; t emp l e (3 ) v o i ce ; s o u n d (4 )

»•) —s eed ; > d es cen d an t s (1 ) njf— year (8 ; p i . 4 )

a p — good (4 ) a in — t o r e t u r n

I B p — (f inger) nai l ; c law (2) n in — o x , b u l l ( 4 )

an;' — to s i t ; dwel l nV^ — t h r e e

pr ies t (3 ) n an — t h e re

r |03 — s i lver (1) she kel (1)

5. Exercises: W r i t e o u t t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g B H c o g n a t e s o f t h e w o r d s

fo u n d i n t h e v o cab u l a ry . Po i n t o u t t h e d i v e rg en c i e s i n t h e d ev e l o p men t o f t h ec o n s o n a n t s w h e r e v e r t h i s h a s o c c u r r e d .

A l s o fo r each w o rd i n t h e v o cab u l a ry l i s t t h e l e t t e r o r n u mb er o f t h e p h o n e t i c

ru le o r ru les as g iven above which app ly to tha t word .



L E S S O N I I

N O U N S A N D A D J E C T I V E S

1. Gender: In BA n o u n s an d ad j ec t i v es h av e t w o g en d e r s , m as cu l i n e an d

femi n i n e . T h e re is ac t u a l l y n o fo rm a l d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w ee n n o u n s an d ad j ec t iv es

i n BA . H o w ev e r , t h e qattil a n d q^til type s a re genera l ly used fo r ad jec t ives .

Mas cu l i n e n o u n s h av e n o p a r t i cu l a r en d i n g , b u t f emi n i n e n o u n s g en e ra l l y en d

in H - V , o r i . A s i n B H , s o m e f emi n i n e n o u n s h av e m as c u l i n e fo rm , l ack i n ga spec if ic f em in ine en d in g , e .g . , T " h a n d , " " e y e . " F r o m t h e s e e x a m p le s

it w i ll b e n o t ed t h a t i n BA , a s i n B H , p a r t s o f t h e b o d y w h i ch co m e i n p a i r s

a r e f emi n i n e .

2. Number: T h r e e n u m b e r s o c c u r i n B A : s i n g u l a r , d u a l , a n d p l u r a l .

T h e d u a l e n d i n g i s s o m e w h a t s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f B H , b e i n g ( s o m e t i m e s

co n t r ac ted to ]•>_)• Oc curre nce s o f th e dua l a re ra re in B A , and l ike B H , a re

a l mo s t en t i r e l y co n f i n ed t o n a t u ra l p a i r s .

3. State: I n B A t h e r e a r e t h r e e s t a t e s o f t h e n o u n : a b s o l u t e , c o n s t r u c t ,

an d emp h a t i c . T h e f i r s t t w o fu n c t i o n l i k e t h e i r BH co u n t e rp a r t s an d n eed l i t t l e

d i s cu s s i o n . T h e emp h a t i c s t a t e a l w ay s d en o t e s d e t e rmi n a t i o n i n BA . I t co r

r e s p o n d s t o t h e BH n o u n ( i n t h e ab s o l u t e s t a t e ) w i t h t h e d e f i n i t e a r t i c l e . So me

g r a m m a r i a n s p r e f e r t o s t a t e t h e m a t t e r i n a n o t h e r w a y , n a m e l y , t h a t w h e r e a s

the BH ar t i c l e i s p repos i t ive , the BA def in i t e a r t i c l e i s pos tpos i t ive : e .g . " the

k i n g " : B H iVan, BA K3"p».

N o u n s an d ad j ec t i v es a r e d ec l i n ed a s fo l l o w s :

masc. sg. fem. sg.

ab s o l u t e s t a t e k i n g a n i m a l

c o n s t r u c t s t a t e k i n g o f an i m a l o f

e m p h a t i c s t a t e t h e k i n g t h e an i m a l

ma sc. pi. fem. pi.

a b s o l u t e s t a t e k i n g s a n i m a l s

c o n s t r u c t s t a t e k ings o f nvn an i ma l s o f

e m p h a t i c s t a t e t h e k i n g sT T

t h e a n i m a l s



10

N o t e t h a t the f e m i n i n e p l u r a l c o n s t r u c t e n d i n g n_ c o r r e s p o n d s to the BH

n i _ (see I C).

The o r ig ina l pos tpos i t i ve a r t i c l e tt is somet imes spe l l ed n, and conversely ,t h e f e m i n i n e e n d i n g n is somet imes spe l l ed K.

N o u n s w i t h t h e g e n t i l i c e n d i n g i _ . (see I Q) end in r a t h e r t h a n K»_ in the

e m p h a t i c s t a t e p l u r a l .

Because the e m p h a t i c s t a t e is d e t e r m i n a t e or defini te it is used to i nd i ca t e

the voca t i ve : KS Va may be " O k i n g " as wel l as " the k i n g " ( e . g. Dan. 2 :29 , 31 ,

e tc . ) .

4 . Adjectival Mod ification: In BA, as in BH, the ad ject ive fo l lows as

closely as poss ib l e the n o u n it modi f ies . It a l so ag rees wi th the n o u n in n u m b e r

a n d g e n d e r [ a c t u a l g r a m m a t i c a l g e n d e r and not f o r m ] and in s t a t e of de t e r

m i n a t i o n .

H o w e v e r , the p red i ca t e ad j ec t i ve is a l w a y s in the a b s o l u t e s t a t e . T h i s is

t r u e w h e t h e r it is u sed w i th som e fo rm of t h e v e r b " to be" or w h e t h e r it occurs

w i t h o u t the v e r b " to b e . " T h u s the p re d i ca t e ad j ec t i ve wi l l ag ree wi th the n o u n

i t modi f ies in n u m b e r and g e n d e r , but not necessarily in s t a t e of d e t e r m i n a t i o n .

A l s o , a p red i ca t e ad j ec t i ve may occu r e i t he r be fo re or af ter the n o u n it modifies .

5 . The Construct Chain: T h i s is a c o m b i n a t i o n of n o u n s p e c u l i a r to

S e m i t i c , in w h i c h the f irst n ou n {nomen regens) is put in the cons t ruc t s t a t e and

t h e s e c o n d (nomen rectum) is f o u n d in BA e i t h e r in the a b s o l u t e or in the

e m p h a t i c s ta t e . The s t a t e of the nomen rectum i n d i c a t e s the d e t e r m i n a t i o n or

i n d e t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e w h o l e c o n s t r u c t c h a i n . A c o n s t r u c t c h a i n may be m o r e

t h a n two n o u n s ( t h r e e , or e v e n m o r e ) , but all e x c e p t the l a s t m u s t be in the

c o n s t r u c t s t a t e . The d e t e r m i n a t i o n or i n d e t e r m i n a t io n of t he l a s t noun (nomen

rectum) g o v e r n s all the n o u n s of the c o n s t r u c t c h a i n , no m a t t e r how l ong the

c o n s t r u c t c h a i n m i g h t be. T h e r e are t h r e e c o n s t r u c t i o n s in w h i c h a cons t ruc t

c h a i n is def in i te or d e t e r m i n a te : (1) w h e n the nomen rectum is in the e m p h a t i cs t a t e , (2) w h e n the nomen rectum is m a d e d e t e r m i n a t e by a pr on om in al suffix ,

o r (3) w h e n the nomen rectum is a p r op er na m e . T hu s o 'lB"': }^? " the k i n g of

P e r s i a " ( E z r a 4 : 2 4 ) ; upVa '^^9 "the k i n g of the k i n g s " ( E z ra 7:12) [usual ly

r e n d e r e d by the E n g l i sh i d i o m , " k i n g of k i n g s " ] ; NsVa rf? "the h o u s e of the

k i n g " ( E z r a 6:4); sna nrn " the an im al ( s ) [ co l lec t i ve ] of the field" (Dan.

2 : 3 8 ; 4:9, e t c . ) .

6. Uses of V: W h e n the l a s t e l e m e n t of a g e n i t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n is de t e r

m i n a t e in one of t h e t h r e e w a y s d i s cu s s e d a b o v e ( e m p h a t i c s t a t e ; w i t h p r o n o m inal suflBx; a p r o p e r n a m e ) , the f i rs t e lement can o n l y r e m a i n i n d e t e r m i n a t e

b y e m p l o y i n g a c i r c u m l o c u t i o n . In BA, as in BH, the p r e p o s i t i o n V is u sed for

t h i s p u r p o s e : an Vx ftr"? 'qV? " a g r e a t k i n g of I s ra e l " (Ezra 5 :11 ) .



11

I t is e x tr e m e ly i m p o r t a n t to n o t e t h a t BA uses the p re po si t i on *? to in d ica t e

th e direct ob jec t , in a d d i t i o n to r e t a i n i n g the c o m m o n u s e s for b (a lso found

i n B H ) t o express the ind i r ec t ob jec t , the e th i ca l d a t iv e , p u rp o se , and d i r ec t io n .T h e s t u d e n t of BA mu s t d e t e rm in e sy n tac t i ca l ly by the c o n t e x t w h e t h e r •? is

express ing a d i rec t ob jec t or an ind i re c t ob jec t .

7. The Direct Object and n \ In BA the d i r ec t o b jec t is o f ten expressed

b y th e n o u n (o r p ro n o u n ) a lo n e , as wel l as be ing ind i ca te d by the use o f the p re p

o s i t i o n "? (see sec. 6, a b o v e ) . In t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , the one o ccu r r en ce of the

p a r t i c l e n; used as the sign of the d i r ec t o b jec t sh o u ld be m e n t i o n e d (cf the

usage of BH m). In th i s one passa ge (Da nie l 3 :12) , is a t t a ch e d d i r ec t ly to

the th i rd person mascu l ine p lu ra l p ronominal su f f ix prt - (see II I, sec. 3).

8. Vocabulary:

f a t h e r (10) n x p — h u n d r e d

g o d ; > God (4) • ange l (3)

t h o u s a n d (1) naVa — q u e e n (7)

n i? — t o b u i ld (pm — c o p p e r ; b r o n z e (4)

Vsja — o wn er , l o rd (1) V s i - to fa l l (down)i t o a — flesh (2)

i s p — b o o k (1)

")?? — m a n (1) ^ 3 » — t o do, m a k e

n r n —T ••

b eas t , an ima l (7) atos? — h e r b s , g r a ss (1)

a ^ s n — wise (4) V n B — i r o n (3)

T — h a n d ; p o w e r (3) D V ? - s t a t u e ; i m a g e (1)

S? T — t o k n o w b i r d (3)

by — t o be ab le ; p r ev a i l h o l y (4)

sign of the d i re c t ob jec t I P S I — head , ch ie f (10)

n » 3 — h o w D — n a m e (10)

a a * ? - h e a r t (5) 8^18^ — r o o t (1)

n i g h t (3) rinri — u n d e r

w h y ? for w h a t p u r p o s e ?

> lest

rinri —

9 . Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the f o l lo win g :

Nni-n nnair? xnas X?T(4)

NyiK*? nVx na» (e)"?» siax j B i nipa (8 )

pnxa pnin (11) f B '? X (10)

xaify ninn xnaa sin nij'? (13)

IT-ip.psVa (1)

an-] xa^s B>sn (3)

Nn?'7a aH swan Vsa (5)V n ^ N f i x aaVi itoa S T(7)

KjV Va nNjaiVp Cs)

Kp-Bs"? n:a"? saVa nia (12)



12

LESSON III

INDEPENDENT PERSONAL PRONOUNS A N D SUFFIXES ON NOUNS

1. Independent Personal Pronouns: In BA some of the independent

personal pronouns occur infrequently, or not at all, and the others may occur

in variant forms. Those which do occur in BA are as follows:

Singular Person Plural

rm I 1 vxmvi we

nWN you (masc.) [Kethib] 2 p n i N you (masc.)

you (masc.) [Qere]

Nin he 3 p i s ,]ian ,ian they (masc.)

S-'H she 3 p3S they (fem.)

Note that there is no occurrence of the second person feminine singular in

BA. The first person singular occurs with the variant ending s _ , and con

versely, the first person plural occurs with the variant ending ri - . The form

ian occurs only in Ezra and pan only in Daniel, but pas is found in both

books.

In BA, as in BH, there are instances where the Masoretic tradition has

modified that which was actually "writt en" (a'ris) in th e consonantal text so

that it was to be pronounced or " read" (sij?) with a different vocalization.

Note that one impor tan t grammatical case of Kethib-Qere occurs in the second

person masculine singular of the independent personal pronouns.

2. Uses of the Independent Personal Pronouns:

(A) The independent personal pronoun can be used as the subject of a verb or

sentence n i s S?T " I know [participle]" (Dan. 2:8) and also pn?S snv

p33T "you are buying [part.] the time" (idiomatic for "you are trying

to gain time").

(B) The third person of the independent pronoun can function as a copula,either for nouns or for other personal pronouns: pn"?S nVs Sin psnVs

"your Go d is a Go d of gods" (Dan. 2:47); n^S" S i n - n ^ l S " yo u are the

head"(Dan. 2:38); '•nnas ian S j m s "we are His servants" (Ezra 5:11).



13

(C) The independent personal pronoun can be used to emphasize a preceding

suffix: njx •'lai " an d I, even 1" or "an d as for me, even m e " (Ez ra 7:21).

(D) Occasionally the independent personal pronoun is used similarly to an

article in giving determination to a noun, but it comes before the noun

rather than after: x a b s Kin "//le s tatue" or "///a/statue" (Dan. 2:32).

(E) The third person plural is used to express the object of a verb as well as

the subject since there is no third person p lural in BA for pronominal

suffixes attached to verbs: pan bisp_ " i t killed them" (Dan. 3:22);

"iSHDia: T 3 ian a n ' " H e gave them into the power of Nebuchadnezzar"

(Ezra 5:12).

3. Pronominal Suffixes on Nouns: In BA there is no occurrence ofeither feminine singular or feminine plural of the second person pronomina l

suffixes, hence they are omitted in the paradigms below. There is also no

occurrence of some of the other forms attached to feminine nouns, but these are

included in the paradigms for the sake of completeness.

Nouns in the Singular

Masculine Feminine

' a r my day 'nrn• ]av your day (masc. sing.) "^nvn

n a r his day nrii"'n

n a r her day nr^n

Niai- ou r day Kinrn

p s a i " your day (masc. pi.) pariDTl

p n a v their day (masc. pi.) p n p r n

| n a r their day (fem. pi.) p l i v n

my animalyour animal (masc. sing.)

his animal

her animal

our animal

your animal (masc. pi .)

their animal (masc. pi. )

their animal (fem. pi.)

Also occurring are the alternate endings DD- and Dh_ for p 3 _ and pn_,on singular and plural nouns both.

Masculine

Nouns in the Plural

Feminine

••ai'' my days

your days [Kethib]

(masc.sing.)

your days [Qere]

••niai'' his days

n^ai"- her days [Kethib]

n n i - her days [Qere]

"•rirn my animals

•qnvn your animals (masc. sing.)

n n r n his animals

n r r n her animals



14

M a s c u l i n e ( c o n t i n u e d )

Kj^ar our d a y s [ K e t h i b ]

tdsv our d ay s [Q ere ]f D ' a r y o u r d a y s (m a s c . p l .)

]in''ai'' t h e i r d a y s (m a s c . p l . )

t h e i r d a y s ( f e m . p l .)

F e m i n i n e ( c o n t i n u e d )

o u r a n i m a l s

p D n r n y o u r a n i m a l s (m a s c . p l .)

pnnrn t h e i r a n i m a l s (m a s c . p l .)

]nnvn t h e i r a n i m a l s (fem.p l . )

T h e Q e r e f o r m s of the suffixes on the m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l n o u n s are bes t ex

p l a i n e d as a n a l o g i c a l e x t e n s i o n s fr o m t h o s e on the s i n g u l a r n o u n .

4.(A )

(B)

(C)

( D )

(E)

Uses of the Pronominal Suffixes:

T h e y are m o s t c o m m o n l y u s e d w i t h n o u n s to d e n o t e p o s s e s si o n , but o t h e r

g e n i t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p s can a l so be ex p re s s ed in t h i s way.

T h e y are a t t a c h e d d i r e c t ly to p r e p o s i t i o n s , as in BH.

T h e r e t ro s p ec t i v e p ro n o mi n a l s u f f i x is o f t en fo u n d in a re la t ive c lause

i n t r o d u c e d by to i n d i c a t e c a s e : nistpa nVehT'a '•n bxn&r nVxl?

" t o the God o f I s rae l wAoje a bo de is at J e r u s a l e m " [ l it . " w h o in J e ru s a l em

H i s a b o d e " ] ( E z r a 7 : 1 5 ) .

T h e p ro s p ec t i v e p ro n o mi n a l s u f f i x is c o m m o n in BA. It a n t i c i p a t e s , as it

w e r e , a p h r a s e i n t r o d u c e d by n w h i c h e x p l a i n s i t : ''riinjV is?

X»aB> n V x - n "we are the s e r v a n t s of the God of h e a v e n " [lit. "Hi s

s e rv an t s " of the God of h e av en " ] (E z ra 5 : 1 1 ) .

C l o s e l y r e l a t ed to the u s a g e s of the suffixes discussed in B and D ab o v e ,

i s t h e i r use in a d e m o n s t r a t i v e s e n s e , w i t h the m e a ni ng " t h a t " or " the

s a m e " : Vxrina aa " in that D a n i e l " or "in the same D a n i e l " [lit. " in

h i m , in D a n i e l " ] (Dan. 5 : 1 2 ) . T h i s u s ag e is f r e q u e n t in ex p re s s i o n s of

t i m e : " a t th a t t i m e " or " a t the s a m e t i m e " ( E z r a 5:3; Dan. 3:7, 8; e tc . ) .

W i t h a f e m i n i n e n o u n , aa is u s e d r a t h e r t h a n aa: "a t t h a t h o u r ( m o m e n t ) "o r "i n the s am e h o u r ( m o m e n t ) " (D a n . 3:6; e tc . ) .

5. Vocabulary:

a i K - lfan — t h e y , t h o s e [ m a s c ]

p j ^ — t h ey , t h o s e [ f em. ]

arilS — you [mas c . s i n g . ]

pBSK — you [ m a s c . pi.]

1 3 — son [ s i n g u l a r o n l y ] (3)

p ^ l — sons [used in the p l u r a l ] (4)

as — p it , den (5)

"•'I— a) s i g n of the g en i t i v e :

of, etc.

b ) r e l a t iv e p r o n o u n :

w h i c h , t h a t , etc.

c ) c o n j u n c t i o n : t h a t ,

fo r , so t h a t , in o rd e r

t h a t , b e c a u s e , etc.

http://masc.pl/

http://masc.pl/

http://fem.pl/

http://masc.pl/

http://masc.pl/

http://fem.pl/

http://fem.pl/

http://masc.pl/

http://masc.pl/

http://fem.pl/

http://masc.pl/

http://masc.pl/



15

i a n — they [masc. ]

p a n — t h e y [ m a s c ]

]3T — to buy

an^ — to give

n i n ^ — J ew, J ewi sh

]3 (?a — a b o d e (3)

w o m e n [ p l u r a l ] (10)

s e r v a n t (1)

n v - t i m e ; > y e a r (4)( p a e l ) to kill

na" — t o t h r o w ; p l a c e ; i m p o s e

(a tax)

h e a v e n ; sky (4)

6. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the fo l l owing :

X \T(^ pn-'ia pjx nan xninx aiVi (i)

a r n a x K p D - j n a i V B j ? (2)

Vsnr-V -la xin nwx (3)

"niB i"? Vpn N i q a an (4)

K 3 1 vmti aV 1 3 » niN (5)

xaVa 'la pan loniK (6)

•Vi iTa n. xnia^ n xwai ian pnix (7)

K » l j p _ ' ^ p j S (8)

a-iaV X33t?^a wn x n a 1 3 1 (9)I-'PVX *f? pVpn a"? ari''a'? xa"-? an n xiTsa (10)

ana"? 3 1 3 T xnv as (11)



16

LESSON IV

OTHER PRONOUNS

1. Demonstrative Pronouns: In BA th e following demonst rative pronouns

may also be used substantivally or adjectivally:

Masculine Singular Common Plural

nn this nVx these

Feminine Singular (n)"?N these

NT this pVx these

Note the Kethib-Qere situation in the sole occurrence of bvi. There is also

one occurrence of the alternate fpH for fbVi.

The following demonstrative pronouns are always used adjectivally in BA:

Masculine Singular Common Singular

that P' l that

Feminine Singular Common Plural

•q" that r\bvi those

In addition to these demonstrative pronouns in BA, the independent personal

pronouns may be used as demonstratives (see III, sec. 2 D) .

2. The Pronoun •''i: Related to the Arabic i ("that of" or "possessoro f " ) , • ' • ' I is an uninflected form tha t has a variety of uses in BA. It can be used as

a relative pronoun. As a simple relative it means "who," "which," "that," etc.

Because it does not denote case, this must be expressed either by a subsequent

word or by the context. For example, it may be used with a retrospective

pronominal suffix: ni?l?a D|?BhT3 n VxniT TibHb " t o the God of Israel

wAoic abode is a t Jerusalem" (Ezra 7:15); n^-nbe n n i N -"l r]n'?K "your God

whom you serve [participle]" (Dan. 6:17).

As a compound relative, it has a function both in the main clause and inthe subordinate clause, and means "who ," "whoever," "whatever," "wha t,"

"he who," etc. n T ? xnip?-''l xVl " and there is none who can stay His

power" (Da n. 4:32 [35])."



17

ex i s t ence ; t he re i s ( a re ) th i s [ fem. ]

these ^1- t ha t [ f em. ]f Vx — these t h a t [ m a s c ]

those ; ( t hese ) 1 ? 1 - t ha t [ com. ]

m i 3 j —T

migh t n n - t h i s ( i s ) [ m a s c ]

I t can a l so be used t o expres s t he gen i t i ve ( s ee t he vocabu la ry , Les son I I I ) :

X B p p i nnni ''T x n " ? N " n ' ' 3 •'isa " t h e ves se l s o f go ld an d si lve r o f t he T em pl e"

[liV. " h o u s e o f G o d " ] ( E z r a 6 : 5 . ) .S t an d ing a lon e , i t o f t en has t he fo rce o f a su bo rd ina t e con jun c t i on , w hose

exac t me an ing m us t be ga th e red f rom the co n t e x t (s ee t he voc abu la ry . L es son

III) . I t i s o f ten found i n co m po un d co n ju nc t i on s .

I t is a l s o c o m p o u n d e d w i t h t h e p r e p o s i t i o n s : " w h e n , " " a s s o o n a s . "

3. Independent Possessive Pronouns: I n B A t h e r e a r e n o s e p a r a t e i n d e p e n d

en t pos ses s ive p ro no un s , bu t t hey may be fo rm ed by us ing t h e r e l a t i ve p ro no un

•"T fo l lowed by a pr on om in al suff ix a t ta ch ed d i re ct ly to th e pr ep os i t io n "?:

X-'n-n"? •'1 Krni3M xn aD n " w i s d o m a n d m i g h t a r e His ( D a n . 2 : 2 0 ) .

4. Interrogative Pronouns: I n B A t h e r e a r e t w o i n t e r r o g a t i v e p r o n o u n s ,

-JO " w h o ? " a n d n a " w h a t ? "

Th e i n t e r rog a t i ve p ro no un i s som et im es used as a r e l a t i ve , som et im es a lo ne ,

bu t u sua l l y as a compound ( i ndef in i t e ) r e l a t i ve p ronoun . In t h i s l a s t func t i on

i t i s u sua l l y co m po un de d wi th ''l-'pi " w h o e v e r " o r " w h o s o e v e r , " a n d

• " i n a " w h a t e v e r . " " W h a t e v e r " is less f req uen t ly expressed in BA by e i th er

na o r n a l o n e .

T h e i n t e r r o g a t i v e n a i s a l s o f r e q u e n t l y c o m p o u n d e d w i t h v a r i o u s p r e p o s i t i o n s : n a ? " h o w " na"? " f o r w h a t p u r p o s e ? " " w h y ? " a n d na-Vx? " w h e r e

f o r e ? " " w h y ? "

5. Indefinite Pronouns: Bes ides t he i ndef in i t e r e l a t i ve p r on ou ns d i scussed

above , t he re a re o t he r i ndef in i te p r on ou ns i n B A :

(A) Th e i dea o f "o ne a n o th er " is exp res sed i n BA by t h e r ep e t i t i o n o f t he

d e m o n s t r a t i v e : n n - D » n n " w i t h o n e a n o t h e r " ( D a n . 2 : 43 ) .

(B) In BA the i ndef in i t e p r on ou n 73 o r -V s [from kull: see I G and I] is

mo s t f r equen t ly used ad j ec ti va l ly w i th t he fo l l owing m ea n in gs :

( 1 ) B e f o r e a d e t e r m i n a t e s i n g u l a r n o u n , i t m e a n s " a l l , " " t h e w h o l e . "

(2 ) Befo re an i nde t e rmina t e s i ngu l a r noun , i t means "every . "

(3 ) Befo re a p lu ra l noun , i t means "a l l . "

6. Vocabulary:



1*73 — w h e n , as s o o n as p — w h o ?

]«a — vessel (4) n-ja — w h o e v e r

xna — ( p a e l ) t o c h e c k , p r e v e n t ; na- 7» — why ? where fo re ?s t a y nVe — to s e r v e ; w o r s h i p (God)

7. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the fo l l owing :

VV3 •"I a ?N N i a - | a i (i)

aa fB Tj? faVx-nn '•aVi? ufs nsx^pVa aattf-n 7N«3 xjai?* aVx nV? (2)

Niaa*? a n xixai s i-xnrn xaVa ani aaV xjaDnn a n (3)

]iaa nVri f x n a a (4)

• jV snniai n NB"?? s i a - N W N (5)

xrisi 733 NNn-NT xVa (e)

X3"?a'apn x n a s (7)

Nia N»a»" n an p i 'rxy'r (9)

•jx N n n p a axa »3 IH fIBB^JP ••ri''N (10)



19

LESSON V

THE VERBAL SYSTEM: T H E PERFECT

1. The Conjugations: In the verbal system of BA are found some con

jugations which are either not used in BH, or occur only extremely infrequently.

Others found in BH (e.g. Niphal, Pual) do not occur in BA. In spite of these

differences, however, the verbal system of BA is basically similar to that of B H .

Active

Simple System Peal Voj?

[Stative "rppj

"Intensive" System Pael Vpp.

Causative System Haphel btJjrn

Aphel "jajptf:

Shaphel VppE*

Passive Reflexive

Peil V 'Op. Hithpeel Vppnn

Hophal Vppn

Hithpaal Vpp.pn

Hishtaphal Vppritfri

In BA most of the conjugations have the Perfect, the Imperfect, the Impera

tive, the Infinitive, and the Participle(s). Other conjugations (not on the above

chart) will be discussed in subsequent chapters.

2. Development of the Conjugations: The development of the original

Proto-Semitic conjugations into their BA forms is generally considered to have

occurred as follows:

Peal: •Vpp>Vpp (shift of accent and loss of final vowel) > "rpp,

(see I A and B).[Stative] • ' 7 B p > Vpp (shift of accent and loss of final vowel) > Vpp,

(see I A and B).

Pael: *'?pp> "?pp (shift of accent and loss of final vowel) > Vsp.

(analogical extension of the characteristic vowel of the imperfect

to the perfect) > 7Bp_ (see I H) .

Haphel: •'?ppn> 'rppn (shift of accent and loss of final vowel) > Vppn


to the perfect) > "pppg (see I H).Aphel: •'?BpN> VpjPX (shift of accent and loss of final vowel) > VppjN


to the perfect) > VpplS.



2 0

S h a p h e l : • V p j ? ^ > "rpj?^ (shift of a c c e n t and loss of final vowel) > bppv

( a n a l o g i c a l e x t e n s i o n of the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c v o w e l of the imperfec t

t o the p e r f ec t ) .P e i l : \>''0p (no o r i g i n a l P r o t o - S e m i t i c c o n j u g a t i o n , but s imply the use of the

Pea l Pas s i v e Pa r t i c i p l e as a f in i t e verb wi th personal end ings added to it) .

H o p h a l : *VBi?n > Vppn ( sh i f t of a c c e n t and loss of final vowel) > bppn

( s e e I G ) . ' '

H i t h p e e l : •Vopnri > Vppnn ( sh i f t of a c c e n t and loss of final vowel) > VBpnn

(see I A and B) > Vpjrnn ( a n a l o g i c a l e x t e n s i o n of the ch a rac t e r i s t i c v o w e l

o f the i m p e r f e c t to the p e r f e c t ) > ' jBpnn (see I H) .

H i t h p a a l : *b^p_r\rf > "?B|?nri (shift of a c c e n t and loss of f inal vowel) .H i s h t a p h a l : bpppnn > Vop^nn (shi f t of a c c e n t and loss of final vowel)

> '?pj?ri ir 'n (metathesis of t and n) .

I n BA, as in BH, t h e r e o c c u r s in c e r t a i n of the d e r i v ed co n j u g a t i o n s the

t r a n s p o s i t i o n of a n w i t h a s u c c e e d i n g s i b i l a n t . T h i s t r a n s p o s i t i o n is usual ly

c a l l e d " m e t a t h e s i s . " The H i s h t a p h a l f u r n is h es a g o o d e x a m p l e of me t a t h es i s

a n d it a l s o o c c u r s n o r m a l l y in the H i t h p e e l and H i t h p a a l of ro o t s b eg i n n i n g

w i t h s i b i l a n t s . If the s i b i l a n t is s , the r may p a r t i a l l y a s s i m i l a t e to a D . If the

s i b i l a n t is a T, the a s s i m i l a t i o n is c o m p l e t e , and the i is d o u b l e d .C o m p l e t e a s s i m i l a t i o n of n to a fo l l o w i n g i n i t i a l d en t a l w o u l d a l s o be ex

p e c t e d in BA, t h o u g h t h e r e are no c e r t a i n o c c u r r e n c e s .

3 . Stative Forms: In BA, as in BH, t h e s e are d i s t i n g u i s h ed f ro m the ac t ive

f o r m s in the s i m p l e c o n j u g a t i o n . H o w e v e r , in BA t h e y are res t r icted to the

q a t i l t y p e in the p e r f ec t , w i t h no o c c u r r e n c e s of the q a t u l t y p e . T h i s q a t i l t y p e

o c c u r s w i t h e i t h e r _ or _ in the final syllable (see I H) : ij p " to pay h o m a g e

( t o ) ; " anpj " t o d r a w n e a r ; a p p r o a c h . "

T h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c v o w e l of the i m p e r f e c t of the s t a t i v e v e rb s is usua l ly a:

Vf^b ; "he wi l l be c l o t h e d , " a l t h o u g h the u s u a l n o n - s t a t i v e u a l so occ urs ,

tip'; "he wi l l pay h o m a g e ( t o ) . " T h e s e fo r m s are ca l l ed " s t a t i v e" b ecau s e t h ey

u s u a l l y d e n o t e a s t a t e or c o n d i t i o n . H o w e v e r , the s o -ca ll ed " s t a t i v e s " (w h i ch

a r e s u c h in f o r m at l e a s t ) do not n e c e s s a r il y p r e s e n t u n i f o r m c o r r e s p o n d e n c e

b e t w e e n BA and B H (or o t h e r S e m i t ic la n g u a g e s ) as to t h i s ch a rac t e r i s t i c v o w e l

i n the p e r f e c t : BA an^ " t o si t, " bu t BH a^; " t o s it . "

4. Conjugation of the Perfect: In BA m o s t g r a m m a r i a n s h a v e f o un d itc o n v e n i e n t to use ana for the p a r a d i g m s , r a t h e r t h a n u s i ng the ear l i e r bvt

o r the l a t e r V D J? of BH g r a m m a r i an s . The Pea l Per fec t of the r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g )

v e r b of BA is c o n j u g a t e d as f o l l o w s :



21

A ct i v e

a n a he w r o t e

n a n s she w r o t e

n a n a you w r o t e

n a n a I w r o t e

l a n a t h e y w r o t e

n a n a t h e y w r o t e

j i n a n a you w r o t e

X i a n a we w r o t e

Singular

P e r s o n

3 (mas c . )

3 ( fem.)

2 ( m a s c . )

1 ( co m. )

Plural

3 (mas c . )

3 (fem.)

2 (mas c . )

1 ( co m. )

S t a t i v e

anp he a p p r o a c h e d

na"]i? she a p p r o a c h e d

nanp you a p p r o a c h e d

nanj? I a p p r o a c h e d

lanj? t h e y a p p r o a c h e d

nanj? t h e y a p p r o a c h e d

iwanj? you a p p r o a c h e d

N ian i? we a p p r o a c h e d

T h e s eco n d p e r s o n mas cu l i n e s i n g u l a r a l s o has the v a r i a n t f o r m s nnana

a n d n a n a . The sa m e v a r i a n t e n d i n g s m a y be fo u n d in t h e d e r i v ed co n j u g a t i o n s .

5. Uses of the Perfect: In BA, as in BH, the p e r f ec t can be u s ed in a

var ie ty of r e l a t i o n s h i p s to t h e e l e m e n t of t i m e , and h e n c e it may be t r a n s l a t e d

by severa l d i f fe ren t Engl i sh t enses . Examples of the m o s t c o m m o n u s es of the

perfec t are l i s t ed b e l o w :

(A ) H i s t o r i ca l p e r f ec t : Vaa-Tiba nsnaiai r a ian an "He gave t h e m

i n t o the p o w e r of N e b u c h a d n e z z a r , the k i n g of B ab y l o n " (E z ra 5 : 1 2) .

( B ) P r e s e n t : ' 3 pirip. pnVx rn'T''7 n S T njx "1 know t h a t the s p i r i t of the

holy gods is in you" (D an . 4 : 6 [9 ] ) .( C ) F u t u r e : nsb T^TTi : Kjatp-Va n i n n niaVa n sniani wpV^i nniaVai

pi'Vy "a nd the k i n g d o m and the d o m i n i o n and the g r e a t n e s s of

t h e k i n g d o m s u n d e r all the h e a v e n s will be given to the p e o p l e of the

s a i n t s of the M o s t H i g h " (Dan. 7:27) .

(D ) P re s en t p e r f ec t : njn-ba Vap'Va -qaaV ^btvT\ xV nsxB^'pa nn s nn?Nl

n s T "but you, his son, O Be l s h azza r , h av e not h u m b l e d y o u r h e a r t ,

a l t h o u g h you have known all t h i s " (Dan. 5:22) .

(E ) P l u p e r f ec t : "la pBin i s n a w ? n x E p a i narji •'i snV ^-n^ a-n xjixaaVirnT'a ""T xVa n " the vessels of go ld and s i lver of the h o u s e of God

w h i c h N e b u c h a d n e z z a r had taken out of the T e m p l e w h i c h is at

J e ru s a l em" (E z ra 5 : 1 4 ) .



2 2

6 . Vocabulary:

T-i^ — t h e n p D l — (h ap h e l ) to tak e (o u t )

b e c a u s e , a l t h o u g h nip — t o pay h o m a g e to

ana — t o wr i t e t h e M o s t H i g h (4)

a n a - w r i t i n g , d o c u m e n t . before ; because

i n s c r i p t i o n (4) t o d r a w n e a r ; ap

B>aV — t o be c l o t h e d w i t h ; p r o a c h

wea r lan — g r e a t n e s s (9)

wVa — k i n g s h i p ; r e i g n ; d o m i n i o n (4)

k i n g d o m (9) ( h a p h e l and aphel )

p-«-r? - s ince t o h u m b l e ; h u m i l t o go out ia te

7. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the f o l lo w in g :

nn-jiaia nVa: (4)

s;'p->Va ribpi (6)

xabs •?» p N nan (s)

N;air* nVx Kan snVH xifip (10)

n^aniat (1)

NBpai Nani Nian (3)

Nynx'rsnan^ (5)

N N""?? fnVPi? (7)

KVyn ]a ppi Nina (9)



23

LESSON VI

THE VERBAL SYSTEM: THE IMPERFECT, THE INFINITIVE, ETC.

L Conjugation of the Imperfect: The so-called "characteristic vowel"

[the vowel after the second root consonant] of the imperfect is usually u.

However, the stative verbs have a more frequently than u as this characteristic

vowel (see V, sec. 3). The Peal Imperfect of the regular (strong) verb of BA is

conjugated as follows:

Singular

Active Person Stative

he will write 3 (masc. ) he will approach

she will write 3 (fem.) she will approach

a n a n you will write 2 (masc.) you will approach

anai? I will write 1 (com.) I will approach

Plural

pana? they will write 3 (masc.) they will approach

they will write 3 (fem.) they will approach

panan you will write 2 (masc.) panpn you will approach

we will write 1 (com.) we will approach

The first person singular may also have the variant form a r i p K .

2 . Uses of the Imperfect: In BA, as in BH, the imperfect is used ord i

narily with a present or future meaning. However, in both languages its use is

not confined to these meanings only. Some of the most common uses of the

imperfect in BA are as follows:

(A) Future: s y - i N - b a a tjVtt?n ••7 "which will rule over the whole ea rth"

(Dan. 2:39).'

(B) Present: au?^ N a s ^ V l ^ V i N B'JN maVaa N'Vv ti'Viy-n "until

you know that the Most High is ruler [mighty] in the kingdom of men,

and He gives it to whomever He wishes' (Dan. 4:22[25]).



2 4

( C ) P a s t : t h i s use usua l ly fo l lows a p e r f ec t to i n d i c a t e s i mu l t an eo u s ac t i o n

[it has no r e l a t i o n s h i p to the BH "waw c o n s e c u t i v e , " but occurs e i ther

w i t h or w i t h o u t the a t t a c h e d waw]: N DIPV xpa? nipni 1j?ni na"l 'T" w h i c h g r e w (up) and b e c a m e s t r o n g and w h o s e h e i g h t reached to the

h e a v e n s " (Dan. 4 :17[2 0]) .

( D ) J u s s iv e , O p t a t i v e , C o h o r t a t i v e ( v o li t iv e i d e a s ) : saVs ""TU n"'3-ja |nw

give [it] f rom the k i n g ' s t r e a s u r y " [lit. " th e h o u s e of the t r ea s u re s of

t h e k i n g " ] ( E z r a 7 : 2 0 ) ; a ? ari'n;' nvn aa"?1 "and let the h e a r t of an

a n i m a l be given to him" (Dan. 4 :13[16]) .

In mo s t ca s e s the f o r m of the j u s s i v e is i d e n t i c a l to t h a t of the imperfec t .

H o w e v e r , t h e j u s s i v e of t h e t h i r d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l may be i n d i c a t e d in

w e a k v e r b s by the e l i s i o n of the final nun: nax;; " let t h e m p e r i s h " ( J e r . 1 0 : 11 )

[ s o me p re fe r h e re the r e n d e r i n g , " t h e y w i ll p e r i s h " ] .

3. The Infinitive: In BA o n l y one fo rm of th e in f in i t ive is f o u n d in the Pea l

c o n j u g a t i o n , and t h u s BA d o e s not h a v e in t h i s c o n j u g a t i o n the d i s t i n c t i o n

b e t w e e n the i n f in i t iv e ab s o l u t e and the i n f in i ti v e c o n s t ru c t fo u n d in BH. H o w

ev e r , t h i s d i s t i n c t i o n is m a i n t a i n e d in the d e r i v ed co n j u g a t i o n s , in w h i c h the

in f in i t ives have the a p p a r e n t l y f e m i n in e e n d i n g ri- (see V I I I , sec. 1). T h i s

e n d i n g is not a t r u e f e m i n i n e e n d i n g , but does fo l low the f emi n i n e in h av i n g

f o r m s e n d i n g in ri- for the i n f in i ti v e c o n s t r u c t . H o w e v e r , in these der ived

c o n j u g a t i o n s the e n d i n g ni- is f o u n d on the i n f i n i t i v e co n s t ru c t fo rms to

which suflSxes are ad d e d . O ccas i o n a l l y t h i s l a t t e r fo rm of the inf ini t ive occur

r i n g w i t h o u t a suflSx is u s ed in p l a c e of the usu a l in f in it ive co ns t ru c t fo rm

e n d i n g in n_.

I n u s a g e , the BA inf in i t ive f ol low s closely its BH c o u n t e r p a r t . The ob jec t

o f the in f in i t ive may c o m e e i t h e r b e f o r e or a f t e r the inf ini t ive itself, and usual ly

h a s •? as the s ign of t h e d i r e c t o b j e c t (see II , sec. 6). In the s i mp l e co n j u g a t i o n

the in f in i t ive is r eg u l a r l y d i s t i n g u i s h ed by a p r e f o r m a t i v e mem (the infinit iveso f the d e r i v ed co n j u g a t i o n s w i ll be d i s cu s sed s u b s eq u en t l y ) . T h u s the Pea l

In f in i t ive of the r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb is aripa " t o w r i t e . "

H o w e v e r , in a few i n s t a n c e s t h e r e are o c c u r r e n c e s of a Pea l In f in i t ive in a

w e a k v e r b w i t h o u t t h i s p r e f o r m a t i v e mem: siaV " t o b u i l d " ( Ez ra 5:3; e t c . ) .

4. The Imperative: In the s i m p l e c o n j u g a t i o n the i m p e r a t i v e has the s ame

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c v o w e l as the i m p e r f e c t (see a b o v e ) . The e n d i n g s are s h o r t , p r e

s u m a b l y c o r r e s p o n d i n g to the j u s s i v e r a t h e r t h a n to the i m p e r f e c t . The Pea l

I m p e r a t i v e f o r m s o c c u r r i n g in BA are as fo l lo w s ( t h e re is no a t t e s t a t i o n in BAo f a f e m i n i n e p l u r a l i m p e r a t i v e ) :

ana ( m a s c . s i n g . ) "-ana ( f em. s i n g . ) a n a (m a s c . p l . )

http://masc.pl/

http://masc.pl/



2 5

In BA the i m p e r a t i v e has the n o r m a l u se s fo u n d in BH, and l i k e i ts c o u n t e r

p a r t in B H , c a n n o t be u sed wi th a n e g a t i v e . T h e n e g a t i v e i m p e r a t i v e is expressed

by the use of "?s w i th th e ju ss iv e (or w i t h the o r d i n a r y i m p e r f e c t if t h e r e is nod i s t in c t ly ju ss iv e fo rm) : n3inri"'?K V33 •'a-'Sn'? not destroy the w i se men

o f B a b y l o n " (Dan. 2:24) .

5. The P articiples: In B A , as in B H , the p a r t i c i p l e s are used bo th verba l ly

an d n o m in a l ly . Th ey may be dec l ined as any o t h e r n o u n or ad jec t iv e . As a n o u n

or adject ive the p a r t i c ip l e is t ime le ss . In BA the ac t iv e p a r t i c ip l e of the s imple

co n ju g a t io n is an ad jec t ive typ e , q&t il , wh ich app ear s w i th e i th er _ or _ in the

final syllable (see I H ) . The Pea l Ac t iv e Pa r t i c ip l e of the regu lar ( s t ron g) verb

of BA is dec l ined as fo l lows:

( 3 r i 3 ) 3 r i 3 ( m a s c . s i n g . ) p s n s (m a s c . p l . )

nsns (fem. s ing . ) ] 3n3 (fem. pi. )

The pass ive par t ic ip le of the s imp le co n ju g a t io n is the q a t i l t y p e . The Peal

Pass ive Par t ic ip le of the regu lar ( s t ro ng) ve rb of BA is d ec l in ed as f o l lo ws :

TTO (m asc . s ing . ) f? ' ' ' ^? (m asc . pi. )

HTriS (fem. s ing . ) jTr iS (fem. pi .)

6. Uses of the Active Participle: The m o s t c o m m o n v e r b a l use of the

par t ic ip le in BA is to ex p re ss p r e sen t t ime . Ho wev e r , as a v e r b , the ac t ive

p a r t i c ip l e is used to express v i r tua l ly all of the s a m e p o i n t s of t i m e as the

imper fec t , wi th the c o n t e x t d e t e r m i n i n g the spec i f ic po in t of t i m e . T h u s the

use of the p a r t i c ip l e in s t ead o f ' t h e imp er f ec t is c o m m o n l y f o u n d in all the

Aramaic l an g u ag es and d i a l e c t s , and it even f ilte red i n to post -Bib l ica l H eb re w .

Th e p a r t i c ip l e is c o m m o n l y u s e d for the f o l lo win g :

( A ) F u t u r e : ( a l o n e , or o f t en wi th the imp e r f ec t of n i n ) : X TfXi "qb V.fi'A p i

" a n d you will be driven ow/ f rom m a n k in d " [ l i t . " ( t he y) wi l l d r ive you ou t" ]

(Dan . 4 :29[32] ) .

(B) Presen t : aV-nVs r\xm •'T -^Thv, " y o u r God w h o m you serve (Dan.

6:17) ; th is usage can be m a d e e m p h a t i c by the a d d i t i o n of • 'TpV.: ^''Trv.'n

Vna "are you really a b l e ? " (Dan. 2:26) .

(C) Pa s t : ( a lo n e , or w i t h the per fec t of 7\'\T\): NaVsJ nai' -p T]T Nnn ,?nxifl a ppVa-Vy " t h a t t o w n f r om d a y s of old has risen up a g a i n s t

k i n g s " (Ez ra 4 :1 9 ) ; Vpj? mn xas Nin-n " w h o m he wished, killed

(Dan. 5:19) .

http://masc.pl/

http://masc.pl/



2 6

( D ) J u s s i v e : fSl\r\1? Qbb "and let it be known to you" [lit. "let ( them)

m a k e ( i t) k n o w n to y o u " ] ( E z r a 7:24).

(E ) Its use (i s ) v e ry co m m o n in the ex p re ssio n "an sw ered and s a i d " or "answered , say in g " (u su a lly b o th v e rb s are p a r t i c ip l e s , b u t not necessar i ly so):

naxi NaVa n?» " the k i n g answered and said (Da n. 6:17[16]); p a w i l S ?

" t h e y an swered [p ea l p e r f ec t ] and said (Dan. 6:14[13]).

7. Uses of the Passive Participle: In BA th e pass ive par t i c ip le is f requen t ly

used as a p r ed ica t e ad jec t iv e ( so m e t imes as an adject ive of qua l i ty ) . Occasiona l ly

i t may be u sed to express the a c t i v e p a r t i c i p l e : N"iir is p rope r ly t ran s la ted

" d w e l l i n g " or " d w e l l s " (Dan. 2:22).

Th e p ass iv e p a r t i c ip l e a l so may be u sed w i th the per fec t of nin to expressth e p lu p e r f ec t : n n Nin-n " w h i c h had been built ( E z r a 5:11).

8. Active Verb Forms W ith Passive Meanings: In BA a pass ive may be

expressed by a s o r t of i m p e r s o n a l or indef in i te sub jec t w i th an ac t ive ve rb fo rm.

T h i s c i r c u m l o c u t i o n for the pass ive is mu ch mo re f r eq u en t in BA t h a n in BH.

Usu a l ly , the indef in i te or imp e r so n a l su b ject is expressed (or impl ied) in the

p l u r a l , as " t h e y , " w i t h an ac t iv e v e rb fo rm , a l th o u g h a s ingu lar sub jec t may

o ccas io n a l ly be u s e d . The ob jec t of the ac t ive verb is th en ac tu a l ly the subject ,

a n d the v e rb sh o u ld be t r a n s l a t e d as a p ass iv e . A s t u d y of the examples wil lc la r i fy th is pecu l ia r i ty of BA g r a m m a r .

(A ) The finite verb: the use of a finite verb in the th i r d person mas cu l ine

p l u r a l is the m o s t c o m m o n m e t h o d of express ing th is type of pass ive :

pinr ... niia " t r i b u t e ... will be paid [lit. " th ey wi ll g ive . . . t r i b u t e " ]

( E z r a 4:13); cf an^na ... nia " t r i b u t e ... will be paid [hi thpeel] (Ezra

4:20).

(B ) The ac t iv e p a r t i c ip l e : wh en th i s t y p e of pass ive is expressed by an act ive

p a r t i c i p l e , the p a r t i c ip l e is p l u r a l , but the i m p e r s o n a l or indef inite subject

" t h e y " is no t expressed by a sep a ra t e p r o n o u n (see ab o v e , sec . 6, examples

A and D).

(C ) The in f in i t ive : as m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , the i m p e r s o n a l s u b je c t " t h e y " can be

e i ther expressed (as in finite verbs) or imp l i ed (as in p a r t i c ip l e s ) , but

w i t h the inf ini t ive it m u s t of necess i ty be i m p l i e d : V D V rrjainV *1BN1

Vaa ''a"'ari " and he c o m m a n d e d t h a t all the wise men of Bab y lo n be

destroyed [ l i t . " and he c o m m a n d e d ( t h e m ) to d e s t r o y all the wise men of

B a b y l o n " ] (Dan. 2:12); waV njT Nri"?N-rT'a " t h i s h o u s e of God be

built [lit. " t o b u i ld th i s h o u se of G o d " ] ( E z r a 5:13).

9 . The Copula: In BA t h e r e are severa l way s in w h i c h the co p u la may be

ex p ressed . It is m o s t f r eq u en t ly ex p ressed e i th e r b y ju x ta p o s i t i o n of th e subject



2 7

a n d p r e d i c a t e , or by the use of s o m e f o r m of the v e r b nin. A l s o r a t h e r c o m m o n

is the use of a t h i r d p e r s o n i n d e p e n d e n t p e r s o n a l p r o n o u n as a c o p u l a (see

I I I , sec. 2 B). In a d d i t i o n to th e s e m e t h o d s of ex p re s s i n g the c o p u l a , it may beex p res s ed by u s i n g •'n'R ( see X V I , sec . 4 ) . In s u c h a ca s e the s t a t e m e n t is u s u a l l y

c o n s i d e r e d m o r e e m p h a t i c t h a n the o t h e r t h r e e m e t h o d s of ex p re s s i n g the

c o p u l a (cf sec. 6 B a b o v e ) .

10. Vocabulary:

— to per i sh N(W — ( h i t h p a a l ) to r i s e up

— ( h a p h e l ) to d e s t r o y ; s l ay ag a i n s t

— to say; c o m m a n d s u p e r i o r , h i g h e s t ; the— t r e a s u r e (1) M o s t H i g h (10)

niO — to be; h a p p e n ; e x i s t njs? — t o an s w er

— m o u n t a i n (4) n a V - t o d es i r e ; w i s h , l i k e

IIP — to d r i v e aw ay n a n - t o g r o w (up); b e c o m e

— ( h a p h e l ) to m a k e k n o w n ; g r e a t

c o m m u n i c a t e Dl-l — h e i g h t (4)

a n ' — (h i t h p ee l ) to be g i v e n ; be Pb^ — t o r u l e ; h a v e p o w e r o v e r

p a i d B-'V^ — mi g h t y ; o f f i ce r ; it is

— to be ab le a l l o w e d (4)

— t ax , t r i b u t e [ al s o n n 3 a](7) nnip — t o l o o s e n ; > to dwel l

N p a — to r e a c h , a t t a i n ; c o m e t o be s t r o n g , b e c o m e

u p o n ; h a p p e n to s t r o n g

11 . Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the fo l l o w i n g :

Vaa w a n i ' a D n n VepaV l a x xaVa (i)

xy'iK-'ja vbf: K'Vs (2)

pnaja Nn r - ix n n i a i n D p n (3)

N%i5> "?'na nav nin xas nirjai (4)

x a q i n na 'T nniK Na^a l a x i n ia "?N»?T pix (5)

niD"? N a n a sn a on na*^ (e)

ania n i n r i ra Ntoai Np'Vi? (7)

N j a o n n TipaV sa-'an Vna (8)

NNriT xVea p a x xa^K-Va (9)

N j a f aVx n-a-p saVa pTip? (10)



2 8

L E S S O N V I I

C L A S S E S O F N O U N S

1. System s of Classification: A n y d i v i s i o n o f n o u n s an d ad j ec t iv es i n t o

c l a s s e s i s q u i t e a rb i t r a rv . H o w e v e r , b ecau s e t h ey a r e g o v e rn ed b y t h e v a r i o u s

p h o n e t i c l aw s g i v en i n L es s o n I i n t h e i r i n f l ec t i o n ( fo r n u mb er , s t a t e , an d

pronominal su f f ix ) , to se t up such c lasses i s s imply a mat te r o f conven ience fo rt h e p u rp o s e o f l e a rn i n g t h e i n f l ec t i o n s . A co n v en i en t s y s t em fo r t h i s p u rp o s e i s

a t en - fo ld c lass i f i ca t ion as fo l lo w s :

(1 ) Seg h o l a t e n o u n s .

(2 ) N o n - s e g h o l a t e n o u n s w i t h t w o ch a n g i n g v o w e l s an d a s i n gl e f in al co n s o

n a n t .

(3 ) N o u n s w i t h o n e ch a n g i n g v o w e l i n t h e u l t i m a an d a s i n g le f in al co n s o n an t .

(4 ) N o u n s w i t h u n ch an g i n g v o w e l s an d a s i n g le fin al co n s o n a n t .

(5 ) N o u n s w i t h a d o u b l ed f in al co n s o n a n t (w h i ch u s u a l l y ap p ea r s a s a s in g le

co n s o n an t i n t h e ab s o l u t e s t a t e ; s ee I 4 ) .

( 6) N o u n s e n d i n g i n r i - .

(7) F e m i n i n e n o u n s e n d i n g i n r i - a n d w i t h u n c h a n g i n g v o w e l s .

( 8) F e m i n i n e n o u n s e n d i n g i n H - a n d w i t h c h a n g i n g v o w e l s .

( 9) F e m i n i n e n o u n s e n d i n g i n a n d i _ .

(10) N o u n s o f u n i q u e f o r m a t i o n .

I t i s t o b e n o t ed t h a t t h e s e s o -ca l l ed classes a re no t to be confused w i th the

types o f n o u n s , w h i ch i n d i ca t e t h e w ay t h a t n o u n s a r e fo rmed f ro m t h e t r i -

c o n s o n a n t a l r o o t s ( t y p e s s u c h a s q a t l , q a t a l , q a t t a l , e t c . ) . T h e n u m b e r s o f t h e

ab o v e c l a s s e s a r e t h e n u mb er s fo u n d i n p a ren t h es es a f t e r t h e n o u n s an d ad j ec

t i v e s i n t h e v o cab u l a r i e s a t t h e en d o f each l e s s o n i n t h i s g r ammar .

2. Infiection of the First Nine Classes: F o r t h e s ak e o f i l l u s t r a t i o n o n e

or more examples o f the f i r s t n ine c lasses wi l l be shown in bo th s ingu lar and

p l u r a l a s fo l l o w s : (1) t h e ab s o l u t e s t a t e ; (2 ) t h e co n s t ru c t s t a t e ; ( 3) t h e em p h a t i c

s tate; (4) wi th a l ight suff ix; and (5) wi th a heavy suff ix . Obviously , in the

l i mi t ed l i t e r a t u re o f BA a ll o f t h e s e fo rm s d o n o t o ccu r i n t h e w o rd s ch o sen a s

ex amp l es , b u t a r e r e s t o red f ro m t h e i r o ccu r r en ces i n o t h e r w o rd s .



2 9

a b s o l u t e c o n s t r u c t e m p h a t i c l i g h t suff. h e a v y suff.

(1) sg. i?4 xaVa P ? V a

sg.T J -

sg. -ISO I S O n p p Tia*???

pi. p ? 9 n p p p a n p p

T h ere a l s o o ccu r the v a r i a n t f o r m s KVn •'V'Tl and psV'O. T h i s u s a g e of b o t h

-'n and .'n i s a lso found in t h e p l u r a l s of th i s c l ass .

(2) sg- N-ini

P i s ' ?pi. n r i i nna

(3) sg.

pi . p a - V p - a

(4) sg. o n nn s a n p n paan

pi. pan p n - a n pa-an

(5) sg. ai aa xaa -aa

pi. T^ 'aa N»aa

(6) sg. nin xnn [p lu ra l wi th su f f . ] -ninn

sg. nia N ia [ t h e Pea l A c t i v e Pa r t i c i p l e

pi . "n o f nn " t o b u i l d " ]

(7) sg.T •• J rn psprn

pi . nrnT ••

-nvn pajni-n

(8) sg. nnax xrinas pann N

pi . pilN maxT : •

xnnas

(9) sg. n i a T snia-) -nnn pannn

sg. isVa niaVa Nnia'jaT :

-niaVa paniaVa

pi. niaVi? Nrii?'?? ' n i a V a pan3a 7a

N o t e the a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e r u le t h a t the noanaa l e t t e r s r e t a i n t h e i r s p i r an t

p r o n u n c i a t i o n a f t e r a v o w e l ev en w h en the v o w e l w h i ch cau s ed it is d r o p p e d :

pa^rn, paVa-n (see I 1).

3. Nouns of Unique Formation: G r o u p e d t o g e t h e r in t h i s t en t h c l a s s are

v a r i o u s n o u n s (and ad jec t ives ) which ha ve in f l ec t iona l pec u l i a r i t i es th a t p re ve n t

them f rom be ing c lass i f i ed wi th the m o re r eg u l a r c l a s s e s of n o u n f o r m a t i o n .

F o r the s a k e of c l a r i t y , o n l y t h o s e fo rm s of t h e w o r d w h i c h are ac t u a l l y fo u n d



3 0

in BA wi l l be l i s t ed , w i th the e x c e p t i o n of t h e s u p p o s e d s i n g u l a r ab s o l u t e s t a t e

o f the n o u n ( t h i s b e i n g i n d i ca t ed by an a s t e r i s k ) . The fol low ing l i s t is not

c o m p l e t e but r e p r e s e n t s the g rea t ma j o r i t y of BA n o u n s h av i n g i r r eg u l a r i ti e s .•3N " f a t h e r " -nN -qiaN - n u N ; ( p l u r a l ) -nnax •qrinai? wn^3^?

• n x " b r o t h e r " [ p re s u m a b ly r e s em b l i n g 3N in the s i n g u l a r ] ; ( p l u ra l ) rj-nx

n *iK " l i o n " ( p l u r a l) x n i n x

H ^K " f i r e " [It is difficult to d e t e r m i n e as to w h e t h e r t h i s is a s imple fem in ine

o r p o s s i b l y the e m p h a t i c s t a t e of the m a s c u l i n e tPX of C l a s s 5.]

" h o u s e " [the s i n g u l a r is l i k e b'n in C l a s s 1]; (p l u ra l ) jiD-ria [This

i s p r o b a b l y an a n o m a l o u s n o n - s p i r a n t i z a t i o n of the T\, and t h u s _ is

n o t p r o n o u n c e d as a q a m e s h a t u p h . ]

"13 " so n" ana; ( p l u r a l ) -"ja -niia lin-n

*^i " i n t e r i o r ; m i d s t " xij [ c o n s t r u c t , not e m p h a t i c ] niJ ni?

*vri " v i s i o n " N im -ITn m m ; ( p l u r a l ) -iTtl

or " d a y" has the [ c o n s t r u c t ] p l u r a l mv b es i d es the r eg u l a r p l u ra l par

•nja " c o l l e a g u e " ( p l u ra l ) nnija yinnija

Npna " s e a t ; t h r o n e " a-ipia; ( p l u r a l ) pona

naT 33 "p re s en t , g i f t " (p l u ra l ) ^ r - a T a J

•N -a? " p r o p h e t " [ e m p h a t i c s t a t e ] n x ' a i ; ( p l u r a l ) x; « a3 [Bo th o ccu r wi th

K e t h i b - Q e r e v a r i a t i o n s . ]•pE* " w o m e n " ( p l u r a l ) pn-?* [The s i n g u l a r d o e s not o c c u r in BA; p r e

s u m a b l y it w o u l d be *nri3K, fr o m a d i f fe r en t ro o t . ]

• V y " h i g h e s t ; the M o s t H i g h " [ e m p h a t i c s t a t e ] N-Vs? [a K e t h i b - Q e r e

v a r i a t i o n ]

DV " p e o p l e ; n a t i o n " [the s i n g u l a r is C l a s s 5] ; ( p l u r a l ) N j a a s

•nnp " g o v e r n o r " n n s ; ( p l u r a l ) NPin?

nnj? " t o w n " s r i n i ? ; ( p l u r a l or co l l ec t ive s ingu lar ) n n p . [ e m p h a t i c s t a t e ]

B^K-) " h e a d " [the s i n g u l a r is C l a s s 4] ; (plural ) pB^Ni afi'^N* [an a p p a r e n tH e b r a i s m ]

an " g r e a t " [the s i n g u l a r is C l a s s 5] ; ( m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l ) pa"]ai ( femin ine

p l u r a l ) lanan xranan [T h es e p l u r a l s are f o r m e d by r e d u p l i c a t i o n . ]

13*7 " m y r i a d " ( p l u r a l ) pan [a K e t h i b - Q e r e v a r i a t i o n ]

t3^ " n a m e " aaB*; ( p l u r a l ) nnai^

Bes i d es t h e s e , t h e re is a g r o u p of w o r d s w h i c h are r eg u l a r ly f emi n i n e in the

s i n g u l a r [ s o me do not o c c u r in the s i n g u l a r in B A ] , but m a s c u l i n e in the p l u ra l .

T h e s e i n c l u d e •nax " c u b i t " nax " n a t i o n " •nWH " w h e a t " *nia " w i n d o w "

nV? " w o r d ; m a t t e r " and " y e a r . "

T h e n o u n xna " l o r d " can p r o p e r l y be i n c l u d e d in C l a s s 3 in s p i t e of the

p e c u l i a r a p p e a r a n c e of the fo rm (w ith suffix) -Kia [a K e t h i b - Q e r e v a r i a t i o n ] .



31

4 . Vocabulary:

n n jN — letter (8)

nx — brother (10)

nax —T \

nation (7; pi. 5)

xa* — fire; > fire-offering (10)

ia — interior; midst (10)

nin — breast (6)

im — apparition; vision; ap

pearance (10)

n t s in — wheat (7; pi . 4)

ni? — window (7; pi. 5)

colleague (10)

seat; throne (10)

T •word; matter, affair (7;

T •

p i . 5)

lord (3)

n3T33 — present, gift (10)

nns —T V

governor (10)

myriad; great multitude

(10)

5. Exercises: Translate the following:

mnvib nx»3J anp n xnnaxa xriVp na-na

xptt x-iaV pnVs pan ian

"?aaa nin xnan xnaVa xo"ia

xapinV pTPX 'nia'-ari •'itrjx»ax nns"? napri

X B^ xiia ian- x;ap xnai

naraia xiiaxV xjpin ]nu

«lpa'nnn a» ann-'T n?*x-i xaVs xin

1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

x-Vs? xn ? nniaia Vaa ma^aa papn? nniiai "rx-in do)



3 2

L E S S O N V I I I

T H E D E R I V E D A C T IV E C O N J U G A T I O N S

1. Principal Parts: Although not all of the fo l lowing pr inc ipa l pa r t s of the

a c t i v e c o n j u g a t i o n s o c c u r in BA, for the s a k e of c o n v e n i e n c e t h e y are inc luded

i n the d i a g r a m b e l o w :

Peal Sta t ive P a e l H a p h e l A p h e l S h a p h e l

Per fec t a n ? a n ? a n a n a n a x a n a ? *

I m p e r f e c t a r i a : a r i a - a n ? ? - a n a : an?B*.-

I m p e r a t i v e a n a a n ? an?n a n ? N a n ? ^

In f in i t ive a r i p a n a n a n a n ? n n a n a x n a n ? ^

A c t . P a r t . a n ? a n a a a n a n a a n a a a n p B^ a

Pas s . Pa r t a - n a a n a ? a n p n p a n a a a n a ^ p

In any of the s e c o n d r o o t c o n s o n a n t s w i t h an / v o w e l , a sere is f requen t ly

f o u n d , but the / may as f r e q u e n t l y be r e t a i n e d (see I H) . T h u s the s t a t i v e nip

" t o pay h o m a g e ( t o ) " ; the Pae l Pe r f ec t an?; the H a p h e l P e r f e c t an?n; etc.

B e c a u s e the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c v o w e l in t h i s p o s i t i o n in P r o t o - S e m i t i c is usual ly

a n a in the perfect, the a p p e a r a n c e of an / v o w e l is g en e ra l l y r eg a rd ed as an

an a l o g i ca l ex t en s i o n f ro m the impe rfec t ( see Lesson V, sec. 2) . The ch a rac t e r i s t i c

v o w e l of the s e c o n d r o o t c o n s o n a n t of the imperfect of d e r i v ed co n j u g a t i o n si n P r o t o - S e m i t i c is an /.

The in f in i t ives of all the d e r iv e d c o n j u g a t i o n s may be f o r m e d by t a k i n g

t h e t h i rd p e r s o n mas cu l i n e s i n g u l a r of the p e r f ec t of the d es i r ed co n j u g a t i o n ,

c h a n g i n g the final vowel to and a d d i n g the e n d i n g n-: ( e . g . , the Pael)

ana > an? > nan?. As m i g h t be e x p e c t e d , the in f in i tive a l so oc curs w i th the

u s u a l o r t h o g r a p h i c v a r i a t i o n of x_ for n_.

I n the d e r i v e d a c t i v e c o n j u g a t i o n s the ac t i v e p a r t i c i p l e may be fo rmed

f r o m the t h i r d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e s i n g u l a r of the i mp er fec t by s i mp l y ch an g i n gt h e y o d h to a mem: ( e . g . , the P a e l ) ana- > anaa. In t h e s e s a m e c o n j u g a t i o n s

t h e r e is s o m e t i m e s a p as s i v e p a r t i c i p l e , w h i ch is j u s t l i k e the ac t iv e , excep t

t h a t the final vowel is _ r a t h e r t h a n _ : ( e . g . , the P a e l ) anaa.



3 3

2. Regular and Irregular Verbs: In BA, as in BH and o t h e r S e m i t i c

languages , verbs are d iv id ed i n t o r eg u la r , or s t r o n g v e r b s , and i r r eg u la r , or

weak verbs . Actua l ly , all the so - ca l led " i r r e g u la r " c l a sse s of v e rb s are basical lyco n ju g a ted acco rd in g to the p a t t e r n of the r eg u la r v e rb s , ex cep t wh e re an o th e r

p h o n e t i c d e v e l o p m e n t d o m i n a t e s t h e m to c h a n g e the fo rm s l igh t ly (see Les son I).

The names used for these i r regu lar (weak) verbs in BA are g en e ra l ly the s a m e as

those used in BH, b ased on the o r i g i n a l g r a m m a t i c a l p a r a d i g m w o r d VsD

( th e th r ee ro o t co n so n an t s of any v e rb b e in g n amed in o r d e r , the Pe l e t t e r , the

Ayin le t te r , and the L a m e d h l e t t e r ) . The fo l lowing c lass i f ica tion of i r regu lar

(weak) verbs may be c o n s i d e r e d as in c lu s iv e : (1) Pe L a r y n g e a l ; (2) A y i n

Lary n g ea l ( in c lu d in g r e sh ) ; (3) L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l (i n c l u d i n g r e s h ) ; (4) Pe N un ;

(5 ) Pe A l e p h ; (6) Pe Y o d h ( i n c l u d i n g Pe Waw); (7) A y i n Waw ( in c lu d in g Ay in

Y o d h ) ; (8) the s o -c a ll e d " L a m e d h H e " ( i n c l u d in g L a m e d h A l e p h , L a m e d h

W a w , and L a m e d h Y o d h ) ; (9) G e m i n a t e (or A y i n A y i n ) ; and (10) verbs

d o u b ly weak (of all c lasses) . These i r regu lar verbs wi l l be co n s id e r ed in su b se

q u en t l e s so n s . All o th e r v e rb s in BA are classified as r eg u la r (or s t r o n g ) v e rb s .

I n BA the v e r b may c o m e in a l m o s t any p o s i t i o n in the s e n t e n c e . In o t h e r

w o r d s , it may be f o u n d e i th e r p r eced in g or f o l lo win g e i th e r its sub jec t or its

objec t . As n o ted p r ev io u s ly , the d i rec t ob jec t may (or may not) be i n t r o d u c e d

by the p r e p o s i t i o n b. A v e rb wh ich has m o r e t h a n one sub jec t may be e i th e rs ingu lar or p lu r a l (wh e th e r it p r eced es or w h e t h e r it fo l lows it s sub jec ts) .

3. The Pael: The r eg u la r ( s t r o n g ) v e rb of BA is co n ju g a ted as fol lows in

the Pae l :

Singular Plural

Perfect Imperfect Person Per fec t Imper fec t

an? ana- 3 (masc . ) lana p a r a -

nari? ana?i 3 (fem.) nan?

nan? anari 2 (masc . ) p n a n a rianan

nan? an ? N 1 (com.) wan? an?i

The Pael Inf ini t ive is nana; ( co n s t . ) nana; (with suffix) nian?

Th e Pae l Imp era t iv e is:

ana ( m a s c s i n g . ) -an? (fem. s in g . ) ian? ( m a s c . pi. )

The Pae l Par t ic ip les are [n o te th a t , ex cep t for the ma scu l in e s in g u la r , c o n t ex t

a lo n e d e te rmin es wh e th e r the p a r t i c i p l e is ac t iv e or p ass iv e ] :



3 4

pariD ? (m. pi. a c t i v e or pa ss ive)

]an?a (f. pi. a c t i v e or pass ive)

ansa (m as c . s i n g , ac t i v e )

anaa ( m a s c s i n g , p a s s i v e )

nanaa (f. sg. a c t i v e or pass ive)

O n l y a few f o r m s of t h e P a e l p a r a d i g m as g i v en ab o v e are ac t u a l l y fo u n d in

a n y of t h e r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb s of B A . One e x a m p l e e a c h of tho se fo rm s which

d o o c c u r is l i s t ed be low for c o n v e n i e n c e :

P e r f e c t — t h i r d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e s i n gu l a r "jap [and VapJ

— t h i r d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l iVaa

I m p e r f e c t — t h i r d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l pVap.-

— s e c o n d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l pVapn

In f in i t ive —x'?Ba [ n o t e x for n]

P a r t i c i p l e — m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l ( p a s s i v e ) pnsaa

4 . The Haphel: The r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb of BA is c o n j u g a t e d as fol lows

i n the H a p h e l :

Singular Plural

Perfec t Imp er fec t Pe r s o n Pe r f ect Imp er fec t

3?sn a w n - 3 (mas c . ) l a n a n p a n a m

r i a n a n a n a n n 3 ( fem.) n a n a n

n a n a n a n a n r i 2 (mas c . ) p n a n a n p a n a n n

3 ^|^^^t 1 ( co m. ) N i a n a n a n p n i

I n the p e r f ec t t h e re are a l s o the v a r i a n t f o r m s n a n a n and n a n a n for

t h e t h i rd p e r s o n f emi n i n e s i n g u l a r and f i r s t person common s ingu lar respec t ive ly .

T h e H a p h e l I n f i n i t i v e is n a n a n ; ( c o n s t . ) n a n a n ; (wi th sufl ix) n i a n a n .

T h e H a p h e l I m p e r a t i v e is:

a n a n ( m a s c . s i n g . ) "-anan (fem. s i n g . ) l a n a n ( m a s c . pi.)

T h e H a p h e l P a r t i c i p l e s are:

anana ( m a s c . s i n g , a c t i v e )

anana (m as c . s i n g , p a s s i v e )

nanana (f. sg. ac t i v e or pass ive)

A s was t r u e w i t h the P a e l , the H a p h e l l i k e w i s e has o n l y a few ac t u a l o ccu r

r e n c e s in the r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb s of B A . One e x a m p l e of e a c h of the fo rms

o c c u r r i n g is l i s t ed b e l o w :

panana (m . p i . a c t i v e or pass ive)

janana (f. p i . a c t i v e or pass ive)



35

Perfect—third person masculine singular (with suff.) npbpn

— second-person masculine singular nVst^n

— third person masculine plural It nn

Imperfect — third person masculine singular VpEJn''

Infinitive — nVsiPn

Imperative — masculine singular cbtn

5 . The Aphel: In BA, the Haphel is a he causative conjugation, and the

Aphel is an aleph causative conjugation. Thus, the paradigm of the Perfect,

the Infinitive, and the Imperative of the Aphel can be formed uniformly by

substituting an aleph for a he. However, this is not true for the Imperfect andthe Participles. The Aphel Imperfect of the regular (strong) verbs is there

fore given as follows:

Singular Plural

Person

an?: 3 (masc.)

ari?n 3 (fem.)

anan 2 (masc.) panpn

anax 1 (com.) ana?

The Aphel Participles ar e:

anaio (masc. sing, active) panaa (m. pi . active or passive)

anaa (masc. sing, passive)

nanaa (f sg. active or passive) l?n?9 (f- P'- active or passive)

In the regular (strong) verbs of BA, there is only one example of the Aphel

(the Aphel occurs more frequently among the weak verbs). It is a Participle —

masculine singular active: V-Bt a [with the variant VsiPa]. Even so, the

example is somewhat doubtful, for the root VSE? appears elsewhere in the

Haphel, rather than in the Aphel.

6. The Shaphel: Far more rare in BA than either the Haphel or the

Aphel is the shin causative, the Shaphel. The few occurrences of the Shaphel

may be regarded as remnants of an older conjugation. N o paradigms need be

listed here, for a universal rule for the formation of the Shaphel is to substitute

a shin for the he of the Haphel.



36

In the regular (strong) verbs of BA, there are no examples of the Shaphel.

Those occurrences in the weak classes of verbs will be considered in subsequent

lessons.

7. Vocabulary:

behold DJ7B — sense; command; advice;

(pael) to stop report (1)

nia — (hithpeel) to be buil t now

nya — to seek, request; be on nsa — (pael) to bind, tie

the point of; run great (divine) service

risk IB^D — interpretation (1)- I 3 J - (mighty) man; warrior (pael) to receive

if; whether before

time; turn (2) m — (haphel) to irritate, make

in — one angry

nm — to see, perceive (haphel) to complete, fin

-dream (1) ish; deliver (completely)


••D " T p -p pVap.ri 13121 patai paripr) 7\'^tp naVn jni (i)

D"?Bh -i- a"? ? aip, oVirn •qnV n-a ]nbs}? rj"? f an:ria""'i K?Kai (2)

Niann K"? Nnnj? "qVs snaj xVpa D»p la-fe' i»a (3)

aniiai "^"yv^b nnsaV -lax nV-na n V-n-naj pai^i

Vaa-q"? ? T. a ian an xjair aVs C ?? '•'HlI T '73p""?a (5)

ao ann ne Nii DV IV JI x-'p-'Va D/'PI nm Vaa sna (e)

NaVa> nynin'? xntt pi nV-jnii jay •T xaVa-ia nsa Vs'jni (7)



37

LESSON IX

TH E PASSIVE A N D REFLE XIVE CO NJ UG AT IO NS

1. 77ie Passive Conjugations: In BA there are two passive conjugations,

Peil and Hophal. The Peil also occurs in Imperial Aramaic. It is apparently

nothing more nor less than the Peal Passive Participle to which finite endings

have been added. This participle itself is an adjectival type, qatil, which hasbeen introduced into the verbal system and adapted for use as a passive parti

ciple. The Hophal is considered by some to be a Hebraism in BA. However,

this is no t certai n. It is possible tha t the few forms so labeled are remna nts of

such a conjugation which was at home in BA.

Both of the passive conjugations, Peil and Hophal, have a very limited use

in BA. They occur only in the Perfect and not in all of its forms. While there

is no occurrence of a Hophal Imperfect in BA, it would be expected to follow

the Aphel in dropping the n- rather than the Haphel in retaining it. This would

accord with the Hophal Imperfect of BH. [Some have conjectured a Hophal

Imperfect of nni in Ezra 6:5.]

The Perfect of the passive con juga tions of th e regula r (strong) ve rb of BA

is as follows:

Perfect

Singular Plural

Peil Hop hal Person Peil H op hal

a r o n; T

3 (masc.) w n a l a n a n

na^ipn 3 (fem.) na-naT ;

n a n p n

( H ) r i a - n 3 r i a n a n 2 (masc.) pna-na pnanan

n? 'n? nanan 1 (com.) Nja-na N i a n a n

It is frequently difficult to determine whether a-na is the mas culi ne singula r

of the Peal Passive Participle or is the third person masculine singular of thePeil Perfect. Fo r the sake of convenience in syn tac tic classification it may be

assumed th at when it is accompa nied by a separ ate subject (either no un or

pronoun), it is the Peal Passive Participle, and otherwise, it is the Peil Perfect.



38

O n l y a few f o r m s of e i t h e r the Pei l or the H o p h a l o c c u r in any of the regular

( s t r o n g ) v e r b s of BA. One e x a m p l e e a c h of t hos e fo rms wh ich are found is

l i s t ed be low (all are in the P er fec t ) :t h i r d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e s i n g u l a r , orbf

- t h i rd pe r son femin ine s i ngu l a r nV-tJj?

- s e c o n d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e s i n g u l a r NpVpn [for nV'pri]

• t h i rd pe r so n mascu l ine p lu ra l i n D ? [for W M ]

t h i r d p e r s o n f e m i n i n e s i n g u l a r Wj?rn

P ei l —

H o p h a l —

2 . The Reflexive Conjugations: C o r r e s p o n d i n g to the Peal , Pael , and

S h a p h e l , t h e r e are the ref lex ive s tem s in t, H i t h p e e l , H i t h p a a l , and H i s h t a p h a l .In each case the n w h i c h p r e c e d e s the n s eems to be an ana log i ca l ex t ens ion of

t h e i n i t i a l c o n s o n a n t of the causa t i ve sys t em, —a p h e n o m e n o n o c c u r r in g a l so

i n o t h e r S e m i t i c l a n g u a g e s . T h i s n can be r ep l aced by an K [cf H a p h e l and

A p h e l ] ; t h u s o c c u r s the I t h p e e l for H i t h p e e l , etc.

I t is i m p o r t a n t to n o t e t h a t t h e s e " r e f l e x i v e " c o n j u g a t i o n s may of ten hav e

a t rue passive m e a n i n g , as wel l as the i r expecte d reflex ive m ea nin g .

A l t h o u g h not all of the fo l l owing p r inc ip a l pa r t s of the reflexive conju ga

t i o n s o c c u r in B A , for th e s a k e of conv en i enc e t hey a re i nc luded be low :

H i t h p e e l H i t h p a a l H i s h t a p h a l

Perfect ari??in aripnfn

I m p e r f e c t ar i sn -

I m p e r a t i v e a n s n n anariifJn

Inf in i t ive nanawn

P a r t i c i p l e a ? 3 n a anariB^

N o t e t h a t in the i m p e r f e c t the prefixed n is comple t e ly e l i ded , j u s t as in the

A p h e l , r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g r e t a i n e d as in the H a p h e l .

3. The Hithpeel: The r egu l a r ( s t rong) v e rb of BA is con juga t ed as fol lows

in the H i t h p e e l [ n o t e t h a t m e t a t h e s i s of n w i t h a fo l lowing s ib i lan t regular ly

o c c u r s in v e r b s w i t h an i n i t i a l s i b i l an t (see V, sec. 2)]:

Singular

P er fec t Imper fec ta r i a n n a r a i i :

r a r i a n n apann

Plural

Pe rso n Perfect Imp erfect

3 (masc . ) l a r a n n panan?

3 ( fem. ) nanapn lanan?



39

Singular Plural

nansnn ansrir) 2 ( m a s c . ) pnanpriri pansnn

napsnn ananK 1 ( c o m . ) wanann anani

In the p e r f ec t the v a r i a n t f o r m nanann is f o u n d for the t h i rd p e r s o n

femin ine s ingu lar .

T h e H l t h p e e ' I n f i n i t i v e i s nanaM; ( c o n s t . ) nanann; (wi thsuf f ix ) nianann.

T h e H i t h p e e l I m p e r a t i v e is:

anann (mas c . s i n g . ) -anann (fem. s i n g . ) lanann ( m a s c . pi.)

T h e H i t h p ee l Pa r t i c i p l e s are:

anara (m as c . s i n g . )

nanana (fem. s ing . )

panana ( m a s c . pi. )

]anana (fem. pi .)

O n ce ag a i n , o n l y a few of the a b o v e f o r m s are a c t u a l l y f o u n d in the r eg u l a r

(s t rong) verbs of BA. One e x a m p l e of e a c h of the f o r m s w h i c h do o c c u r is

l i s t ed be low:

Perfect — s e c o n d p e r s o n m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l pniantn [a K e t h i b - Q e r e

v a r i a t i o n — p o s s i b l y pniam — or a H i t h p a a l ]

Imp er fec t — t h i rd p e r s o n f em i n i n e s i n g u l a r p a n i Pn [ n o t e the m e t a t h e s i s ]

Infini t ive — nVopnn

Par t i c i p l e — m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l pVPp riP4 . The Hithpaal: The r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb of BA is c o n j u g a t e d as fol lows

in the H i t h p a a l :

Singular PluralPerfect Imp er fec t Person Per fec t Imp er fec t

anann anan- 3 (mas c . ) lanann panan?

nanann anann 3 (fem.) nanann l?nari-

nanann anann 2 (mas c . ) pnanann panann

nanann ananx 1 ( c o m . ) Nianann anan?

T h e H i t h p aa l In f i n i t i v e is nanann; ( c o n s t . ) nanann; (wi thsuf f ix ) nianann.

T h e H i t h p a a l I m p e r a t i v e is:

anann (ma s c . s i n g . ) -anann (fem. s ing . ) lanann ( m a s c . pi.)



4 0

T h e H i t h p a a l P a r t i c i p l e s are :

arisra (ma sc . s ing . )

nanana (fem. sing.)

f3?iana

l???ria

( m a s c . pi.)

( fem. pi.)

I n the r eg u la r ( s t r o n g ) v e rb s of BA the o n ly fo rms of the H i th p aa l wh ich

o c c u r are p a r t i c ip l e s ( th e r e a r e o th e r f o rm s in the we ak ve rbs) . These fo rms ar e:

Par t i c ip l e — mascu l in e s in g u la r Vanfe a [no te the me ta th es i s ]

— m a s c u l i n e p l u r a l ppjana

5 . The Hishtaphal: The H i s h t a p h a l , l i k e the Shaphel , occurs ex t remely

rare ly in BA, and no t at all in the regu la r ( s t ron g) verbs . R at he r than g iv ing a

r e c o n s t r u c t e d p a r a d i g m for the H i s h t a p h a l , the ac tu a l occur renc es wi l l be

d i scu ssed su b seq u en t ly in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the class of weak verbs invo lved .

6 . Vocabulary:

— t r e e (4) nan — (h i th p ee l ) to be t h r o w n

mT

— d e c r e e , c o m m a n d , o r d e r . — g r e a t , m u c h , m a n y ; [ad

l a w (4) verb] very (4)

— ( h i t h p e e l or h i t h p a a l ) to Vafe — ( h i t h p a a l ) to consider

a g r e e ; d e c i d e paB> — (h i th p ee l ) to be left; pas s

B^a — ( h i t h p a a l ) to a ssemb le o n to

I B — fire (4) n tt? — to send

*ia» — the o p p o s i t e b a n k (1) — (peil) to be finished

— (pe i l ) to be k i l led Vpn — (peil) to be weighed

— ( h i t h p e e l ) to be ki l led ipn — ( h o p h a l ) to be r e e s t a b

— ( h i t h p a a l ) to be k i l led l i shed

7. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the fo l lowing :

xni-n nV-pp is n^piK n t n (i)

wb^ xVi jqara nn;-? ]»a i » i ns - p i (2)

xnVa nVanft nV i i a i T n i iB^iann xnai (3)

nan V-pni •"nita n-aV asp? xa"?? nb<6 (4)

n"?ppnn sVi nipnn •'nia io-Vsi (5)

N - a ^ nani N s n x xiia fr x a - a n nm (6)

x p i nVx ">nn TIT ian nnni na»a n xas-Va (7)

xnii-xia"p xann: xaVs"? lip i b& x V - i - p i (8)

paVsj*? pantfn ao qh"? xniaVai (9)

pVDp.na x»B">arji xaVa-p n-r mm do)



41

L E S S O N X

L A R Y N G E A L V E R B S

1. Laryngeal Verbs: In th i s l esso n the t h r ee c l a s se s of l a ry n g ea l v e rb s w i l l

b e d i s cu s s ed . As a g ro u p , t h ey ex h i b i t r e l a t i v e l y mi n o r i r r eg u l a r i t i e s f ro m the

p a t t e r n of the r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb of B A . The v a r ia t i o n s w h i c h do o c c u r are a

r e s u l t of s o m e p h o n e t i c d e v e l o p m e n t t h a t d o m i n a t e s t h e m to c h a n g e the fo rms l igh t ly . The l a r y n g e a l s and r e s h p re fe r a v o w e l s ; the l a r y n g e a l s and resh

c a n n o t be d o u b l e d ; etc.

I t is i m p o r t a n t to n o t e t h a t t h i s l e s s o n d ea l s p r i m ar i l y w i t h v e rb s t h a t are

w e a k in one r o o t c o n s o n a n t o n l y . O b v i o u s l y a l a r y n g e a l can o c c u r in v e r b s t h a t

h a v e m o r e t h a n one w e a k n e s s ( e . g . Pe L a r y n g e a l and L a m e d h A l e p h ; Pe N un

and L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l ; e t c . ) . S u c h v e r b s t h a t are d o u b l y w e a k w i ll be d i scussed

s u b s eq u en t l y . A n y s t a t em en t a s t o t h e o ccu r r e n ces o f v e rb s i n t h i s l e s s o n , r e f e rs t o

verbs wi th on ly one w e a k r o o t c o n s o n a n t ( a n d t h a t a l a r y n g e a l ) , and no t to verbs

w h i c h are d o u b l y w e a k . In t h i s and s u b s e q u e n t l e s s o n s , r a t h e r t h a n r e c o n

s t r u c t i n g h y p o t h e t i c a l p a r a d i g m s for the w eak c l a s s e s of v e r b s , c o n s i d e r a t i o n

wil l be g i v en to u n d e r l y i n g p r i n c i p l e s and p h o n e t i c r u l e s a p p l i c a b l e to e a c h

class , and th e re w i l l be a l i s t i n g of s p ec if ic ex am p l es w h i ch ac t u a l l y o cc u r in BA.

2. Pe Laryngeal Verbs: To th i s c l ass be lon g tho se ve rbs w ho se f ir st

c o n s o n a n t is r\> or ». U s u a l l y the v o ca l s h ew a u n d e r t h i s first c o n s o n a n t is

c o m p o s i t e (I M) . An o r i g i n a l a is u s u a l l y r e t a i n ed u n d e r t h i s first co n s o n an t ,

r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g d i s s i m i l a te d to an / (I E). A s h o r t / before th i s f ir st c on so na n t

u s u a l ly b e c o m e s a s eg h o l (I F) . A s h o r t a b e fo re t h i s f irs t co n s o n a n t is u s u a l l y

r e t a i n e d (as in the P e a l I m p e r f e c t ) .

( A ) P e a l : the ab o v e ru l e s h av e s p eci fi c ap p l i c a t i o n s as fo l lo w s [ s o me ex

a m p l e s are g i v en as i l l u s t r a t i o n s ] :

Pe r f ec t : w h e re the Pe l e t t e r of the r e g u l a r v e r b has — or _ the l a ry n g ea l

h a s - or _ : (s ing.) 13S? rinas nna?; ( p l u r a l ) n3»

I m p e r f e c t : the p re f i x r e t a i n s the o r i g i n a l _ i n s t e a d of h a v i n g _ [but

b e c o m e s _ w h e n the v e r b is a l so L a m e d h H e ] : ( p l u r a l) peVn- or fn^vn

[here the l a ry n g e a l a d o p t s the v o w e l of th e p ref ix , in p l a c e of r e t a i n i n g

i t s s h ew a] .

In f i n i t i v e : the mem has _ i n s t e a d of _ : i s s a



42

Participles: the active participle is regular; the passive participle has

_ for _ : (plural) pn-B n

(B) Pael: since the Pe let ter of the regular (strong) verb uniformly has _ inthe Pael and this is also what the laryngeals prefer, the Pe Laryngeal

verbs have no irregularities in the Pael.

(C) Haphel (and Aphel): the development of the Haphel from the original

Proto-Semitic to BA seems to have been more complicated, involving

several phonetic rules: it appears to have taken place as follows: * 3 p r i n

> i p n n (shift of accent and loss of final vowel) > ]pnn (the so-called

"q atqat -q it qat " dissimilation [however, unusual with laryngeals, cf

I E]) > Jpnn (analogical extension of the character ist ic vowel of the

imperfect to the perfect) > ]pnn (short / before a laryngeal becomes

a seghol [see I F])> jDnn (insertion of a hateph [see I N]).

Perfect: (plural) y p m

Imperfect: here the only occurrence is in the Aphel, rather than the

Haphel, and is qui te regular in form: (plural) yapni

Participles: the actual occurrences of the participles in Pe Laryngeal verbs

are quite regular in both the Haphel and the Aphel.

(D) Passive conjugations: there are no occurrences of Peil or Hophal in verbsstrictly Pe Laryngeal [occurrences in verbs doubly weak (Pe Laryngeal

plus some other factor) will be discussed subsequently],

(E) Hithpeel: this is very similar to the Peal, having _ where the regular verb

has _ :

Imperfect: ( s i n g . )n a r n - [and n p y n - ]

Participle: (sing.) i:ivm

(F) Hithpaa l: the same use of _i s found in the regular verb as in the Pael, con

sequently theP e Laryngeal verbs have no irregulari ties in the Hithpaal.

3. Ayin Laryngeal Verbs: To this class belong verbs whose second root

consonant is N, n, n, V or l. Resh is included in this class primarily because it,

like the laryngeals, cannot be doubled. Besides the general rules for the laryn

geals given above, note especially that in compensation for the lack of doubling

the preceding vowel may be lengthened under certain circumstances (see I 8).

(A) Peal: the above rules for Ayin Laryngeal verbs have specific applications

as follows [some examples are given as illustrations]:

Perfect, Imperfect, Infinitive, and Imperative: all occurrences happen to

be regular (with the exception of a verb with verbal suffixes, which will

be considered in a later lesson).



43

Participles: the masculine active singular and the passive participles,

singular and plural, are formed regularly; the feminine active singular

and both active plural participles have _ for _ : (plural) f VnS-(B) Pael: as might be expected, with the inability of the laryngeal to be

doubled, the Ayin Laryngeal verbs exhibit their greatest irregularities

in the Pael (see 1 8).

Perfect: all the occurrences are with resh, so the preceding vowel is

lengthened in compensation for the lack of doubling : (sing.) "qna n?13

Imperfect: (sing.) anpn; (plural) pas?»-

Participles: (sing.pass.) "qiati; (plural) f"T5?oa

(C) Haphel, Peil, and Hithpeel: there are only a few forms of these conjugations which occur in verbs strictly Ayin Laryngeal, and all of these

occurrences happen to be regular.

(D) Hithpaal: as in the Pael, the lack of doubling produces some irregularity

(however, only one form actually occurs as given below).

Participle: here is the one instance of the vowel before a he being

lengthened in compensation for the lack of doubling (see I 8): (sing.)

Vnarta

4. Lamedh Laryngeal Verbs: To this class belong verbs whose last

consonant is n, n, » or i [this a is a he proper, indicated by a mappiq, and

not a he that is just one of the matres lectionis for the long vowel d — all of the

latter verbs a re included in the so-called "Lamedh H e " class of verbs]. Besides

the general rules above, remember tha t short vowels become pathah before

final n, n, or » (I J) . Also, a pathah furtive appears after a heterogeneous long

vowel (I K).

(A) Peal: the above rules for Lamedh Laryngeal verbs have specific appli

cations as follows [some examples are given as illustrations]:

Perfect: because the regular (strong) verb has a pathah before the last

consonant, and this is what the laryngeals also prefer, the Lamedh

Laryngeal class is regular in the Peal Perfect.

Imperfect: here there is found _ for _ before the last consonant; a shewa

before the last consonant is retained, the same as in the regular (strong)

verb: (sing.) nbl ; (plural) pnbD:

Infinitive: the Lamedh Laryngeal infinitive is regular in the Peal.

Participles: the active singular has _ for _; the plural is regular: (sing.)

n'?B; (plural) pnVs

the passive participle has the pathahi furtive: (sing.) n*"^



44

(B) Pael: here the preference of the laryngeals and resh for the a-vowel is

regularly exhibited.

Perfect: here _ i s found for - o r _ : (sing.) n n a i ^ ; (plural) in a^Imperfect: the same _ is found as in the perfect: (sing.) i |?a-

Infinitive: the Lamedh Laryngeal infinitive is regular in the Pael.

Imperative: the same _ is found as in the perfect: (plural) i T i a

Participles: because _ is found in the active participle for it becomes

identical with the passive participle in form and the context must be used

to differentiate between them; the plural participles are regular:

(sing.) i B ^ D p n a e ' D

(C) Haphel (and Aphel): the same occurrences of _ for _ and _ as found inthe Pael are found in the Haphel.

Perfect: (sing.) n ^s n n n a^ n [first person — for this peculiar formation

see the discussion under the Hithpeel Perfect below]; (plural) ina iPn

Njnatf n

Imperfect: (sing.) mtr\T); (plural) n a i r n i

Infinitive: the Lamedh Laryngeal infinitive is regular in the Haphel.

Participles: the occurrences actually found in BA of the Lamedh Laryngeal

class are in the Aphel rather than in the Haphel; the singular has _for _ in the active participle (see the Pael Participles above); the plural

is regular: (sing.) nVsM; (plural) pnVsa

(D) Peil: the sole occurrence of this conjugation is quite regular.

(E) Hithpeel: the same occurrence of _ for _ as found in the Pael is found in

the Hithpeel.

Perfect: note that metathesis occurs quite regularly in case of an initial

sibilant: (sing.) nariB'n

—third person feminine singular: in this class of verbs particularly,

the formations with a n suflRx [third person feminine, second person

masculine, and first person common] tend to be formed somewhat on

an analogy with a segholate [cf the Peal Imperfect of the Pe Laryngeal

above ] n a ? ? r i > pnasn]: thus n i t a n n and nriar«?;n [the latter appears

in the form of a true laryngeal segholate].

—second person masculine singular: easy to confuse with the above:

nnariE^ a [the final n is not aspirantized].

(F) Hithpaal: al l occurrences of this conjugation in verbs strictly Lamedh

Laryngeal are regular.

5. The Ithpeel Conjugation: As was mentioned previously (Lesson IX,

sec. 2), in BA there occurs a reflexive conjugation basically identical to



45

t h e Hi th p ee l , ex cep t it b eg in s wi th an K in the Pe r f ec t , r a t h e r t h a n wi th a n.

Th is ap p ea r s to be on an an a lo g y w i th the cau sa t iv es , wh e re the Ha p h e l b eg in s

w i t h a n and the Ap h e l w i th an x, e x t e n d e d i n t o the reflexives so th a t t h e r e is aform a n a r i X c o r r e s p o n d i n g to the f o rm ansnn. H o w e v e r , t h e r e is a n o t h e r

analogical inf luence on the I th p ee l wh ich a p p a ren t ly co mes f ro m the H i th p ee l

Imp er f ec t . The p ref ixes o f the H i thp ee l Imper fec t all h av e _ ex cep t the x , which

h as _ (the f irst pe rso n sing ular is a r i a n x ) . Ex ten d in g th i s p a r a l l e l i n to the

perfect of the I th p ee l , the fo rm a n a n x is f o u n d for the per fec t , as well as the

form a n a n x .

In the La me d h La ry n g ea l v e rb s th e r e is one o c c u r r e n c e of an I t h p e e l : nnfanx

c o r r e s p o n d i n g to nnfann [see a b o v e — H i t h p e e l ] .

6. Verbs Doubly Laryngeal: In BA ther e occur so me verbs wi t h two

different laryngeals (or resh) , bes ides those wi th a l a ry n g ea l and an o th e r ty p e

of i r regu lar i ty or weakness (which wi l l be d i scu ssed su b se q u en t ly ) . Th u s so m e

verbs are b o t h Pe La ry n g ea l and A y i n L a r y n g e a l , and o t h e r s are b o t h Pe

Laryngea l and L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l . In e i th e r ca se , ap p l i ca t io n of all the ab o v e

ru les for la ryngea ls or resh invo lved in each ind iv idua l verb is all t h a t is needed ,

m a k i n g it u n n ecessa ry to l i s t p a r ad ig ms , or consider specif ic examples.

7. Vocabulary:

m a — ( p ae l ) to d i sp e r se , sca t t e r

Vna — ( h i t h p a a l ) to be f r igh t

e n e d , be perp lexed

npa — (pae l ) to seek , invest iga te

•qna — (pae l ) to bless

nn — ( h i t h p e e l and i t h p ee l ) to

be cut out;

b r e a k off

»]"?n — to p ass ( o v e r ) ; p a ss by

jon — ( h a p h e l and ap h e l ) to

occupy , possess

a n — to c o n s i d e r ; > respec t

DBD — (pae l ) to feed, give to eat

n a f a

n a s

nir B

nVs

anp

nas^

natt>

ny6

- a l t a r (3)

• (pae l ) to h e l p , aid

( h i t h p e e l ) to be m a d e ;

t u r n e d i n t o ; be d o n e

(pae l ) to in t e rp r e t

( h a p h e l and a p h e l ) to

( cau se to) p ro sp e r ; f a rewe l l ; mak e p ro g re ss

(pae l ) to offer

(p ae l ) to p r a i se

( h a p h e l ) to find

(h i th p ee l ) to be found

8. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the f o l lo win g :

ra-B^nxVaxB-iK-anj-Vai ( i )

aVifiTa • •7 oanVN n-a r nna-ra-Vs ian anp^ni (2)

TinV r-i»09 snVs-n xwai jinaxn (3)



sri-iJK inpB^ni i i p. a i ovp o-i? ""lai (5)

aVa-n Niaa -nWi T ia i "jnana x-ato sa'pa p-rx (e)

xniaVa ]pt^i n -ni"??? psVa: piiv s^ a i N i (7)

nna;^ xaVs •'n'?i na-ia x-Vs?'?' (8)

p»5?»- •q'? pnina xai^vi (9)

nxjai -"ari ava pn^sai pia v.-nm -] (10)

aVs n-a"? nayn? Nwa l a s - i ' ? ? (11)

a i a a a-na-pi ana Vaaa nani|?ni (12)



4 7

L E S S O N X I

P E N U N , P E Y O D H , A N D P E A L E P H V E R B S

1. Pe Nun Verbs: M os t o f the i r reg u la r i t i es in th i s c l ass o f verbs occ ur

because a nun a t the end o f a sy l l ab ic i s o f t en ass imi la ted to the consonan t

beg inn ing the fo l lowing sy l l ab le , even to a l a ryngea l ( I 2 ) . However , th i s i s

no t un iversa l , fo r the nun may a l so be re ta ined , espec ia l ly in the Haphel .Natura l ly , no i r regu lar i t i es a re caused by a nun tha t i s in i t i a l ( the f i r s t conso

nan t in a word o r sy l l ab le) .

(A) Pe a l : the Pe N un ve rbs exh ib i t m ore i r regu lar i t i e s in the Pea l th an in the

d e r i v ed co n j u g a t i o n s [p o s s i b l y b ecau s e t h e re a r e mo re o ccu r r en ces i n

th e Peal] .

Per fec t : n o i r r eg u l a r i t i e s a r e cau s ed b y t h e i n i t i a l n u n i n t h e p e r f ec t .

Im p er fe c t : a l t h o u g h t h e ch a rac t e r i s t i c v o w e l o f t h e i mp er fec t i s u s u a l l y u

(w i t h a i n t h e s t a t i v e v e rb s ) , t h e Pe N u n v e rb s ex h i b i t a d ec i d ed pref

eren ce fo r a n / ( see Lesson V I , sec . 1 ) ; the ass im i la t io n o r n on- ass im

i l a t i o n o f t h e n u n s eems t o b e i n d i s c r i mi n a t e : ( s i n g . ) V p - JW - jriiri;

(p l u ra l ) pVpn p jr i r

In f in i t ive : the so le occu rren ce ha pp en s to be re gu lar : ]n3 p

I m p e r a t i v e : t h e n u n i s d r o p p e d c o m p l e t e l y : ( p l u r a l ) i p s [ a p p a r e n t l y

o n an an a l o g y w i t h t h e i mp er fec t an d i mp era t i v e o f t h e r eg u l a r v e rb :

i f n n p- ( i mp e r fec t ) > an a ( i m p er a t i v e ) t h en p B - > ps ] .

Pa r t i c i p l e s : a s i n t h e p e r f ec t , t h e n u n i s i n i t i a l , s o t h e re a r e n o i r r eg u

la r i t i es .(B) Pae l : t h e s o l e o ccu r r en ce h ap p e n s t o b e an i n f i n it i v e , an d w i t h an i n i t i a l

n u n t h e re i s n o i r r eg u l a r i t y .

(C) H a p h e l ( an d A p h e l ) : t h e a s s i m i l a t i o n o r n o n -as s i m i l a t i o n o f t h e n u n

s eems t o o ccu r i n d i s c r i mi n a t e l y h e re a l s o .

Pe r f ec t an d Imp er fec t : t h o s e o ccu r r en ces i n v e rb s s t r i c t l y Pe N u n a re

reg u l a r .

In f i n i t iv e : t h e n u n m ay b e r e t a i n ed ; o r i t m ay b e a s s i m i l a t ed , a s innVsn.

Par t i c i p l e s : t h e n u n ma y b e r e t a i n ed ; o r i t m ay b e a s s i m i l a t ed , a s i n " js a[ a n A p h e l f o r m ] .

(D ) Pe i l : t h e i n i t i a l n u n i s n o t a s s i mi l a t ed , h en ce t h e re a r e n o i r r eg u l a r i t i e s i n

the Pe i l .



4 8

( E ) H i t h p e e l : t h e r e are no o c c u r r e n c e s in verbs s t r i c t ly Pe Nun .

( F ) H i t h p a a l : in the h i t h p a a l c o n j u g a t i o n the Pe l e t t e r n ev e r co m es at the end

o f a s y l l ab l e , h en ce no i r r eg u l a r i t i e s o ccu r in the Pe Nun verbs .

2. Verbs Pe Nun and Ayin Laryngeal: All the p h o n e t i c r u l e s of b o t h

c l a s s e s ap p l y to th i s c l ass of d o u b l y w e a k v e r b s . The two m a i n o n e s are (1) the

p o s s i b l e a s s i mi l a t i o n of the nun, and (2) the i mp o s s i b i l i t y of d o u b l i n g the

l a r y n g e a l (I 8).

(A ) Pea l and H o p h a l : the so le a t t es ted fo rm in e a c h of t h e s e co n j u g a t i o n s

h a p p e n s to be r eg u l a r .

( B ) H a p h e l (and A p h e l ) : the o n l y v e rb w i t h t h i s k i n d of d o u b l e w eak n es s

co mes f ro m the r o o t nm; in the H a p h e l (or A p h e l ) the nun is a s s i mi

l a t e d , but the l a r y n g e a l c a n n o t be d o u b l e d as a r e s u l t o f t h e a s s i m i l a t i o n ;

b e c a u s e the l a r y n g e a l is a n, t h e r e is no l e n g t h e n i n g of the v o w e l in

c o m p e n s a t i o n (see I 8).

I m p e r f e c t : ( s i n g . ) nnn [an A p h e l f o r m ]

I m p e r a t i v e : ( s i n g ) nns [an A p h e l f o r m ]

P a r t i c i p l e : ( p l u r a l ) pnnna [a H a p h e l f o r m ]

3. Verbs Pe Nun and Lam edh Laryngeal: O n c e a g a i n , all the ru l e s of

b o t h of t h e s e p a r t i c u l a r c l a s se s ap p l y to th i s c l ass of d o u b l y w e a k v e r b s . If it is

n o t e d t h a t a nun may (or may not) be a s s i m i l a t e d , and t h a t all sh or t vow els

b e c o m e p a t h a h b e f o r e a f ina l l a ryngea l (see I J), t h e n t h o s e few o c c u r r e n c e s of

v e r b s in th i s c l ass are a m p l y e x p l a i n e d .

4 . Pe Yodh Verbs {Including Pe Waw): T h e s e are rea l ly two d i s t inc t

c lasses , but are d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m e a c h o t h e r o n l y in the H a p h e l . In th is

c o n n e c t i o n it s h o u l d be r e m e m b e r e d t h a t an i n i t i a l waw b e c o m e s a y o d h

(see I 6). I r r e g u l a r i t i e s o c c u r w h e n the y o d h (or waw) c o m e s at the end of as y l l ab l e . E s p ec i a l l y i r r eg u l a r are f o r m a t i o n s a n a l o g o u s to the Pe Nun class

w h e r e the i n i t ia l c o n s o n a n t is a s s i m i l a t ed [o n ly ap p a re n t l y ] to the fol lowing

c o n s o n a n t .

( A ) P e a l : the o n l y i r r eg u l a r i t i e s a t t e s t ed o ccu r in the i mp er fec t and the

i m p e r a t i v e , w i t h one i m p o r t a n t e x c e p t i o n ; w h e n the per fec t occu rs

w i t h the c o n j u n c t i o n i, the y o d h is e l i d ed as a c o n s o n a n t , and b eco mes

p a r t of the l o n g v o w e l (as in BH): lami

P e r f e c t : q u i t e r e g u l a r : ( s i n g . ) ap- nVa?

I m p e r f e c t : t h i s is u s u a l l y c o n j u g a t e d as t h o u g h t h e v e r b b e l o n g e d t o t h e Pe

N u n c l a s s , w i t h the i n i t i a l c o n s o n a n t a s s i m i l a t e d to the s eco n d co n s o

n a n t (see a b o v e ) : ( s i n g . ) Va Van [ Q e r e : the K e t h i b f o r m "raw and



4 9

t h e fo rm V D V (Dan. 2:10) are c o n s i d e r e d as P e a l s i n c o r r e c t l y w r i t t e n

l i k e H o p h a l s ; o t h e r s c o n s i d e r t h e m to be g e n u i n e e x a m p l e s of an old

B A H u p h a l ( H o p h a l ) c o n j u g a t io n ] h o w e v e r , in one i n s t a n c e , the y o d hi s e l i mi n a t ed as a c o n s o n a n t i n s t e a d , and j o i n s a p reced i n g l o n g v o w e l

(see I P): ( s i n g . ) aori

P a r t i c i p l e s : all are r eg u l a r : ( s i n g . ) j D - n"??;; (p l u ra l ) pan;

( B ) P a e l : the so le occurrence ( in f in i t ive) of a v e rb s t r i c t l y Pe Y o d h is r eg u l a r .

( C ) H a p h e l : h e r e t h e r e is a d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n t r u e Pe Y o d h v e r b s and t h o s e

or ig ina l ly Pe Waw; in the l a t t e r the y o d h r e v e r t s to its o r i g i n a l waw,

a n d b e c o m e s in in the H a p h e l ( s ee I D) ; the t r u e Pe Y o d h v e r b s b e c o m e

••n in the H a p h e l (see I P).Perfec t : ( s ing . ) anin Va-n

In f i n i t i v e : nVa-n

(D ) Pe i l : t h i s co n j u g a t i o n , li k e the p ea l p e r f ec t , has a s h e w a u n d e r the i n i t i a l

c o n s o n a n t , and t h e r e f o r e is r eg u l a r , u n l e s s p reced ed by the c o n j u n c t i o n

1 (see a b o v e ) .

( E ) H o p h a l : t h e r e is o n l y one o c c u r r e n c e , w h i c h has in i n s t e a d of the r eg u l a r

im

p e r f e c t : t h i r d p e r s o n f e m i n i n e s i n g u l a r : nepin

( F ) H i t h p e e l and H i t h p a a l : t h e re are no o c c u r r e n c e s in verbs s t r i c t ly Pe Y o d h ,

b u t no i r r eg u l a r i t i e s n eed h av e b een ex p ec t ed a n y w ay , for the Pe l e t t e r

d o e s not c o m e at the end of a sy l l ab le [for e x a m p l e s of Pe Y o d h , see the

v e r b s b o t h Pe Y o d h and A y i n L a r y n g e a l b e l o w ] .

5 . The Shaphel and Saphel Conjugations: As was n o t e d p r e v i o u s l y , t h e r e

o c c u r s a s h i n c a u s a t i v e c o n j u g a t i o n , the S h a p h e l (see L e s s o n V , sec . 1) as wel l

a s the H a p h e l and the A p h e l . H o w e v e r , the o c c u r r e n c e s are not c o m m o n (see

L es s o n V I I I , s ec . 6 ) . All of the o c c u r r e n c e s of the S h a p h e l in BA are closely

re l a t ed to (if not b o r r o w e d f r o m ) the S h a p h e l of A c c a d i a n ( c o m m o n in t h a t

l an g u ag e ) .

( A ) S h a p h e l : the s o l e o ccu r r en ce in the Pe Y o d h v e r b s is m o r e a p p a r e n t

t h an r ea l , for it c o m e s f r o m the A c c a d i an sUzubu — usezib, the S h a p h e l

of ezebu, w h i c h is c o g n a t e to the BH aw, not ar; h e n c e it can be

l i s t ed in BA as a Pe Y o d h o n l y for c o n v e n i e n c e .

Pe r f ec t : ( s i n g . ) ar*

Imp er fec t : ( s i n g . ) ap^

In f i n i t i v e : (w i t h an a t t ached suf f ix ) 'qniartt (e tc . )

Par t i c ip le : ( s ing . ) apBto



50

( B ) S a p h e l : the one o c c u r r e n c e of a S a p h e l in BA is u n d o u b t e d l y f r o m an

o r i g i n a l Pe Waw c o n j u g a t i o n (cf. B H ) , for it comes f rom the A c c a d i a n

subulu, the S h a p h e l of {w)abdlu ( e v e n t h o u g h in the H a p h e l of BA byi s t r ea t ed as a t r u e Pe Y o d h ) . The use of o, i n s t e a d of the u sua l ^ of

the Shaphel , poss ib ly ref lec t s an A s s y r i a n r a t h e r t h a n a Baby lon i an

p r o n u n c i a t i o n of the A c c a d i a n in t h i s i n s t ance .

P a r t i c i p l e : ( p l u r a l ) pVaioa

6. Verbs Pe Yodh and Ayin Laryngeal: All the ru l es of bo th c lasses

a p p l y to th i s c lass of d o u b l y w e a k v e r b s . M o r e of the a t t e s t ed i r r egu l a r it i e s

o c c u r b e c a u s e of t h e l a r y n g e a l t h a n b e c a u s e of t he y od h (even if t h e r e is no Pael

a t t e s t e d ) .( A ) P e a l : t h e r e are no o c c u r r e n c e s in the i m p e r f e c t or in the infini t ive.

P er fec t : r egu l a r , excep t when it o c c u r s w i t h the c o n j u n c t i o n ^: (sing.)

an- nan-; ( p l u r a l ) ian-i

I m p e r a t i v e : th i s is c o n j u g a t e d as t h o u g h it b e l o n g e d to the Pe Nun class ,—

t h e i n i t i a l c o n s o n a n t is d r o p p e d c o m p l e t e l y : ( s in g .) an

P a r t i c i p l e : the on ly i r r egu l a r i t y is t h a t the l a ryngea l t akes a compos i t e

s h e w a : ( s i n g . ) an- ; (p lu ra l ) ]-an;

(B) P e i l : un i fo rm ly regu l a r , excep t w hen found w i th the c o n j u n c t i o n i.

( C ) H i t h p e e l : the y o d h c a u s e s no i r r egu l a r i t i e s , — al l i r r egu l a r i t ie s t ha t occu r

a re on a c c o u n t of the l a ryngea l .

I m p e r f e c t : ( s i n g . ) an-n- an-nn; (p lu ra l ) pan-n?

P ar t i c ip l es : ( s i ng . ) an-pa nan-iia; (p lu ra l ) ]-an::na

( D ) I t h p a a l : the so l e a t t e s t ed fo rm is i r r egu l a r becau se the l a ryngea l can no t

b e d o u b l e d and the p r e c e d i n g v o w e l is l e n g t h e n e d in c o m p e n s a t i o n for

t h e l a c k of d o u b l i n g by the » (see I 8 b) .

P e r f e c t : ( p l u r a l ) lB»-nx

7. Verbs Pe Yodh and Lamedh Laryngeal: M o s t of the i r r egu l a r i t i e s

w h i c h o c c u r in b o t h the Pe Y o d h c l a s s and in the La m ed h Lary ngea l cl ass

o c c u r in th i s c lass of d o u b l y w e a k v e r b s . T h i s is t r u e in sp i t e of the fact th at

t h i s c l as s is l i m i t e d in BA to the r o o t v i - in the P e a l and H a p h e l c o n j u g a t i o n s .

( A ) P e a l : the pe r fec t is q u i t e r e g u l a r , and the inf in i t ive d oes not occu r .

I m p e r f e c t : the o u t s t a n d i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t ic of t he im per fec t is its a n a l o g y to

t h e Pe Nun c l as s , wh ich is h e r e s h o w n by the a c t u a l p r e s e n ce of a nun

( r a t h e r t h a n by

d o u b l i n g the

s e c on d c o n s o n a n t , as in

ve rbs Pe

Y o d ho n l y ) ; a l t e rna t i ve ly , i f i t is m a i n t a i n e d t h a t t h e y o d h is as s imi l a t ed to the

s e c o n d c o n s o n a n t , t h i s nun c o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d as a r eso lu t i on of t ha t

d o u b l e d s e c o n d c o n s o n a n t ( se e I 3) : ( s ing . ) s ? : r i n V 7 1 N ; (p lu ra l ) psnr



5 1

I m p e r a t i v e : a l s o a n a l o g o u s to the Pe N un c l a s s : ( s i n g . ) VI

Par t i c i p l e s : ( s i n g . ) r T ; (p l u ra l ) p s T j (pass ive) v -T [ n o t e the p a t h a h

fur t ive]( B ) H a p h e l : the o c c u r r e n c e s in the H a p h e l s h o w t h a t was an o r i g i n a l Pe

W a w v e r b , and all the f o r m s are o n l y i r r eg u l a r in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h

t h e n o r m a l p a t t e r n for a Pe Waw H a p h e l , and a l s o in t h o s e p l aces

w h e r e h a v i n g a L a m e d h L a r y n g e a l a f f e c t s the v o c a l i z a t i o n .

8 . Pe Aleph Verbs: In g e n e r a l the a l e p h q u i e s ce s w h e n e v e r it d o e s not

h a v e its own v o w e l . To c o m p e n s a t e for t h i s q u i e s cen ce at the end of a sy l l ab le ,

t h e p reced i n g v o w e l is o f t e n l e n g t h e n e d (see I 5). H o w e v e r , the a l e p h was

r e t a i n e d in w r i t i n g by h i s t o r i c a l o r t h o g r a p h y (e.g. X-_ i n s t e a d of the u s u a lse re y o d h ">—).

O t h e r w i s e , the Pe A l e p h c l a s s is v e ry s i mi l a r to the Pe L a ry n g ea l c l a s s (w h i ch

see).

( A ) P e a l : the s h e w a u n d e r an i n i t i a l a l e p h is u s u a l l y a h a t e p h p a t h a h ( se e I M ).

Per fec t : ( s i n g . ) V TN ; (p l u ra l ) I V I N Klbw

I m p e r f e c t : the a l ep h q u i e s ces , and the v o w e l of the p ref ix is l e n g t h e n e d in

c o m p e n s a t i o n (see I 5): ( s ing . ) bo»r\; (p l u ra l ) n a x : [ juss ive]

In f in i t ive : see the d o u b l y w e a k v e r b n a K b e l o w .I m p e r a t i v e : h e r e is ex h i b i t ed a v a r i e t y of f o r m a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g a h a t e p h

s eg h o l u n d e r the a l e p h , r a t h e r t h a n the u s u a l h a t e p h p a t h a h (see the

d o u b l y w e a k v e r b nax b e l o w ) : ( s i n g . ) -bjv. ""VsN

P a r t i c i p l e s : the ac t i v e p a r t i c i p l e s are all r e g u l a r ( t h e r e is no o c c u r r e n c e of

t h e p as s i v e p a r t i c i p l e ) .

( B ) H a p h e l : the Pe A l e p h v e rb s h av e a f o r m a t i o n a n a l o g o u s to the Pe Y o d h

( a n d Pe W a w ) c la s s in the H a p h e l . O t h e r t h a n a p o s s i b l e e a r l y o r t h o

g r a p h i c w a w - y o d h c o n f u s i o n , t h e r e is a p p a r e n t l y no r e a s o n why one

v e r b is fo rmed l i k e a Pe Waw and a n o t h e r l i k e a Pe Y o d h .

P e r f e c t : the v e r b pN is a n a l o g o u s to a Pe Y o d h : ( s in g .) p-n

I m p e r f e c t : the v e r b nan is a n a l o g o u s to a Pe W aw : ( s ing . ) nainri;

(p l u ra l ) jnan-

In f i n i t i v e : nnain

P a r t i c i p l e : the s o l e o ccu r r en ce is a p as s i v e p a r t i c i p l e : ( s i n g . ) p-na

( C ) H o p h a l : the s o l e a t t e s t e d fo rm is a l s o a n a l o g o u s to the Pe W aw .

Per fec t : ( s i n g . ) nam

(D ) Pae l , Pe i l , and the R e f le x iv e C o n j u g a t i o n s : t h e r e are no o c c u r r e n c e s in

B A of t h e s e c o n j u g a t i o n s in the Pe A l e p h c l a s s .



52

11. Vocabulary:

— (hophal) to be destroyed — (ithpaal) to take counsel

— to go (to or away) together

• ^ ^ ^— to eat an- — (haphel) to settle; cause

jax — (haphel) to trust in to dwell

— earth (1) nria — province; town; city (7)

bT — (haphel) to bring nm — (haphel and aphel) to

bT — (saphel) to offer; br in g; deposit

lay; > preserve b^ — (haphel and aphel) to

— heap of stones (1) rescue, deliver

a ? : — to be pleasing — witness; testimony (9)

— (hophal) to be added a w — to rescue


nVsra n-a laim Knrn iVax (i)

]na»n nas^V ap- . r[<m-b^'\ •^•'bv n nai (2)

nV nppin nx-Jto naani nnVxa p'n Vs n (3)

9. Verbs Pe Aleph and Ayin Laryngeal: Thi s class of doubly weak verbs

does not happen to be found in BA.

10. Verbs Pe Aleph and Lamedh Laryngeal: Only one verb is attested in

BA, and that in the Peal. I t exhibits the weaknesses of the two classes re

spectively to which it belongs. The Peal of nax is formed as follows:

Perfect:the aleph takes the hateph pathah and the laryngeal prefers the

a-vowel: (sing.) lax

—third person feminine; nnax [for a discussion of the apparent

segholate ending, see the discussion of the hithpeel perfect of the

Lamedh Laryngeal verbs in Lesson X];

—first person; n"iaN [as in the Pe Laryngeal verbs, the original _ isretained instead of _ (see the discussion of the peal perfect of the Pe

Laryngeal verbs in Lesson X) ] ; (plural) nas

Imperfect: the aleph quiesces: (sing.) l as - ; (plural) piaxri

Infinitive: the aleph quiesces as usual, but there is also an unusual ortho

graphic variation where the aleph is not written: laxa and laa

Imperative: the hat eph seghol is found here instead of the usual hateph

pathah: (sing.) ia^

Participles: the laryngeal of the singular influences the preceding vowel;

the plural is regular: (sing.) l aN; (plural) p-iax



53

Uniar^V K n » ' ? ia •'»''3n Vb wv;nx (4)

pDt^ n n n p a ia n a n i n i ^Vx xja x Va-n xa n x a " ? ? (5)

la x xi a ra w n i xa n xnVx n-a"? xn in p nin-V xiVm (e)

D ' ? B h T a n s'^a-n? xjixa n n x - ^ j x nV •la ?1 (?)

x»nx?i xja tfa f n x n a y i "jsai arw? x in i (8)

K»aw n i n n - ] a i x yn x a n a x n a s? x x p n x i x-aB^-'T xjnVx oinV pn pxn n n a (9)

(Jer . 10:11) nVx

(Genesis 31:47) xnnrjto Tl ( lo )



5 4

L E S S O N X I I

H O L L O W V E R B S

1 . The Hollow Verbs: A y i n W a w v e r b s a n d A y i n Y o d h v e rb s a r e a l so

c a l l e d " h o l l o w " v e r b s , a t e r m , b o r r o w e d f r o m A r a b i c , w h i c h is u s e d t o d e s i g n a t e

t h e " e m p t i n e s s " o r " w e a k n e s s " i n t h e m i d d l e c o n s o n a n t o f t h e s e t w o c l a s s e s .

T h i s w eak n es s , o f co u r s e , i s p r e s en t o n l y w h en t h e w aw o r y o d h i s a v o w e l . I ns o m e v e r b s t h e s e l e t t e r s i n t h e m i d d l e p o s i t i o n a r e t r u e c o n s o n a n t s , a n d s u c h

v e r b s d o not b e l o n g t o t h e "h o l l o w " v e rb s . I t i s p ro b ab l y b es t t o co n s i d e r t h e

h o l l o w v e rb s a s b as i ca l l y b i c o n s o n a n t a l . W h er ea s i n B H t h e re i s m u c h flu ctu

a t ion be tween the use o f shor t and long var ie t i es o f d i f l ' e ren t ly voca l i zed s t ems

( e . g . D ip a n d np^. D p , a n d D p J , i n BA t h e re i s a l m o s t i n v a r i ab l y t h e l o n g

v a r i e t y o f t h e s t em ( D i p a n d D p ) . Co n s eq u en t l y , ev en i f s o me fo rms a r e n o t

w r i t t e n plene, t h ey a r e mo s t p ro b ab l y t o b e r eg a rd ed a s l o n g v o w e l s .

I n b o t h B H a n d B A t h e r e i s s o m e c o n f u s i o n b e t w e e n f o rm s w r i t t e n w i t h w a w

an d t h o s e w r i t t e n w i t h y o d h , t h e re fo re i t h a s b een s o m ew h a t d if lScu lt t o d e t e r

m i n e w h i c h v e r b s a r e p r o p e r l y A y i n W a w a n d w h i c h a r e A y i n Y o d h . V e r y

p o s s i b l y t h i s co n fu s i o n o f fo rm s h a s r e s u l t ed la rg e l y f ro m an ea r l i e r o r t h o

g r a p h i c w a w - y o d h c o n f u s i o n . T h o s e v e r b s i n w h i c h w a w p r e d o m i n a t e s i n t h e

i mp er fec t a r e c l a s s ed a s A y i n W aw v e rb s an d t h o s e v e rb s i n w h i ch y o d h

p r e d o m i n a t e s i n t h e i m p e r f e c t a r e c l a s s e d a s A y i n Y o d h v e r b s . H o w e v e r , i t i s

i m p o r t a n t t o n o t e t h a t i n B A b o t h c l a s s e s h a v e q a m e s i n t h e p e r f e c t [ w h i c h

m a k e s i t c o n v e n i e n t t o c o n s i d e r t h e m t o g e t h e r i n o n e l e s s o n , o r e v e n t o g r o u p

t h em t o g e t h e r i n o n e c l a s s ( s ee L es s o n V I I I , s ec . 2 ) J . T h i s l o n g v o w e l (q ames ) i nt h e p e r f ec t h a s t h e accen t , an d t o t h i s l o n g s t em, t h e r eg u l a r p e r f ec t en d i n g s

h a v e b een ad d e d . T h u s , t h e § ere i n t h e f irs t p e r s o n s i n g u l a r d o e s n o t h av e t h e

acc en t , an d is t h e re fo re r ed u ced t o a s eg h o l . B o t h c l a ss e s a l s o h av e a n o t h e r

c o m m o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , t h e u s u a l r e d u c t i o n o f t h e p r e t o n i c v o w e l t o s h e w a i n

t h e p re fi x es o f t h e i mp er fec t an d i n t h e H a p h e l p e r f ec t .

2 . Ayin W aw Verbs: A s i n d i ca t ed ab o v e , v e rb s w i t h w aw as a co /u o n a / j /

fo r t h e A y i n l e t t e r d o n o t b e l o n g t o t h i s c l a s s o f v e rb s . T h e A y i n W aw v e rb s

a r e v e rb s f u n d a m e n t a l l y b i c o n s o n a n t a l w i t h t h e i a s a vowel p r e d o m i n a t i n g o v e r

th e •« in th e P ea l im pe rfec t .

(A ) P ea l : t h e g en e ra l ru l e s g i v en ab o v e h a v e t h e i r ap p l i ca t i o n a s fo l lo w s :



55

Per fec t : the p e r f ec t has the accen ted q am es , ex cep t for an a p p a r e n t l y

a n o m a l o u s p e r f e c t of m"i: ( s ing . ) D p D"l np o; ( p lu r a l ) lap

Imp er f ec t : the p r e to n ic v o we l is r ed u ced to s h e w a u n d e r the pref ixes:(sing.) mpi a w ; ( p lu r a l ) paip;-

Imp era t iv e : s im i l a r to the i m p e r f e ct , w i t h o u t the pref ix: (sing.) -"aip

Par t i c ip l e s : in the h o l lo w v e rb s the Pea l ac t ive par t ic ip le is a t r i c o n -

s o n a n t a l f o r m a t i o n , in w h i c h the waw or y o d h c o m i n g b e t w e e n _

an d a ful l vowe l , bec om es x; in the p lu r a l the x has a h a t e p h p a t h a h in

t h e K e t h i b , but the Qere r ead s i for x [even in the A y i n W a w c lass ] :

(sing.) D x p ; ( p lu r a l ) ]•'a tp [ K e t h i b ] pa'i? [Qere]

(B) Pa e l : wi th so few a t t e s t e d f o r m a t i o n s of th is c lass in BA, o ccu r r en ces ofPae l and of Po le l (which see b e lo w) are e q u a l , — o n e ex am p le each

[un l ike BH w h i c h has a p r e p o n d e r a n c e of Po le l over Pie l , Po la l over

P u a l , and H i t h p o l e l o v e r H i t h p a e l ] .

In f in i t ive : here aga in appears a t r i c o n s o n a n t a l f o r m a t i o n , the mid d le l e t t e r

t r ea t ed as a c o n s o n a n t , b e i ng d o u b l e d (it is a y o d h r a t h e r t h a n the waw

expec ted [cf. Pea l p a r t i c ip l e s ab o v e ] ) : n a»p

( C ) H a p h e l (and A p h e l ) : the p r e to n ic v o we l is r ed u ce d h e r e , as in the Pea l

imper fec t .

Pe r f ec t : the v o we l u n d e r the p r e f o r m a t i v e n or x is u su a l ly a h a t e p h

p a t h a h (see I M ); in the th i rd p e r so n f emin in e s in g u la r the v o w e l of

t h e n is p r o p r e t o n i c , and b e c o m e s a h a t ep h seg h o l : ( s in g . ) D''p.r (and

D-'pn) na-'px [Aphel-with suff ix] napH na"' ?,?] na-'pn; ( p lu r a l ) wpn

Imp er f ec t : in the s in g u la r the v o we l of the p r e f o r m a t i v e n is - or _ ; the

prefix has _ or _, usua l ly the l a t t e r : ( s in g . ) D'-p', [Ap h e l ] D''pri [Aphel ]

bu t r j ipn [Ap hel] and D'pm [Hap h e l ]

Inf ini t ive: th is is f o rmed as t h o u g h the r o o t w e re tr u ly b i c o n s o n a n t a l ; the

vowel of the p r e f o r m a t i v e is _ : nitn

Par t i c ip l e s : the v o we l of the p r e f o r m a t i v e n is _ ; the A p h e l , w i t h o u t a

p re fo rma t iv e s has t h i s _ u n d e r the a: ( s ing . ) D^na [ H a p h e l ] ana

[Aphel ]

(D) Pe i l : see the Pe i l of the Ay in Yo d h c l a ss b e lo w .

( E ) H o p h a l : the p r e f o r m a t i v e n has the r ed u ced v o we l _.

Per fec t : the o n ly o ccu r r en ces are b o th th i rd p e r so n f emin in e s in g u la r

na''pri and napn

( F ) H i t h p e e l : see the H i t h a p h e l ( H i t t a p h e l ) c o n j u g a t i o n b e l o w .

3. The Polel and Hithpolel Conjuga tions: In BA t h e r e are o n ly a few

fo rms of these der ived con jug a t io ns , which are so c o m m o n in BH a m o n g the



56

h o l l o w v e rb s . A s i n BH , t h e s e co n j u g a t i o n s a r e fo rmed i n BA b y t h e r ed u p l i

ca t i o n o f t h e f i n a l ro o t co n s o n an t , an d a r e l i mi t ed t o t h e h o l l o w v e rb s .

(A ) Po l e l : t h i s co n j u g a t i o n p a ra l l e l s i n m ean i n g an d u s ag e t h e Pae l o f t h ereg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb .

Pa r t i c i p l e : t h e s o l e o ccu r r en ce i s a p a r t i c i p l e : ( s i n g . ) D D i l D

(B) H i t h p o l e l : t h i s co n j u g a t i o n p a ra l l e l s i n m ean i n g an d u s ag e e i t h e r t h e

H i t h p ee l o r t h e H i t h p aa l o f t h e r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb .

Pe r f ec t : t h e s o l e o ccu r r en ce i s a p e r f ec t : ( s i n g . ) riaainnr'

4. The Hithaphel (Hittaphel) Conjugation: T h e s o -c a ll ed " H i t h p e e l "

fo rms o f h o l l o w v e rb s a r e r ea l l y H i t h ap h e l fo rms . J u s t a s t h e s h i n cau s a t i v e

co n j u g a t i o n , t h e Sh ap h e l , h a s a / - r e f l ex i v e , t h e H i s h t ap h a l ( s ee L es s o n V ,sec. 1 ), so th e a leph c aus a t iv e co n ju ga t ion , the Ap he l , has a / - re fl ex ive , the

H i t h ap h e l . H o w ev e r , t h e p re fo rma t i v e x i s a s s i mi l a t ed b y t h e n , w h i ch i n t u rn

i s d o u b l ed , s o t h e H i t h a p h e l ap p ea r s a s H i t t a p h e l . F i n a l l y , t h e o -vo w e l u n d e r

t h e d o u b l e d t aw is r ed u ced t o a s h ew a .

I t m u s t b e n o t ed , h o w ev e r , t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e v e rb s a r e t o b e ex p l a i n ed a s

/ - r e f l ex i v e fo rma t i o n s o f t h e A p h e l , t h e i r mean i n g i s o f t en t h e s ame a s t h a t o f

t h e / - re f lex iv e o f t h e Pea l , t h e H i t h p e e l . T h u s th ey a r e o f ten ca l l ed "H i t h p e e l "

v e rb s . I n BA t h e re a r e t w o ro o t s w i t h a H i t h ap h e l (H i t t ap h e l ) co n j u g a t i o n , o n e

a n A y i n W a w v e r b , yn a n d o n e a n A y i n Y o d h v e r b , oris,

(A ) A y i n W aw : w h erea s t h e p re s e rv a t i o n o f t h e w aw as an a -v o w e l mi g h t b e

ex p e c t ed h e re ( s ee t h e A y i n Y o d h fo rms b e l o w ) , t h e y o d h o f t h e A p h e l

s eems t o d o mi n a t e , an d t h e v o w e l i s

I m p e r f e c t : ( s i n g . ) ptf i-

(B) A y i n Y o d h : co n v e r s e l y , t h e s e fo rm a t i o n s p re s e rv e t h e o -v o w e l , e i t h e r _

o r _ :

I m p e r f e c t : ( s in g . ) D ^ n ^ ( p l u r a l ) pafen?

P a r t i c i p l e : ( s i n g . ) Dfena

5. Ayin Yodh Verbs: V erb s o f th i s c l ass a re fa r l ess f requ en t in BA th an

A y i n W a w v e r b s . A s w a s m e n t i o n e d p r e v i o u s l y , t h e f o r m a t i o n s o f t h e t w o

c l a s s e s a r e a l mo s t i d en t i ca l , an d t h e s ame g en e ra l ru l e s d i s cu s s ed ab o v e ap p l y

h e re .

(A ) Pe a l : i n t h e Pea l co n j u g a t i o n d i flf er en ces b e t w e en A y i n Y o d h an d A y i n

W aw v e rb s w o u l d b e ex p ec t ed i n t h e imp er fec t a s w e ll a s t h e i mp era t i v e ,

b u t t h e re i s n o ce r t a i n o ccu r r en ce o f t h e i mp er fec t .P e r f e c t : t h e s a m e a s A y i n W a w : ( s in g . ) D t o r i n ^ ( a n d ^aw) r a ^

Imp era t i v e : h e re ( an d i n t h e i mp er fec t ) t h e t ru e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w een t h e

t w o c l a s se s i s r ead i l y ap p a re n t : ( p l u ra l ) la''??



5 7

Par t i c i p l e : o n l y the pass ive is a t t e s t e d , and p o s s i b l y it is a t h i r d p e r s o n

m a s c u l i n e of the Pe i l per fec t : ( s ing . )

(B) Pe i l : the o c c u r r e n c e of a w-vowel here is difficult to ex p l a i n ; p o s s i b l y itis a H e b r a i s m (on an a n a l o g y w i t h the Qal p as s i v e p a r t i c i p l e of BH );

poss ib ly it is a r e s u l t of an e a r l i e r o r t h o g r a p h i c w a w - y o d h c o n f u s i o n ,

l a te r los t [ th i s fo rm is no t plene, h o w e v e r ] , but p re s e rv ed in o r a l t r a d i t i o n

t o M a s o r e t i c t i m e s .

Per fec t : ( s ing . ) w^il) [see the P e a l p a r t i c i p l e a b o v e ] n a ^ [ femin ine]

6. Verbs Pe Laryngeal and Hollow: It is difficult to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r

t h e s o l e ex am p l e of th i s c l ass of v e r b s is an A p h e l f r o m the ro o t B i n , or e i t h e r a

Pea l or an A p h e l f ro m the r o o t DTI. B e c a u s e of t h e c o g n a t e A r a b i c the a u t h o rprefers the r o o t yn, and b e c a u s e of the p a t h a h u n d e r the pref ix (wi th the

v a r i a n t q a m e s ) , the a u t h o r p r e f e rs to c o n s i d e r it an A p h e l [cf the A p h e l f o r m

r\''PFi a b o v e ] . N e i t h e r c o n c l u s i o n is by any m e a n s c o n c l u s i v e . The fo rm is:

Imp er fec t : ( p l u ra l ) itjin;

7. Verbs Lam edh Laryngeal and Hollow: T h o s e few h o l l o w v e rb s w h i ch

h a v e a l a ry n g ea l as the L a m e d h l e t t e r , do not h a p p e n to h a v e any a d d i t i o n a l

i r r eg u l a r i t i e s b ecau s e of the p re s en ce of the l a r y n g e a l in the a t t e s t e d f o r m s .T h e y all b e l o n g to the A y i n W a w c l as s of h o l l o w v e r b s , and so can be c o n s i d

e red in t h a t s e c t i o n of th i s l esson and n eed no fu r t h e r d i s cu s s i o n h e re .

8. Verbs Pe Nun and Hollow: As in the c l a s s a b o v e , it so h a p p e n s t h a t

t h e p re s en ce of a n u n d o e s not add to the i r r eg u l a r i t i e s a l r ead y p re s en t in t h e t w o

classes of h o l l o w v e r b s . In fac t , s ince there is no s tr o n g c o n s o n a n t in the po

s i t i o n of the A y i n l e t t e r to w h i c h the nun (as the Pe l e t t e r ) can a s s i mi l a t e in

t h e i mp er fec t , the nun is r e t a i n e d . The o n l y a t t e s t ed fo rm is in the P e a l , as

fo l lows :

Imp er fec t : ( s i n g . ) niri

9 . Vocabulary:

•'P'IBX — a t i t l e of officials n iT — ( h a p h e l ) t o act pre-

-DnonDN — a t i t l e of o f fi c ia ls su m ptu ou s ly

• • r T T 1 PT — ( h i t h a p h e l ) to l ive•nsiN — an i n h a b i t a n t of U r u k ' . . . • . , s

• - (o n ) ; s u b s i s t (on)

' V a a - B a b y l o n i a n _

( ^ p ^ e i ) to j o i n to-S i m — w h i c h is; t h a t is g e t h e r ; ( r e p a i r , lay,

Kjrn — j u d g e s ; . [ t r a d i t . — a or i n s p ec t )

p r o p e r n a m e ] V?*??* — officials



58

K a i 3 — t h u s Dip — ( h o p h a l ) to be set up

— to flee D1-I — to r i s e ; be h i g h , be

*]10 — to be fulfilled h a u g h t y— ( a p h e l ) to pu t an end D l l — ( a p h e l ) to r a i s e ;

t o , a n n i h i l a t e h e i g h t e n

— c l e r k ; s e c r e t a r y ; s c r ib e D1-I — (po le l ) to p r a i s e ; (ex

(3) a l t )

— E l a m i t e D l l — ( h i t h p o l e l ) to r ise up

Dip — (pae l ) to set up , es ( aga ins t )

t ab l i sh D'tr — ( h i t h a p h e l ) to be put ;

Dip — ( h a p h e l and a p h e l ) to > be m a d e

se t up, f o u n d , ap — an i n h a b i t a n t of S usa ;

p o i n t , e s t a b l i s h S u s a n i a n

10. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the fo l l owing sen t enc es , and a l so t rans la te

E z r a 4:8, 9.

xnipa-Vs ptn aaai in nVx D ^N (i)

xaqii N s p ? \n'7NV raaiii nnnni ppaiinn xps? sia-Vsi (2)

rtio 'T s Vs Dferin isnsiaii nsp snVa (3)

yoba ipni yobia D'pri n"?x rniaj (4)

na-pn xy i^ Vvi rVpai ran Hrm nim (5)

ni xVi Vnann xVi \>«m bppnb avp na»pV sniaVa "Bp-in-Va i»»;nx (e)



59

L E S S O N X I I I

G E M I N A T E V E R B S

1. Gemmate (or Ayin A yin) Verbs: In t h i s c l a s s , w h e re the A y i n l e t t e r

a n d the L a m e d h l e t t e r ( s e c o n d and t h i r d c o n s o n a n t s ) are a l i k e , t h e r e is a

c o m b i n a t i o n of f o r m s w h i c h can o n l y be a d e q u a t e l y e x p l a i n e d by a s s u m i n g

t h a t s o m e are f u n d a m e n t a l l y b i c o n s o n a n t a l w h i le o t h e r s are t r i c o n s o n a n t a l .I n o t h e r w o r d s , s o m e t i m e s t h e r e is e i t h e r g e m i n a t i o n o f t h e id e n t i c a l c o n s o n a n t s

o r s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n for it, but e l s ew h ere t h e re is n o n e . If the e x p e c t e d

g e m i n a t i o n or d o u b l i n g of the A y i n l e t t e r ( s e c o n d c o n s o n a n t ) d o e s not o c c u r ,

t h e r e is u s u a l l y d o u b l i n g of the Pe l e t t e r ( f ir st c o n s o n a n t ) , e sp ec i a ll y in the

i mp e r f ec t and o t h e r f o rm s w i t h p r e f o r m a t i v e s . Or, w h e r e t h i s c a n n o t t a k e

p l ace b ecau s e of a l a r y n g e a l or r e s h , t h e r e is e i t h e r a c o m p e n s a t o r y l e n g t h e n i n g

o f t h e p reced i n g v o w e l or the r e s o l v i n g of the d o u b l i n g by a nun (see I 3).

( A ) P e a l : m o s t of t h e o c c u r r e n c e s in the P e a l are w i t h v e r b s t h a t h a v e a n o t h e r

w e a k n e s s in a d d i t i o n to b e i n g G e m i n a t e (see the c lasses of v e r b s b o t h

G e m i n a t e and a l s o l a r y n g e a l or Pe Nun b e l o w ) .

P e r f e c t : the s o l e a t t e s t ed fo rm of the Pea l p e r f ec t is p l u r a l w h e r e g e m i

n a t i o n c o u l d m o s t e a s i l y be s een , but it d o e s not o c c u r ; r a t h e r , the

v e r b is fo rm ed l i k e a m e m b e r of the A y i n W aw c l a s s , and h e n c e is

p r o b a b l y f u n d a m e n t a l l y b i c o n s o n a n t a l : ( p l u r a l)

I m p e r a t i v e : the s o l e a t t e s t ed fo rm h e re is a l s o p l u r a l , and it has g e m i

n a t i o n , h e n c e is f u n d a m e n t a l ly t r i c o n s o n a n t a l : ( p l u ra l )

( B ) P a e l : the P a e l is u n i f o r m l y l i k e the r e g u l a r ( s t r o n g ) v e r b , (VVg, VVg ,

VVaa, e t c . ) w i t h one e x c e p t i o n - t h e f e m i n i n e s i n g u l a r p a r t i c i p l e , w h i c h

a p p e a r s as f o l l o w s : nVVaa

( C ) H a p h e l (and A p h e l ) : o n l y one o c c u r r e n c e is a t t e s t e d as b e i n g f o r m e d

reg u l a r l y , the A p h e l i m p e r f e c t of the v e r b We ( w h i c h see b e l o w ) ;

o t h e r w i s e , in c o m p e n s a t i o n for the l a c k of d o u b l i n g of the i d en t i ca l

s e c o n d and t h i r d c o n s o n a n t s , the f i r s t co n s o n an t is d o u b l e d i n s t e a d

(u n l e s s it is a l a r y n g e a l ; cf. the c lasses of v e r b s b o t h G e m i n a t e and

a l s o l a ry n g ea l b e l o w ) .Pe r f ec t : ( s i n g . ) rtpnn [ f e m i n i n e ] ; ( p l u r a l ) ip^g

I m p e r f e c t : ( s i n g . ) p n [ A p h e l ] , but a l s o VV Ji [a r e g u l a r A p h e l f o r

m a t i o n ]



60

Participles: (sing), p rnp [Haphel] np ra and nplig [both Aphel]

(D) Peil: there is no occurrence of a Peil in the Geminate verbs in BA.

(E) Hophal: see below the occurrences in the doubly weak verbs which areboth Geminate and Pe Laryngeal.

(F) Hit hpeel: this conjugat ion does not occur in this class of verbs in BA; its

place is taken, however, by the Hith poel conjugation (which see below).

(G) Hit hpa al: this conjugation of the Geminate class of verbs is regularly

formed like the Hi thp aa l of the regular (strong) verb (cf the Pael above).

2 . The Shaphel and Hishtaphal Conjugations: The Shaphel conjugation

has already been considered (see Lesson VIII, and Lesson XI, sec. 5) . In the

Geminate class of verbs there occurs another example of the Shaphel conjugation, as well as its /-reflexive conjugation, the Hishtaphal (for a discussion of

the reflexive conjugations in general and of the Hishtaphal conjugation in

particular, see Lesson IX).

(A) Shaphel: in BA the Shaphel of the Geminate verbs is formed quite regu

larly, as though it were the Shaphel of the regular (strong) verb; the

only occurrences are as follows:

Perfect: (sing.) aVVai? [with suffix]; (plural) •\b'^yii

Infinitive: nVV?B>

(B) Hishtaphal: the Hishtaphal is formed regularly by adding the reflexive

preformative hith- to the Shaphel (Hithshap hal), which in tu rn becomes

Hishtaphal by metathesis.

Imperfect: in BA the sole occurrence of the His hta pha l conjugation in any

class of verbs is in this class: (plural) pVVsnB^

3 . The Hithpoel Ithpoel) Conjugation: Closely rela ted to the Hithpolel

conjugation (see Lesson XII, sec. 3) is the Hithpoel. However, there is one

important distinction. The Hith pole l belongs to the Ayin Waw (Ayin Yod h)

c lass , and is formed by a reduplication of the final consonant, but the Hithpoel

belongs to the Geminate class, and both of the identical cons onan ts (second

and third) are retained. As a result, the final formations of the Hithpolel and

Hithpoel look the same, but the proper distinction can be made by referring

to the basic verb root.

The sole occurrence of this conjugation in BA happens to be wit h preform

ative x rather than n, and thus, properly speaking, is an Ithpoel. It comes from

the root ontl, and so is subject to the usual rules of metathesis as follows:

Perfect: (sing.) Da in t f^

4 . Verbs Pe Laryngeal and Geminate: In some of the conjugat ions, verbs

of the Geminate class which also have a laryngeal for the Pe letter, conta in



61

no additional irregularities because of the presence of the laryngeal. Howev er,

in those conjugations of the Geminate class which require doubling of the Pe

letter (first consonant), the laryngeal does not double, and thus there occurs anadditional irregularity. In such cases the doubling is either resolved by a nun,

or the previous vowel is lengthened in compensation.

(A) Pea l: because the re are no occurrences of the Peal imperfect in this class

of doubly weak verbs, the laryngeal is usually the initial con son ant ;

hence, in the Peal of this class, only the infinitive shows any difference

from verbs that are simply Gemina te wi thout any othe r weakness.

Perfect: (sing.) VvnV? [Qere] nV B [Kethib]

Infinitive: ]na

Participle: (plural) p V V [Qere] f"? ?¥ [Kethib]

(B) Haphe l: verbs Gem ina te only doubl e the Pe letter in the Haphel, but

in this class, which is also Pe Laryngeal as well as Geminate, the

doubling is usually (but not always) resolved by a nun (see I 3) ; thus

the hypot hetic al Ge min ate f orm ati on *?» ] becomes bpiTi. etc.

Perfect: (sing.) Vsin

Infinitive: aVwn but also nVyn

(C) Hophal: the Hophal does not occur in verbs Geminate only, but what

would be expected in that class of verbs is what is actually found inthis class of doubly weak verbs.

Perfect: (sing.) Vrn; (plural) iVsn

(D) Hith paal : like the Pael of verbs Geminate only, the Hithpaal of this class

of doubly weak verbs is quite regular, and is formed acc ording to the

pattern of the regular (strong) verb .

5 . Verbs Ayin Laryngeal and Geminate: It may be maintained that the

only root of this class which occurs in BA, »»i [§ade three—BH f Sl ] , is

actually triply weak, or even quadruply weak. Its first consonant (resh) cannotbe doubled; its second consonant (ayin) is a laryngeal; its third consona nt

(ayin) is a laryngeal; and besides all this, the verb is Gem inat e. Little wonder,

then, that in the Peal, the sole attes ted form has so many appar ent irregu

larities.

(A) Peal: the long o in the sole occurrence is generally considered as a

Hebraism.

Imperfect: in Geminate verbs the Peal imperfect would norma lly have the

doubling of the first consonant as does the Haphel (see above, sec. 1);

however, in this class, the resh is not doubled, so the previou s vowel

is lengthened in compensation; thus the hypothetical G emina te for

mation snn becomes shn: (sing.) y'ln



62

(B) Pael: the sole occurrence in the Pael of this class of verbs is a tricon

sonantal formation, just as though the verb were not Geminate, but

rather both Ayin Laryngeal and Lamedh Laryngeal.Participle: (sing.) vvyi

6. Verbs Pe Nun and Geminate: In BA the sole attested form of this

class occurs in the Peal perfect, and as such, the nun is the initial consonant.

Therefore, there is no additional irregularity other than what normally occurs

in verbs Geminate only (which see above). This Peal form is:

Perfect: (sing.) ni?

7. Vocabulary:

— foundation (5) — (hishtaphal) to be fin

mi — to cut down ished

nVi — (haphel) t o take into nw3 — and now

exile — (pael) to speak

— to crush VVs — to go in, enter

— (haphel and aphel) to bbv — (haphel) to bring in

crush — (hophal) to be brought in

] in — to show mercy (to) — copy (1)— (aphel) to seek shade; — to crush

> to make a nest — (pael) to crush

T p - — difficult; honorable (4) — wall (4)

— (shaphel) to finish D»8^ — (ithpoel) to be appalled

8. Exercises: Translate the following sentences, and also translate Ezra

4:10, II.

xanni xep? vam NVne nnn? ipn pixai xaVs Vwn nn xVa (i)

pan ]naV aVp'ria Vaa ••a'-an aa VVa xaVa pix (2)

K-ia nrn VVtpn •'ninhn WV >N n l (3)

nvr^ VVa Q V B ^TV K j i r j a an V» (4)

vnni pnn J T laVa rVx-Va ssnp-^n sVneai (5)

n9ini?^Ni xaVa Va-' a Vsn bv.^ pig (e)

KjaB> DVK D^a pVVantt^ a ^Nj t q a n n •q-t x n n p (7)



6 3

LESSON XIV

LAMEDH HE VERBS

L The Development of the Lamedh He Formations: The so-called

"L amedh He" class of verbs is actually a mix ture of thr ee classes of verbs in

BA, namely those whose final consonan t was originally either N, i, or ''. In BA

there is no trace remaining of the forms with final i. These all appear as finalSo the existing forms are to be regarded as either final x or final •> format ions.

With these basic developments in mind, it is possible to trace the changing

course of the various format ions of this class of verbs with some degree of

probability. The greatest variations from the regular formations of the strong

verb are exhibited in the Peal conjugation. Therefore, it may be well to consider

in some detail the probable development of the Lamedh He verbs in the Peal

conjugation [the change from the original non-aspirant ized forms of the

n O D n n letters to thei r aspirantized BA forms, will be disregarded in theoutline of development below; it occurred somewhere along the line of de

velopment].

Perfect: whereas BH has a constant mixing of the active a-vowel and the

stative j-vowel in the formations of the Qal perfect of the Lamedh He

class, BA usually has the active a-vowel in all forms of the Peal perfect

of this class, except in the first person singular, which has the stative

j - v o w e l .

3 masc. sing.—^^33 or xia > 13 [with the loss of intervocalic •> or x, the two

short vowels together, aa, became the long vowel a] > ja [I A] > n } 3 or X13

[the existing n or x being merely a mater lectionis for long d]

3 fem. sing. —n^S or rXJS > nia [loss of intervocalic •> or x] nia > [I A; the

n _ ending also has the orthographic variants n x _ and nX-]

2 masc. sing. —n; ' ]3 > n^]3 [I A]

1 sing. — rni or n x i a > M a or n x i a [the loss of final vowel] > n'la or

n'la [I 5] > n'la or m:i [I A]

3 masc. pi . — p}3 or 1X13 > lia [loss of intervocalic •> or x ] > 113 > 113

[I D] > iia [I'A]

1 p l u r a l — x i ^ i a > xi*ga [I P] > x r i 3 [ I A; also with the orthog raphi c

variant of final n for final x ]



64

Imperfect: in E A the imperfect of the Lamedh He class has quite uniformly the

characteristic a-vowel of the stative (see Lesson VI, sec. 1) [for the sake of

convenience the change from the original prefix ya- to yi- will be disregardedin the outline of development below; hence, the first forms listed are not to

be regarded as true Proto-Semitic].

3 masc.sing—;|?a^> "^iT [loss of final vowel] > niT [I P; with s as a mater

lectionis]

3 fem. sing.—;|3ari > ^lan [loss of final vowel] > s i a n [I P]

3 masc. p i . — i r i a ' or JINia: > fnT, or p x i a ; [loss of final vowel] > •pi?;

[loss of intervocalic •> or K] > pia; > -faT [I D]

3 fem.pl.— i;J3;> pia; [loss of final vowel] > pn? [I A]

Jussive: the third person masculine plural of the jussive is without the final nun

of the imperfect.

Imperative: in all of the Lamedh He classes of verbs together, there are only

two Peal imperatives in the singular, and these difier as to the use of or K

(see below the class of verbs both Pe Laryngeal and Lamedh He and the

class both Pe Nun and Lamedh He).

Infinitive: the regular BA formation • ' J a a > N i a a [I P ; with 8 as a mater

lectionis]; the infinitive also occurs wit hout the mem, Nia, or long, n ' l a a .

Active Part iciples: the masculine singular is formed with s ; all the others are

formed with •>: (sing.) N?3 n;ia; (plural) p i a p n

Passive Participles: in the Lamedh He class of verbs, the passive participle is

not a qat il type (as in a'na), but is ra ther a qatal type: • ' i a > N13 [IP] > N13

[I A: here the final N, or its orthog raphic variant n, is merely a mater

lectionis]

Peil: On the other hand, the Peil conjugation of the Lamedh He class of verbs

is a qa ti l type (as in 3''ria), and is formed as follows: (sing.) -"ig > •'13 > ""IS

[ 1 A ; with the orthographic variants ""is and ""la]; (plural) v''3a or w i a > ri 3

[loss of intervocalic •> or s ] > Via > r i a [I A]

2. The Derived Conjugations of the Lamedh He Class: In the perfect

of the derived conjugations, the •> appears as the final consonant. On the other

hand, the N appears regularly in the imperfect of the derived conjugations

and in the other forms which are based on it. This is true regardless of whether

the original root was N, 1, or ''. However, it should be noted that the x in thefinal position here is merely used as a mater lectionis. The derived conjugations

will be considered below, conjugation by conjugation, with emphasis on

actual occurrences in the Lamedh He class of verbs.

http://fem.pl/

http://fem.pl/



65

(A) Pael: the endings found in the Peal are also found in the Pael, with but

few changes in vocalization.

Perfect: (sing.) 'aa m a; (plural) rac*Imperfect: (sing.) v^T; (plural) pacr

Imperative: the sole occurrence has •> where K might be expected (cf

the imperfect), and also has _ instead of _ under the first consonant:

(sing.) 'aa

Participles: (sing.) NV?nn;a??B; (plural) pVsa

(B) Ha phe l: quite uniformly the same endings are found here as occur in the

Pael.

Perfect: (sing.)Imperfect: (sing.) xaipn'

Infinitive: matt n

Participle: (sing.) Nltrna

(C) Hophal: in BA there is no at testat ion of the Hopha l conjugation in the

Lamedh He class of verbs.

(D) Hith peel: again quite uniformly the same endings are found as in the Pael.

Perfect: (sing.) 'Vanri

Imperfect: (sing.) Na i o? Niann; (plural) pannnParticiple: (sing.) N 3 3 n a

(E) Hithpa al (Ith paa l): once again the same endings are found as in the Pael

[note the occurrence of metathesis].

Perfect: (sing.) 'antPN [Qere]

Imperfect: the imperfect also has a final n for the mater lectionis instead

of N in one occurrence: (sing.) fQFtfy, (plural) jiantf*: iariET' Oussive]

3. Verbs Pe Laryngeal and Lamedh He: In this class of doubly weak

verbs , any of the irregularities of the Pe Laryngeal class may occur (see Lesson

X, sec. 2), in addition to the irregularities of the Lamedh He class. For the

sake of illu str ation, t he Peal will be discussed in full, wit h the othe r conjugations

which occur men tioned briefly.

(A) Peal: the endings of the Peal of the Lamedh He verbs are found, and in

addition there is usually a composite shewa under the laryngeal;

however, in one verb there is a most unusual development in the

imperfect (which see).

Perfect: (sing.) niri (and xin) nin (and nirj) n inn-'irj; (plural) iinpn'tn

Imperfect: the verb mn substitutes "? for •» wherever the latt er occurs

in the pers ona l prefixes of the imper fect , singular and plural , masculine



6 6

an d f em i n i n e ; t h e s o l e o t h e r d o u b l y w eak v e rb o f t h i s cl a s s w i t h

th e im per fec t a t t e s te d , ha s th e usu a l •<; th e use o f V i s no w genera l ly

c o n s i d e r e d t o h a v e b e e n d e r i v e d fr o m t h e A c c a d i a n ( c f A c c .liprus): (sing.) N I ^V ( a n d nw^) Minn ( a n d n i i l ? ) ; (p l u ra l ) pilVl wV

In f i n i t i v e : N t n a

Im p e ra t i v e : i n t h e m as cu l i n e s in g u l a r o f t h e Pea l i m p era t i v e o f a ll L am ed h

He verbs , i t i s imposs ib le to t e l l whether f ina l N o r final •» i s d o m i n a n t ,

fo r t h e re a r e o n l y t w o o ccu r r en ces ; t h i s c l a s s h as a fo rma t i o n w i t h ' , an d

t h e c l a s s o f v e rb s b o t h Pe N u n an d L a m ed h H e (w h i ch see b e l o w ) ,

h a s a f o r m a t i o n w i t h x : ( s ing . ) «n ; (p lu ra l ) i in (and i i n )

A c t i v e P a r t i c i p l e s : ( s in g . ) Ktn (an d nay) ; (p lu ra l ) p fnPas s i v e Pa r t i c i p l e : ( s i n g . ) K jn

A s h as b een n o t ed p rev i o u s l y ( s ee L es s o n V I , s ec . 6 ) , m n is f requent ly

used in BA as an aux i l i a ry verb . Both the per fec t and imperfec t o f the Pea l

co n j u g a t i o n a r e t h u s u s ed w i t h t h e p a r t i c i p l e s o f o t h e r v e rb s .

(B) Pa e l : t h e r eg u l a r ( s t ro n g ) v e rb an d t h e Pe L a ry n g ea l c l a ss b o t h u s e

p a t h ah u n d e r t h e Pe l e t t e r i n t h e Pae l , s o t h i s c l a s s h as n o ad d i t i o n a l

i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n t h e P a e l c o m p a r e d t o v e r b s L a m e d h H e o n l y .

( C ) H a p h e l ( a n d A p h e l ) : a l l t h e f o r m a t i o n s a r e q u i t e n o r m a l , w i t h a s e g ho l

u n d e r t h e p r e f o r m a t i v e n i n t h e p e r f e c t , a c o m p o s i t e sh e w a u n d e r t h e

l a ry n g ea l i n t h e i mp er fec t , t h e u s u a l en d i n g s o f t h e d e r i v ed co n j u g a t i o n s

o f t h e L a m e d h H e v e r b s , e t c . , w i t h o n e e x c e p t i o n a s f o l lo w s :

P a r t i c i p l e : t h e A p h e l p a r t i c i p l e o f rrn is c o m p l e t e l y a n o m a l o u s ( p r o b a b l y

a n e r r o r ) ; i f t h e K i s co n s i d e red a s a mater lectionis, th e fo rm i s wr i t t e n

a s a m o n o c o n s o n a n t a l : ( s i n g . ) x na

4 . Verbs Ayin Laryngeal and Lam edh He: T h e p h o n e t i c r u l e s o f b o t hc l a s s e s i n v o l v ed ap p l y i n t h i s c l a s s o f d o u b l y w eak v e rb s . H e re a l s o t h e Pea l

w i l l b e co n s i d e red fo r t h e s ak e o f i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h e s e ru l e s , an d t h e o t h e r

co n j u g a t i o n s w i l l b e m en t i o n e d b r ie f ly .

(A ) Pe a l : p r ac t i ca l l y a l l o f t h e fo r m a t i o n s a r e i d en t i ca l t o t h o s e o f v e rb s

L a m e d h H e o n l y .

Pe r f ec t : ( s i n g . ) n » a ; (p l u ra l ) i»a W'sa

I m p e r f e c t : ( s i n g . ) xsa? x a a ^

In f i n i t i v e : S»3 B

Pa r t i c i p l e s : b o t h a c t i v e a n d p as s i v e p a r t i c i p l e s a r e j u s t li k e t h o s e of t h e

L a m e d h H e c l a ss ( a n d a l s o o c c u r w i t h n fo r s a s a mater lectionis).



67

6. Vocabulary:

DhBX — s t o r e - h o u s e ; > t r e a s u r y ; rrn — ( a p h e l ) to let l i v e ; re

[ ev en t u a l l y ? p o s i t i v e l y ? ] s t o r e to l ife

— to c o m e m a - — ( i t h p e e l ) to be d i s t r e s s ed

B^xa — bad (4) — n e a r , b e s i d e , w i t h

nVa — ( p a e l ) to w e a r out xVa — ( h i t h p e e l ) to be fillediVa - tax (10) ( w i t h )

Vr; — t o l l , tax (4) m a — ( p a e l ) to a p p o i n t

n;n —• to l ive — r e b e l l i o u s (4)

(B) Pae l and H i t h p a a l : in th e s e c o n j u g a t i o n s the A y i n l e t t e r , b e i n g a l a ry n g ea l ,

c a n n o t be d o u b l e d , and in c o m p e n s a t i o n , the p r e v i o u s v o w e l may or

m a y not be l e n g t h e n e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the ru les g iven in I 8 (e.g.xna;); in o t h e r r e s p e c t s , the P a e l of th i s c l ass is a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l to

t h e P a e l of v e r bs L a m e d h He o n l y .

( C ) H i t h p e e l ( I t h p e e l ) : q u i t e u n i f o r m l y the s a m e as in the a t t e s t e d f o r m a t i o n

o f v e r b s L a m e d h He o n l y .

Pe r f ec t : in th i s c l ass of v e rb s o ccu r s the o n l y a t t e s t ed t h i rd p e r s o n f emi n i n e

s ingu lar per fec t of any of the c lasses of L a m e d h He v e r b s ; b e c a u s e of

i t s p a r a d i g m a t i c i m p o r t a n c e , it is l i s t ed her e as fo l l o w s : ( s i n g . ) n n s r i N

[I thpee l ]

5. Verbs Pe Nun and Lamedh He: In th i s c l ass of d o u b l y w e a k v e r b s , t h e r e

a re o n l y two a t t e s t e d r o o t s , w i t h few f o r m a t i o n s . The r o o t xiM i n v a r i ab l y

r e t a i n s its s in t h o s e f o r m a t i o n s w h i c h h a v e o r n in o t h e r c l a s s es of L a m e d h He

v e rb s . T h i s is t r u e of b o t h the s i m p l e and the d e r i v e d c o n j u g a t i o n s . The sole

o ccu r r en ce of the o t h e r r o o t of th i s c l ass is f o u n d in the H i t h p ee l p e r f ec t

( t h i rd p e r s o n mas cu l i n e s i n g u l a r ) , and is f o r m e d j u s t as v e rb s L a m e d h He o n l y .

( A ) P e a l : the two o c c u r r e n c e s of xtol in the P e a l are as fo l l o w s :

Pe r f ec t : ( s i n g . ) xfel

I m p e r a t i v e : it is i mp o s s i b l e to tel l if th i s fo rm is n o r m a t i v e in the use of x

(o n an a l o g y w i t h the i m p e r f e c t ) ; the o n l y o t h e r Pea l im p era t i v e s i n g u l a r

in any L a m e d h He c lass has the "> (see v e r b s b o t h Pe L a r y n g e a l and

L a m e d h He a b o v e ) ; t he nun is h e r e d r o p p e d c o m p l e t e l y (cf L e s s o n XI ,

sec . 1): ( s i n g . ) xto

( B ) H i t h p a a l : the x is r e t a i n e d in the f emi n i n e p a r t i c i p l e , w h e re all o t h e r

L a m e d h He c lasses have the

Par t i c i p l e : ( s i n g . ) nxfeino



6 8

ptl — ( h a p h e l ) to d a m a g e

X ^ — t o t a k e ; c a r r y a w a y ;

l i f t up

p"?p — to go ( c o m e ) up

nVs — ( p a e l ) to p r a y

niB^ — ( p a e l ) to c h a n g e ; > v i o

l a t e

niB* — ( h a p h e l ) to a l t e r ; > v i o l a t e

niB* — ( h i t h p a a l and i t h p a a l ) to

b e ch an g ed

7. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e the fo l l o w i n g s e n t en ces and a l s o t r an s l a t e E z ra

4 : 1 2 , 13.

xVai ypba •' TpVi nni f i a t xjtfn; (i)

NniaVa Naaa mn xas nirj-ni ma n n Nas mn-n.i (2)

•-B N" •'ima Vnana n iNr- i i^a iia Vx n n ix ' n n nnans (3)

naan 'Vann Niqa aa"? p N a (4)

NaVa n n 'jna n Vx faV»V ' n xaVa bvm nax (5)

Njaa? nVx"? 'Vsi '•nii v ""i N?*?? nVa (e)



7 0

( B ) S h a p h e l : l i k e the o t h e r o c c u r r e n c e s of t h i s c o n j u g a t i o n in BA (see Lesson

X I , sec. 5, an d L e s s o n X I I I , sec. 2), t h i s one is a l s o r e l a t ed to the

A c c a d i a n (susQ—usesi, the S h a p h e l of (w)asu).P e r f e c t : the p e r f e c t of NS"' has a K e t h i b - Q e r e v a r i a t i o n : ( s i n g . ) S ' S ' ^

[ K e t h i b ] " S l * [Qere]

4 . Verbs Pe Laryngeal and Ayin Laryngeal: T h e r e are very few a t t e s t a t i o n s

o f v e rb s in t h i s c l a s s of d o u b l y w e a k v e r b s . In all ca s e s the A y i n l e t t e r is resh

r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g a t r u e l a r y n g e a l . The r e s u l t is the s a m e , for in the Pae l and

H i t h p a a l c o n j u g a t i o n s, it c a n n o t be d o u b l e d , and in c o m p e n s a t i o n , the p rev i o u s

v o w e l is l e n g t h e n e d (see L e s s o n X).

H o w e v e r , in v e r b s A y i n L a r y n g e a l o n l y , t h e r e is no a t t e s t a t i o n of t h e H o p h a l

c o n j u g a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , for the s a k e of c o m p l e t e n e s s, the s o le o ccu r r en ce of the

H o p h a l in t h i s c l a s s of d o u b l y w e a k v e r b s is h e re l i s t ed . It is the t h i rd p e r s o n

f e m i n i n e s i n g u l a r p e r f e c t of ain: nannn.

5 . Verbs Pe Laryngeal and Lam edh Laryngeal: T h e r e are very few v e rb s in

t h i s c l a s s of d o u b l y w e a k v e r b s , and ev en f ew er i r r eg u l a r i t i e s ( s o me fo rm a t i o n s

a r e i d e n t i c a l to t h e i r s t r o n g v e r b c o u n t e r p a r t s ) . T h e r e is one o c c u r r e n c e of

a c o m p o s i t e s h e w a u n d e r the i n i t i a l l a ry n g ea l in p l a c e of a s i mp l e s h ew a , and

t h r e e o c c u r r e n c e s of a p a t h a h b e f o r e the f ina l l a ryngea l ins tead of a sere or

h i r eq ( s ee L es s o n X). The o t h e r t h r e e a t t e s t e d f o r m s are q u i t e r eg u l a r .

6 . Pseudo-Gem inate Verbs: In BA t h e r e are s o m e v e rb s ex h i b i t i n g

i r r e g u l a r i t i e s , w h i c h , a l t h o u g h s e e m i n g l y u n r e l a t e d to the casua l o bserve r ,

n ev e r t h e l e s s can be g r o u p e d t o g e t h e r u n d e r one c o m m o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c . T h i s

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c is t h a t s o m e of the f o r m a t i o n s of the v e r b s in q u e s t i o n ( t h o u g h

n o t a l l ) , are a n a l o g o u s t o the c o r r e s p o n d i n g f o r m a t i o n s of t h e G e m i n a t e c l a ss of

v e r b s . T h e s e v e r b s are not G e m i n a t e , but co u l d be classified as a so-cal led

" P s e u d o - G e m i n a t e " c l a s s of v e rb s .

A l t h o u g h the t h r ee v e rb s i n v o l v ed do not h av e i d en t i ca l s eco n d and th i rd

c o n s o n a n t s , it is s o m e w h a t c u r i o u s t h a t all t h r e e h a v e V as e i t h e r the second

o r t h e t h i r d c o n s o n a n t . In f ac t , t h e s e v e rb s mi g h t be t e r m e d the " W e a k L a m e d h "

c lass , for the l a m e d h a p p a r e n t l y d i s a p p e a r s or is a s s i m i l a t e d . H o w e v e r , m o r e

p r o n o u n c e d t h a n t h i s b e h a v i o r of t h e l a m e d h are t h e i r v a r i o u s an a l o g i e s to the

G e m i n a t e c l a s s . The t h r ee v e rb s w i l l be co n s i d e red i n d i v i d u a l l y b e l o w .

I n BA the r o o t •qVn is no t u s ed in the Pea l p e r f ec t or P e a l i m p e r a t i v e , buti n s t e a d the r o o t VtK is u s e d . T h e r e are two o t h e r fo rms w h i ch h av e b een

t r a d i t i o n a l l y a t t r i b u t e d to the h y p o t h e t i ca l r o o t ';)in , w h i ch s eem ra t h e r to

b e l o n g to "qVn as f o l l o w s : ( i m p e r f e c t ) •qn; and ( in f in i t ive) -qna. It w o u l d be



71

difficult to classify an i m p e r f e c t of t h i s f o r m a t i o n as e i t h e r an A y i n W aw or

a n A y i n Y o d h v e r b , for the i m p e r f e c t is p rec i s e ly w h e re the i or w o u l d be

f o u n d in these c lasses , not o m i t te d . On the o t h e r h a n d , if it is a s s u m e d t h a t "qV?is the r o o t , but f o r m e d on an a n a l o g y w i t h the G e m i n a t e c l a s s, the loss of the

A y i n l e t t e r is e xp la in e d . R e m e m b e r t h a t in the G e m i n a t e c l a s s ,t h e r e is f r eq u en t l y

g e m i n a t i o n or d o u b l i n g in the first c o n s o n a n t , e s p e c i a l l y in the i m p e r f e c t and

o t h e r fo rms w i t h the p r e f o r m a t i v e s (see L e ss on X l l l , sec. 1). N o t e t h a t b o t h

f o r m s in q u e s t i o n ( i m p e r f e c t and i n fi n it iv e ) h av e p re f o rm a t i v e s .

H o w e v e r , •qVn is a l so Pe L a r y n g e a l , and the n c a n n o t be d o u b l e d . T h i s

a c c o u n t s for the f o r m s -qri' and 'sjrip (cf. jna. Pea l in f in i t ive of ]in; L e s s o n

X I I I , s ec . 4). P r e s u m a b l y , had t h e r e o c c u r r e d f o r m s of "^pn in the P e a l w i t h o u tp re fo rma t i v es (p e r f ec t , i mp e ra t i v e , or p a r t i c i p l e ) t h ey w o u l d not h a v e

b een fo rmed on an a n a l o g y w i t h the G e m i n a t e c l a s s, but w o u l d h av e b een

fo rmed r eg u l a r l y .

T u r n i n g to the d e r i v e d c o n j u g a t i o n s , -qVn is q u i t e r e g u l a r in the Pae l

c o n j u g a t i o n , but t h i s too c o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d to be on an a n a l o g y w i t h the

G e m i n a t e c l a s s , for th i s c l ass is a l s o r eg u l a r l y fo rmed in the P a e l .

T h e one o c c u r r e n c e of -qbri in the A p h e l c o n j u g a t i o n , the p a r t i c i p l e f pVna,

i s cons idered by s o m e a u t h o r i t i e s as i n c o r r e c t l y so w r i t t en . In s t ea d , t h ey p re fe rto revoca l i ze it as a P a e l p a r t i c i p l e , pDVnp- If th i s e m e n d a t i o n is c o r r e c t , the

o b s e r v a t i o n s in the a b o v e p a r a g r a p h a p p l y . If n o t , t h e r e is no c o m p a r a b l e v e r b

b o t h Pe L a r y n g e a l and G e m i n a te in the A p h e l c o n j u g a t i o n w i t h w h i c h to m a k e

a n a n a l o g i c a l c o m p a r i s o n .

I t s h o u l d be k e p t in m i n d t h a t •qVn e x h i b i t s w e a k n e s s in BH, as w e l l as in

BA , o n l y t h e re it has s o m e f o r m a t i o n s a n a l o g o u s to the Pe Y o d h (Pe Waw)

c l as s , r a t h e r t h a n a n a l o g o u s to the G e m i n a t e c la ss as in BA. In BH t h e s e

a l t e r n a t e f o r m a t i o n s are so w i d e s p r ea d t h a t m o s t H e b r e w g r a m m a r i a n s p o s t u l a t e the ex i s t en ce of a r o o t T)"?'.

T h e s e c o n d v e r b , pVo, on the o t h e r h a n d , e x h i b i ts f o r m a t i o n s a n a l o g o u s to

t h e G e m i n a t e c l a s s in the d e r iv e d c o n j u g a t i o n s , but not in the P e a l . The Pea l

a t t e s t a t i o n s are p e r f ec tl y r eg u l a r , as fo l l o w s :

Pe r f ec t : ( s i n g . ) Ttpbo; (plural ) ip"??

P a r t i c i p l e : ( p l u r a l) ipbo

O n the s u r f ace , t h i s s eem s to differ from •ijVn in the P e a l . A c t u a l l y , it s h o u l db e n o t e d t h a t t h e s e o c c u r r e n c e s are u n if o r m l y w i t h o u t a p r e f o r m a t iv e , and so

n o t f o r m e d on an a n a l o g y w i t h the G e m i n a t e c l a s s . Had t h e r e o c c u r r e d f o r

m a t i o n s of rjVn in the p e r f ec t or p a r t i c i p l e , p r e s u m a b l y t h e y too w o u l d h a v e



72

been regular (see above). On the other hand, had pbo occurred in the Peal

imperfect or infinitive (and thus with a preformative), it too might have been

formed on an analogy with the Geminate class.

In the derived conjugations, pVo does have preformatives, and invariably

its formations are analogous to the Geminate class. The V is completely elided,

and in compensation the initial consonant is doubled, or this doubling is

resolved by a nun (see I 3). Stated another way, the "? is assimilated to the

previous consonant. The attested forms are as follows:

Haphel perfect: (plural) ipon

Haphel infinitive: niroin [13]

Hophal perfect: (sing.) pon

The third verb, Vao, can be considered analogous to the Geminate class,

because its sole occurrence is in the Poel conjugation. However, the entire

matter is doubtful. The writer prefers to class this formation in question as

a Saphel of the Pe Yodh (Pe Waw) root (see Lesson XI, sec. 5).

Should the root actually prove to be Vao instead, it is undoubtedly a Poel.

And in BA, as in BH, the Poel is strictly a Geminate class conjugation, having

present, in order, the initial consonant, a holem (usually with waw), the secondconsonant, and the third consonant (the last two being identical in true Geminate

verbs). Although the two are identical in form, the Poel conjugation is not to

be confused with the Polel conjugation, which is strictly from the "Hollow" class

of verbs, the final consonant being reduplicated. The form of the Poel in

question here is as follows:

Passive participle: (plural) pVaiOKi

Perhaps with so few examples, it is not really wise to set up a so-called

"class." But with these verbs exhibiting some tendencies to formations analogous with the Geminate class, and yet no t being true Geminate verbs, they

may well be called verbs of the "Pseudo-Geminate" class.

7. Other Irregular Verbs: In addition to the verbs above, there are a few

other verbs in BA that exhibit other minor irregularities in form or in usage.

Without any attempt at classification, they are listed below individually.

The verb nntf has a prosthetic K in t he Peal perfect. This is no t found

in other forms of the Peal conjugation. Since the verb is attested only in thethird person plural, it is difficult to determine whether this is an isolated

phenomenon, or would normally occur in all forms of the Peal perfect. The

formation in question is as follows: rriB^N.



73

In its sole occurrence, the Peal perfect of "ijo is found as nip instead of the

expected i jp.

Although the verb V a i occurs in the perfect, the imperfect, and the part i ciples, a parallel verb, Vns, is also used in the participles.

The use of a r r and ]n3 is completely complementary with a n ' being used

in the perfect, the imperative, and the participles, and ]ni being used in the

imperfect and the infinitive.

The complementary use of rjVn and VtX has already been discussed in the

preceding section of this lesson.

8. Vocabulary:

T :to light, heat (shaphel) to finish; be

T'JN — fitting, becoming (4) finished

revolt (4) nVp — to eat salt; > be unde r

nns — (haphel) to bring

nVp —

obligation of loyalty

n ? n - record (book) (4) nVa — salt (1)

to go [tradit.] •?30 - (poel) to bring; lay; >

to go; > reach preserve

(pael) to walk about "lip — to shut(aphel) to walk about pVo — (haphel) to take up

ann — (hophal) to be laid pVo — (hophal) to be lifted up

waste nns — nakedness, shame (7)

(haphel and aphel) to to finish; be finished

praise nna — to drink

9. Exercises: Translate the following sentenc es, and also translate Ezra

4:14, 15.

na nVgV xjina an x-iia nini nn nn;a x'S'tih (i)

nan • iVnp nini Nnins aia bm-f? nia xaVa (2)

N a a - p bm-i ppni x a r p npoinV nax bmib (3)

pVaioa 'niniOi aVirn-'a NnV -n'aV nx-a^ nana n ^n m i (4)

niiaa i^^J??^ T l?*? ^ ^ l ^ V ^5)

Naaxi NS7S nVtna NB^ni -nVnV inaa i xsoai s am 'iNa la vnu N (e)

rjn; aa? oVipn''"? ^na"? 'niinai Vsnftr- x ay-p xas-Va n D»p o'lp 'aa (7)



7 4

L E S S O N X V I

V E R B A L S U F F I X E S : W I T H T H E P E R F E C T

1. Verba l Suffixes: In BA p ro n o mi n a l d i r ec t o b j ec t s a r e u s u a l l y ex p re s s ed

by suff ixes . These may be added ei ther to a f in i te form or to the inf ini t ive. They

ar e no t used in a re f lex ive sense . T he o ne exc ep t ion t o th i s ru le i s th a t th e

s uff ix o f t h e t h i r d p e r s o n p l u ra l d o es n o t ap p ea r in BA . In s t e ad , t h e i n d ep en d en tp e r s o n a l p ro n o u n i s u s ed ( s ee L es s o n I I I , s ec . 2 E ) .

T h e fo rm s of th e verb a l suf fixes a re bas ica l ly th e sam e (excep t the f ir st

p e r s o n s i n g u l a r ) a s t h e p ro n o m i n a l s uf fi xes o n n o u n s , a s fo l l o w s :

P e r s o n

1 ( c o m . )

2 (mas c . )

3 (mas c . )

3 ( fem.)

1 ( c o m . )

2 (mas c . )

T

T

T

Singular

( f o l l o w i n g a c o n s o n a n t )

( fo l l o w i n g a v o w e l an d w i t h t h e

i m p e r a t i v e )


( fo l l o w i n g a v o w e l )




Plural




T h es e s uf fix es m ay b e mo d i f i ed s l i g h t l y w h en a t t ac h e d t o v e rb s o f t h e L a m ed h

H e c l a s s .2 . Formation of Suffixes on the Perfect: I t c a n b e m a i n t a i n e d t h a t m o s t o f

t h e s uf fix es w ere ad d e d t o fo rm s r e s em b l i n g c l o se l y t h e P ro t o -Se m i t i c , w h i ch

fo rms , i n t u rn , w e re mo d i f i ed acco rd i n g t o t h e ru l e s o f BA p h o n o l o g y . T h u s ,



75

t h e P r o t o - S e m i t i c Vpj? p lu s the suffix •rj > " Vtsp. (see I L). Ho we v e r , t h i s b a s i c

a s s u m p t i o n c a n n o t be un iversa l ly t rue , for it is a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e to co n s id e r

the a t tes ted fo rm nVpp. a r e su l t of P r o t o - S e m i t i c qatala p lu s the P r o t o - S e m i t i cthird person masculine suff ix hu. H e n c e , in BA a g r e a t e r e x t e n t of an a lo g ica l

f o r m a t i o n m u s t be p o s t u l a t e d t h a n in m o s t of the o th e r Sem i t i c l an g u ag e s . The

suffix n-~, for e x a m p l e , is i l l u s t r a t iv e of th is type of an a lo g ica l d e v e lo p me n t .

I t must have o r ig ina ted in n o u n f o r m s and sp r ead to the v e r b . T h u s , in c o n

s ider ing the en t i r e p i c tu r e , it is p r ac t i ca l ly imp o ss ib l e to f o rm u la t e u n iv e r sa l

ru les to cover the d e v e l o p m e n t of the a t t e s t ed fo rms .

3. Table of Suffixes on the Perfect: The fo l lowing tab le is a co mp le t e l i s t

o f a t tes ted fo rms in BA of p ronominal su f f ixes on the p e r f ec t . Ob v io u s ly ,

suffixes will not be f o u n d on the pass ive or re f lex ive con juga t ions , for such

co n ju g a t io n s do not h av e a d i rec t ob jec t .

Form of the Verb

Suffix 3 (masc . ) 2 (masc . ) 1 ( co m . ) 3 (p lu r a l )

1 (com.) •'iny'Tin h a p h e l 'JlVan p ae l

2 (masc.) ijyiin h a p h e l

r]pVB>n haphel

3 (masc.) 'nja p ea l

anno pea l

anfe p ea l

aa-i?a h a p h e l

apVtt a h a p h e l

a»''f'.N ap h e l

aVVs s h a p h e l

••nW p ea l

-aiaipa h a p h e l

3 (fem.) nana pea l

aaVtf a h ap h e l

an;53 pea l

1 (com.

p lu ra l )xinsiia h a p h e l wn'ria h a p h e l



76

4 . The Suffixes on 'rfN: Alone, •'n'S indicates existence, and means

"there is" or "there are" (see Lesson IV, sec. 6). With the negative it means

"there is not" or "there are not." However, when it is used with a sufiix, thisdoes no t hold true. In such a case, it is used as a copula (which, if found at all,

is usually expressed by the third person independent pronoun; cf. Lesson III,

sec . 2 B). As a copula, with the suffix usually expresses additional force or

emphasis (see Lesson VI, sec. 6 B, and sec. 9).

A complete list ing of the occurrences in BA of •'n'tt with the various pro

nominal suffixes is given below as follows: •q;ri''N [Kethib] • ]n"'S [Qere] ''nTri"'N

XJin-N [Kethib] Nir 'N [Qere] pD'n-'N

5. 1Vocabulary:

— arm, force (4) — (pael) to separate

— hurry (9) D j r i B — word, decree (4)

— injury; damage (8) Nip — (peil) to be read; (be

— (warned); > cautious (4) shouted)

Van — hurt; damage (4) — to grow great

— a share in (4) — negligence (9)

— rebellion (1) — welfare; [as a salutation]

— decree; official docu hail (4)

ment (4) TP? — strong, mighty (4)

6. Exercises: Translate Ezra 4:16-23.



7 8

Singular Form of the Verb Plural (all masc.)

Suffix 3 (m as c. ) (3 fem.) 1 ( c o m . )[ t he pe r son of the verb

is in b r a c k e t s ]

3 (masc . )

aJVl i f iN h a p h e l [."] aaVna; pael

[3] nwVria; pael

[3] a n a » t t ; pael

[3] naitt B^ pael

3 ( fem. ) auri; pe al aiBhTR p e al

Tiivr p a e l aJjP.'iri aphe l

2 (masc .

p lu ra l )v^f?«0: pea l

pDjantJ ; shaphel

3. Table of Suffixes on the Infinitive: W h e n the suffixes are a d d c to thePeal inf in i t ive , the f inal shor t vowel is u .;ed to a s h e w a (see T A . In the

d e r i v e d c o n j u g a t i o n s , the suffixes a n ded to the c o n s t r u orm of the

i n f i n i t i ve , end ing in tV\— (see L e s s o n i , sec. 3). The tab le b elow l i s t s all of

t h e f o r m s a t t e s t e d in BA.

Suffix In fin i t iv e Suffix Inl i .

1 (com.

s ingu l a r )

' inW'l in h a p h e l

'^S-iin h a p h e l

3 ( u u s c . )

si • ; u l a r

aiira ; .i

a^asa peal

2 (masc .

s i ngu l a r )

^ fr tSf in haphel

•qniana h a p h e l

"^riViVp s h a p h e l

aa-ifja pe^i

ariVsa h a p h e l

ariaj??h a p h e l

1 (com.

p l u r a l )

Kiniajntf s h a p h e l a n i a n ? s h a p h e l



79

4. Table of Suffixes on the Imperative: I n BA t h e re a r e o n l y t h r e e o ccu r

rences o f the impera t ive wi th su f f ixes . The suf f ixes a re added d i rec t ly to the

i mp era t i v e , w i t h o u t an y h e l p i n g v o w e l , a s fo l l o w s :

Suffix I m p e r a t i v e ( 2 m a s c . s i n g u l a r ) I m p e r a t i v e ( 2 m a s c . p l u r a l )

1 (com . sg . ) •'I'pSJn haphel ••linn h a p h e l

3 (m asc . sg . ) ••niVan p ae l

5. Suffixes on the Participle: In BA , a s i n o t h e r Semi t i c l an g u ag es , t h e

par t i c ip le can be used as a noun or as a verb . The suf f ixes a re added to the

p a r t i c i p l e a s t h ey a r e ad d ed t o n o u n s . T h e s o l e o ccu r r en ce i n BA h as a K e t h i b -

Qere var ia t ion as fo l lows : ' q ; s i6? [Keth ib ] , "^v." [Q e re ] .

6 . Vocabulary:

W-ISON

Voa

V n a -

Ka i

ex ac t l y ; eag e r l y

a t i t le of officials

w a l l ; [ t r a d i t . " b e a m " ? ]

t o ceas e , b e d i s co n t i n u e d , s t o p

b u i l d i n g (4 )

s q u a red ( s t o n es ) (4 )

wal l (1)

( h i t h p a a l ) t o p r o p h e s y ;

ac t a s a p ro p h e t

n T a » — w o r k , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,

to i l , se rv ice (7 )

n a i p — f o r m e r t i m e ; f o r m e r l y

(7)

a(P — h o a r y ; [ p l u r a l ] e l d e r s(4)

VXB — t o a s k ; > r e q u i r e

7r a — (p ae l ) t o b eg i n

a in — (h ap h e l an d ap h e l ) t o

g i v e b ack ; d e l i v e r ;

a n s w e r

f n n n — two [ fem.]

7. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e E z r a 4 : 2 4 ; 5 : 1 - 1 1 ,



8 0

L E S S O N X V I I I

N O U N T Y P E S

1. Definition of Noun Types: A l t h o u g h t h e s a m e w o r d , type, i s n o t em

p l o y ed b y a ll g r a m m ar i a n s t o d es c r i b e t h e d i s t i n c t i o n i n fo rm a t i o n o f Semi t i c

nouns , i t may be wel l to use th i s des igna t ion fo r th i s par t i cu lar fea tu re . S ince

n o u n s i n t h e v a r i o u s Semi t i c l an g u ag es a r e g en e ra l l y t r i co n s o n an t a l , h av i n gdef in i t e pa t t e rns o f voca l i za t ion o f the same bas ic roo t , i t i s poss ib le to c lass i fy

n o u n s acco rd i n g t o t h e mo d i f i ca t i o n s (b o t h co n s o n an t a l an d v o ca l i c ) w h i ch

t h ey u n d e rg o . T h e re a r e s o me ad v an t ag es i n c l a s s i fy i n g n o u n s i n t h i s ma i mer ,

e s p ec i a l l y i n r eco g n i z i n g t h e mean i n g s t h a t s o me o f t h e s e t y p es h av e .

In co n s i d e r i n g t h e n o u n t y p es o f BA , d u e r eco g n i t i o n mu s t b e g i v en t o t h e

r i ch h e r i t ag e w h i ch t h a t l an g u ag e p o s s es s e s . I n ad d i t i o n t o t h e v a r i o u s H eb rew ,

A ccad i an , an d Pe r s i an p ro p e r n ames o f p e r s o n s an d l o ca l i t i e s fo u n d i n BA , i t

ab o u n d s i n o t h e r w o rd s f ro m t h es e an d o t h e r l an g u ag es . T h es e cu l t u ra l l o an

w o rd s o ccu r mo re f r eq u en t l y i n n o u n s t h an i n v e rb s . Bo r ro w i n g s f ro m H eb rew

are espec ia l ly f requen t in re la t ion to re l ig ion o r o ther Jewish ins t i tu t ions ,

a l t h o u g h m a n y w o r d s s o c o n s i d e r e d m a y a c t u a l l y g o b a c k t o a c o m m o n

P r o t o - S e m i t i c s o u r c e . B o r r o w i n g s f r o m A c c a d i a n a n d P e r s i a n a r e m o s t

f r e q u e n tl y c o n n e c t e d w i t h g o v e r n m e n t a l o r p o l it i c a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . B o r r o w i n g s

f rom G re ek are cer t a in o n ly in the fie ld o f m us ic , a l th ou gh o ther poss ib le

o ccu r r en ces h av e b een s u g g es t ed .

W i t h t h i s b a ck g ro u n d i n m i n d , i t s h o u l d b e n o t ed t h a t th i s l e ss o n d ea l i n g w i t h

noun types wi l l be conf ined to those which are Semi t i c in o r ig in (o r a t l eas t haveh a d a l o n g h i s t o ry o f Sem i t i c u s ag e ) . A l s o i t s h o u l d b e n o t ed t h a t n o fo rma l

d i s t i n c t i o n w i l l b e m ad e i n t h e d is cu s s i o n b e t w een n o u n s , ad j ec ti v es , p a r t i

c i p le s , o r o t h e r n o u n f o r m a t i o n s .

2 . Recognition of Noun Types: I t i s e s s en t i a l t h a t t h e s t u d e n t h av e s o me

k n o w l ed g e o f t h e p h o n o l o g y o f t h e l an g u ag e i n v o l v ed i n o rd e r t o r eco g n i ze

n o u n t y p es ( s ee L es s o n I ) . I n ad d i t i o n , a k n o w l e d g e o f o t h e r S em i t i c co g n a t e s o f

t h e w o rd u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n i s q u i t e h e l p fu l . T h e g rea t e r t h e n u m b e r o f Semi t ic

l an g u ag es i n w h i ch s u ch co g n a t e s o ccu r , t h e m o re a ccu ra t e can b e t h e c l as si fi ca t i o n i n t o n o u n t y p es . F o r t h e s ak e o f i l l u s t r a t i o n , a f ew n o u n t y p es a r e l i st ed

b e l o w . C a r e f u l d i s t i n c t i o n s h o u l d b e m a d e b e t w e e n t h e A r a m a i c type an d t h e

P r o t o - S e m i t i c type. T h e l a t t e r i s t h e basic t y p e .



81

Aram aic noun Aram aic type Proto-Semitic type Proto-Semitic noun

Vya ( o w n e r ) Vtsj? q a t l b a ' I u

- Ip p (b o o k ) Vpp q i t l s i p r u

B T T i ( h o l y ) V'pp. q a t t i l q a d d i s h u

Xia (bu i ld ing) Vpp q a t i l b a n i y u

T h e few n o u n s g iv e n a b o v e a r e m e r e l y r a n d o m e x a m p l e s . A s i m i l a r p r o c e d u r e

co u l d be used for any S e m i t i c l a n g u a g e . In the f i rs t column the BA (or H e b r e wo r A c c a d i a n , e t c . ) n o u n is g i v en . In the s e c o n d c o l u m n the b a si c c o n s o n a n t s are

used (VtJp f rom the s t a n d a r d p a r a d i g m ) and the v o c a l i z a t i o n is t h a t of the

regular (or normal) A r a m a i c f o rm of t h a t t y p e . H e n c e Vpp is the A r a m a i c

t y p e of npp, but it has a p a t h a h due to the i (see 1 J) . In the t h i r d c o l u m n is

given the b a si c P r o t o - S e m i t i c t y p e of the n o u n in q u e s t i o n . By def in i t ion , th i s

is the f o r m u s u a ll y m e a n t by the t e r m type. F i n a l l y , in the f o u r t h c o l u m n , t h e r e

is a r e c o n s t r u c t e d P r o t o - S e m i t i c f o r m of t h e n o u n in q u e s t i o n . A l t h o u g h t h e s e

fo rms are h y p o t h e t i c a l l y r e c o n s t r u c t e d , yet t h e y may be co n s i d e re d r a t h e r

c e r t a i n due to t h e i r o ccu r r en ce in U g a r i t i c , w h e r e the U g a r i t i c f o r m s are often

i d en t i ca l w i t h the s o -ca l led P ro t o -S em i t i c fo rms . It s h o u l d a l s o be n o t e d t h a t

s o m e of t h e s e h y p o t h e t i c a l P r o t o - S e m i t i c f o rm s are very s imi la r to e x t a n t

A r a b i c f o r m s .

3 . Table of Noun Types Occurring in BA: The t ab l e b e l o w l i s t s the basic

P r o t o - S e m i t i c t y p e s (cf. the t h i r d c o l u m n a b o v e ) , and d o e s not re fer to types

s t r i c t ly BA unless specifically so i n d i c a t e d . One or two BA w o r d s are l i s t ed as

ex amp l es o f t h e t y p e in q u e s t i o n , t h e n the t y p e is g i v en , and finally a c o m m o n or

genera l usage in BA (if any) is l i s t ed .

C o n c e i v a b l y , any of the t y p es b e l o w co u l d h av e f em i n i n e n o u n s as wel l as

m a s c u l i n e n o u n s . It a c t u a l l y m a k e s no d i f l e r en ce w h e t h e r the fem inin e sufi ix is

p r e s e n t or not in BA, the basic t y p e is l i s t e d w i t h o u t it. As a m a t t e r of fac t ,

s o m e of the t y p e s h a p p e n to h a v e no o t h e r e x a m p l e s in BA ex cep t f em i n i n e

n o u n s .

Example{s) Type Common Use{s)

Biconsonantal Nouns

niB>;aN qal

n xa qil



82

3 0T

qal

qi l

qu i

Geminate Nouns

qal l

qil l

n a x j a j qul l

Triconsonantal Nouns

•7573 q a t l

I B D q i t l

q u t l ( a b s t r a c t n o u n )

"in? q a t a l (p as s i v e p a r t i c i p l e o f L a m ed h H e C l a s s

qa t i l (ad jec t ive)

q i t a l

naVsT \ :

q u t u l [d o u b t fu l ; v e ry l i k e l y a H eb rew l o an w o rd ]q a t a l ( a b s t r a c t n o u n )

q a t i l ( ad j ec t i v e ; p a s s i v e p a r t i c i p l e o f t h e s t ro n g v e rb )

q a t u l ( f e m i n i n e a b s t r a c t n o u n )

qitai

trag q u t a l

DVS?- T

q a t a l

a r i 3 ; 3 n 3 q a t i l ( ad j ec t i v e ; ac t i v e p a r t i c i p l e o f t h e s t ro n g v e rb

Tin? q a t o l{not

a P - S t y p e ; nomen agentis)

ne*? q a t t a l

I B S q i t t u l

n 3 r ) ? q a t t a l ( the Pae l in f in i t ive o f the s t rong verb)

q a t t i l ( t h e m o s t c o m m o n a d j e c t i v e t y p e i n B A )

Nouns W ith More Than Three Consonan ts

VaVa q a l q a l [ r e d u p l i c a t i o n o f a b i c o n s o n a n t a l s t e m ]

]???1 q a t a l a l [ r ed u p l i ca t i o n o f t h e f in al co n s o n an t o f at r i c o n s o n a n t a l s t e m ]

I B I D I P q a t a l t a l [ r ed u p l i ca t i o n o f t h e fin al t w o co n s o n an t s o f a

t r i c o n s o n a n t a l s t e m ]

Exam ple{s) Type Com mon Use(s)

Biconsonantal Nouns (continued)



8 3

— p l a c e ; t r a c e (2)

n T a — for ti f ied p l ac e ; fo r t re ss

(7)

npa — ( h i t h p a a l ) to be i n v es

t i g a t e d

m ? — yet, but

nan — to sacrifice

nan — sacrifice (of s l a i n an i an

m a l s ) (1)— r e c o r d (4)

a m — (pe i l ) to be g iven

C h a l d a e a n

i n V - e x c e p t ; bu t ; yet

nVsa — s c r o l l ; r o l l (7)

M e d i a ; M e d e ( s )

nnp — t o d e m o l i s h

^ns - b r e a d t h (4)

w i l l ; d e c i s i o n (9)pri8^ — s ix ty

5. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e E z r a 5 : 1 2 - 1 7 ; 6 : 1 - 3 .

T r u e q u a d r i l i t e r a l s i n c l u d e s u c h w o r d s as rans, Db~}n, etc .

Nouns Formed W ith P refixes

nariDN ' a q t a l (the A p h e l i n f i n it i v e of the s t ro n g v e rb )

nVron h a q t a l (the H ap h e l i n f i n i t i v e of the s t r o n g v e r b )

]3BJa miqtal (the Pea l in f in i tive of the s t r o n g v e r b )

nan?^ s h a q t a l (the Sh a p h e l i n f i n it i ve of the s t r o n g v e r b )

i nn [a n o u n f o r m e d by ad d i n g p ref ix / to the v e rb a l ro o t

*dawara]

Nouns Formed With Suffixes

Th ese suff ixes in clu de the suffix nun (pia); the BA g e n t i l i c e n d i n g (""Vaa);

t h e e n d i n g h o l e m w i t h waw (iVa); and the feminine suff ixes -ith and -Hth

( see Lesson VII, sees . 1 and 2, c lass 9).

I n a d d i t i o n to t h e a b o v e t y p e s , BA has a few o t h e r ty p e s i n v o l v i n g d i p h t h o n g s ,

which wi l l not be d i scussed her e (e .g . DV, etc. ; see I D) .

4. Vocabulary:



8 4

L E S S O N X I X

S I M I L A R N O U N C L A S S E S

1. Confusion of Similar Noun Classes: In o rd e r t o p rev en t co n fu s i o n

b e t w een n o u n s t h a t h av e man y s i mi l a r fo rms , a c l ea r d i s t i n c t i o n mu s t b e mad e

b e t w e e n n o u n types ( see L es s o n X V II l ) an d n o u n classes ( see L esson VI I ) .

T h e d e s i g n a t i o n type, r e f er s t o t h e b as i c P ro t o -Se m i t i c s t em, an d t h e fo rm o ft h e s ame n o u n i n BA may d i f f e r co n s i d e rab l y f ro m t h e o r i g i n a l . T h e t e rm class,

o n t h e o t h e r h an d , i s s i mp l y o n e o f s ev e ra l g ro u p s s o d es i g n a t ed s i mp l y fo r

co n v en i en ce i n l ea rn i n g t h e d ec l en s i o n o f BA n o u n s .

Bec au s e n o u n s h av i n g ce r t a i n s i m i l a r i ti e s in t h e i r mo d i f i ca t io n s d u e t o

d ec l en s i o n a r e r a t h e r a rb i t r a r i l y g ro u p ed t o g e t h e r i n a class, i t is possible

t h a t o n e n o u n class i n BA m ay i n c l u d e t w o o r ev en m o re types o f n o u n s . F o r

ex a m p l e . C l a s s 1 o f n o u n s i n c l u d es a ll BA n o u n s b e l o n g i n g t o t h r ee b as i c t y p es

(see sec . 2 be low) .Classe s 1 an d 2 o f nou ns (see Lesso n V l l ) ma y be ra th er eas i ly confused ,

fo r they have severa l fo rms which are s imi la r o r even iden t i ca l to each o ther .

In s u ch ca s es t h e o r i g i n a l n o u n t y p e d e t e rm i n es t o w h i ch n o u n c l as s t h e w o rd i n

q u e s t i o n b e l o n g s . F o r e x a m p l e , i p p a n d i n i h a v e i d e n t i c a l f o r m a t i o n s i n t h e

s i n g u l a r o f t h e a b s o l u t e s t a t e . H o w e v e r , t h e fo rm er i s a q i t l t y p e an d t h e l a t t e r

a q a t a l t y p e (L es s o n X V II I , s ec . 3 ) . H en ce , t h e fo rmer b e l o n g s t o C l a s s 1 an d

t h e l a t t e r t o C l a s s 2 (L es s o n V I I , sec . 2 ) . T h e co n fu s i o n b e t w e en t h es e t w o

classes o f nouns i s l a rge ly conf ined to the s ingu lar ra ther than the p lu ra l , so

t h e s i n g u l a r w i l l b e d i s cu s s ed i n g rea t e r d e t a i l b e l o w .

2 . Nouns Belonging to Class 1 : In th i s c l ass a re g r ou pe d a l l th e no un s o f

t h e s o - c a ll e d " s e g h o l a t e " f o r m a t i o n ( t h e n a m e i s d e r iv e d f r om t h e B H n o u n

c l a s s , w h e re t h e p re s en ce o f t h e s eg h o l i s co mmo n ) . T h e n o u n s o f t h i s c l a s s a r e

o f t h e t h r ee t y p es , q a t l , q i t l , an d q u t l . Be i n g mo n o s y l l ab i c i n fo rm a t i o n , t h ey a r e

o f t en ca l l ed t h e n o u n s o f s h o r t e s t f o rma t i o n . T h e emp h a t i c s t a t e u s u a l l y

rev ea l s c l ea r l y t h e P ro t o -Semi t i c t y p e , fo r t h e emp h a t i c s i n g u l a r i s fo rmed b y

a d d i n g t h e B A d e t e r m i n a t e e n d i n g N _ - t o t h e ty p e s t e m . T h e a b s o l u t e ( a ls o t h eco n s t ru c t ) fo rm i s d ev e l o p ed f ro m t h e s t em b y t h e i n s e r t i o n o f a s eco n d a ry

(h e l p i n g ) v o w e l b e t w een t h e t w o f i n a l co n s o n an t s . T h i s v o w e l i s u s u a l l y an e

w r i t t e n _ ., b u t w he n a l a ryn gea l o r resh i s p re sen t i t beco m es _ ( see I J ) . Th i s



8 5

s e c o n d a r y v o w e l a t t r a c t s the a c c e n t to it, and the p re t o n i c s y ll ab le is s u b s e

q u e n t l y r e d u c e d to s h e w a (see 1 A) . A few exa m ples w i l l se rve to s h o w t h i s

d e v e l o p m e n t .

VV? > 7»3 > Vra [I A ] ; ho w e v e r , xVya

la y > nay > nay [I A an d M ] ; h o w e v e r , snay

• i B p > -IDO [I J] > nap [I A ] ; ho w e v e r , x i p p

3. Nouns Belonging to Class 2: The n o u n s g r o u p e d t o g e t h e r in C l a s s 2 are

dissy l l ab ic , of n i n e p o s s i b l e t y p es : q a t a l , q a t i l , q a t u l ; q i t a l , q i t i l , q i t u l ; q u t a l ,

q u t i l , q u t u l . As a m a t t e r of f ac t , in BA o n l y fo rms w i t h a in the final sylla bleo c c u r w i t h c e r t a i n t y . H o w e v e r , the o r i g i n a l types i n c l u d e q a t a l , q a t i l (in BA

a l l occurrences have a due to a f ina l l a ryngea l or r e s h ) , and q i t a l (see L es s o n

X V I I I , sec. 3). In the ab s o l u t e ( a l s o the c o n s t r u c t ) f o r m , the accen t ed s eco n d

v o w e l is r e t a i n e d ( e i t h e r an o r i g i n a l a, or an / c h a n g e d to an a wh ere necessary

in the p r e s e n c e of a l a r y n g e a l ) , but the p r e t o n i c v o w e l is r e d u c e d to s h ew a .

T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of th e s e t y p es of noun d i f fe rs in the s i n g u l a r of t h e e m p h a t i c

s t a t e . H e r e , the second v o w e l , not the first , is p r e t o n i c , and so it b e c o m e s a

s h ew a (see I L). A s ingle example wi l l suff ice to i l l u s t r a t e t h e s e two m a i n

d e v e l o p m e n t s .

- i n 3 > ini [I A]; h o w e v e r , nn i p l u s N _ > « n r i 3 > N"i?t3 [I L] > xnri? [ i M]

4 . Distinguishing Between Similar Noun Classes: W h e n a fo rm l i k e -ipp is

c o m p a r e d w i t h one l i k e nni it is ea s y to see how t h e y can be co n fu s ed as to

n o u n c l a s s. As w a s p o i n t e d out p rev i o u s l y , t he e m p h a t i c s t a t e of n o u n s b e l o n g

in g to C l a s s 1 w i l l i n d i ca t e the n o u n t y p e to w h i ch t h ey b e l o n g . E v en t h i s ,

h o w ev e r , d o es not h e l p in d i s t i n g u i s h i n g b e tw e e n n o u n s of C l a s s 1 and n o u n s

of Class 2, for the l a t t e r r e s e m b l e the f o r m e r in the e m p h a t i c s t a te as w e l l as in

t h e a b s o l u t e s t a t e . For e x a m p l e , xnni is fo rm ed ex ac t l y l i k e sVya in the

e m p h a t i c s t a t e s i n g u la r . For t h i s r e a s o n , e t y m o l o g y is the o n l y r ea l s o l u t i o n to

t h e p ro b l e m . T h e s t u d e n t m u s t b e c o m e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h the c o g n a t e f o r m s in

o t h e r S e m i t ic l a n g u a g e s in o r d e r to be ab l e to d i s t i n g u i s h co r r ec t l y b e t w een

t h es e t w o c l a s s e s . E v en t h en , if t h e r e are o n l y a few c o g n a t e s , or no c o g n a t e s at

a l l , the r e s u l t s are q u i t e u n c e r t a i n .

5. Similar Noun Classes in the Plural: The a b o v e d i s c u s s i o n has b e e n c o n fined to the s in g u l a r . T h e p l u r a l of t h e s e n o u n s c a u s e s no pa r t i c u la r d i ff i cu l ty ,

a s l o n g a s t h e s t u d en t k eep s in m i n d t h a t t h e p l u r a l s t e m o f t h e " s e g h o l a t e " n o u n s

is metaplastic. T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h o u g h t h e r o o t s of t h e s i n g u l a r and o f the p lu r a l



86

contain the same three basic conso nants , the stems are different types. The

stem of the singular is monosyllabic; the stem of the plural is dissyllabic.

This is t rue in BH as well as in BA: e.g., the singular stem is malk, but theplural stem is malak; the singular stem is sipr, but the plural stem is sipar.

Conseq uen tly , the final for ms of the plural of nouns belonging to Class 1 are

indistinguishable from the plural of those belonging to Class 2. Likewise, the

similar formation of the nouns of these two classes leads to analogous forms

when the suflBxes are added: e.g., ]i 3* in i which is here treated as though its

stem were nahr (on an analogy with the segholates), instead of mhar as it

really is (see Lesson VII, sec. 2).

6. Vocabulary:

•IBS — lamb (3)

IDf — ram (2)

»)pT — to impale

ran — new

*1Bn — wine (1)

nntf n — need (7)

— word; order (3)« n B — (hithpeel) to be impaled

(on a stake)

— (anointing) oil (1)

tjail — layer (of stones or wood)

(4)

(')iVii - refuse-heap; ruin(s) (9)

nimi — incense (4)

riches (2)

nw — (hithpeel) to be pulled out

np?? - expense (7)

niVsj — burnt-offering

(haphel) to bring near;

> offer

p'llT — far (4)

to leave (behind)

7 . Exercises: Transla te Ezra 6 : 4 - 1 1 .



87

L E S S O N XX

T H E N U M E R A L S

1. The Cardinal Num erals: A l t h o u g h the l im i t ed a m o u n t of BA l i t e r a tu r e

leaves many gaps in the a t t e s t ed fo rms of the n u m e r i c a l s y s t e m s , the en t i r e

system of ca rd in a l n u m era l s can be r eco n s t ru c te d w i th so me d eg ree of ce r t a in ty

by ana logy wi th those fo rms which do o ccu r . The t ab le of n u m era l s b e lo w wi l lbe confined to the ab so lu te s t a t e of n u m b er s ac tu a l ly o ccu r r in g in BA.

Masculine Feminine Common

1 nn " in 20

2 p.n 30

3 nnVn nVnT :

60 rn?^

4 n»a"|S ssnx [62]6 nnir ntf 100 nxa

T ;

7 nsaa* 37317 [120] pawi nN ? [et c.]

10 mfes? 200

[12] nto-nn [etc.] 400 nxa » 3 n «T I I

1000

T h e w o r d i3-| " a l a r g e m u l t i t u d e , " " a m y r i a d , " is u sed for 10,000. " A

t h o u s a n d t h o u s a n d " is ppVs fjVs [the M T has the H e b r a i s m — f i n a l mem for

final n u n ] . "Ten t h o u s a n d t i m e s ten t h o u s a n d " is pan i3"i.

2. Uses of the Cardinal Numerals: In BA, as in BH, t h e r e is so-ca l led

" c h i a s t i c c o n c o r d " in the n u m era l s f r om th r ee to ten. T h a t m e a n s t h a t the

n u mera l s wh ich are ap p a ren t ly f emin in e in f o rm (wi th the usu a l femin in e

e n d i n g n—) a r e u sed wi th mascu l in e n o u n s . Co n v e r se ly , t h e n u me ra l s ap p a ren t ly

mascu l in e in f o rm are u sed wi th f emin in e n o u n s .T h e m a s c u l i n e n u m b e r " t w o " o c c u r s in the c o n s tr u c t s t a t e : nn. P r e s u m a b l y

th e f emin in e pnnn a lso had a co n s t ru c t s t a t e f o rmed an a lo g o u s ly . The m a s c u

l in e n u mb er s en d in g in n- in the ab so lu te s t a t e , a l so h av e the a p p a r e n t l y



88

femin ine cons t ruc t end ing r i— in the c o n s t r u c t s t a t e . " T h o u s a n d " o c c u rs in the

c o n s t r u c t s t a t e : The c o n s t r u c t s t a t e of the n u m b e r s o ccu r s o n l y i n f r e

q u e n t l y in BA. " T h o u s a n d " a ls o o cc u rs in the e m p h a t i c s t a t e : NsVx.

T h e n u m b e r s are u s u a l l y u s ed w i t h n o u n s ad j ec t i v a ll y , e i t h e r p reced i n g or

f o l l o w i n g the n o u n s t h e y m o d i f y . In the f o r m e r c a s e the n o u n is in the s i n g u l a r ;

i n the l a t t e r , the n o u n is in the p l u r a l . A l s o , the n u m b e r s can be used w i th

p r o n o u n s i n s t e a d of n o u n s , in s u ch ca s es b e i n g u s ed w i t h the p r o n o m i n a l

suff ixes: jinriVri " t h e t h r e e of t h e m " (Dan. 3:23).

T h e n u m b e r " on e" is u s e d as a n o u n , as wel l as a d j e c t i v a l l y : pma in

" o n e of t h e m " or "the first of t h e m " (Dan. 6:3[2]). It is u s e d to s t r e s s or

e m p h a s i z e the i n d e t e r m i n a t i o n of a n o u n (see L e s s o n II, sec. 3). It is used

w i t h the p r e p o s i t i o n D to m e a n " t o g e t h e r , " " a l to g e t h e r , " or " c o m p l e t e l y " :

nitn? ( D a n . 2:35). It is a l so used to ex p re s s m u l t i p l i ca t i o n ( see s ec . 3 b e l o w ) .

3. Standard Num erical Formulas: The f o r m u l a for d a t i n g e v e n t s by the

r e i g n of a k i n g e m p l o y s the f o ll o w in g p a t t e r n : niDVaV pr)"iri ny0 " the s eco n d

y ea r o f t h e r e i g n of x " ( E z r a 4:24). T h e f o r m u l a u s e d for i n d i c a t i n g t h e day of

t h e m o n t h is as f o l l o w s : HTV nnVri DV " the t h i r d day of t h e m o n t h x " (E z ra

6:15).T h e s t a n d a r d f o r m u l a u s e d to ex p re s s the age of a p e r s o n is as fo l l o w s :

prinni pna \<X0 1 3 ( 3 ) " ( a p p r o x i m a t e ly ) 62 y e a r s old" [lit. "(as) a son of 62

ye ' a rs" ] (DanV 6:i[5:31]).

T h e f o r m u l a u s e d to e x p r e s s m u l t i p l i c a t i o n is as f o l l o w s : nyat£>"nn " s ev en

t i m e s " ( D a n . 3:19).

T h e f r a c t i o n "one-half" is i n d i c a t e d by the use of the n o u n SVB [lit. "a

d i v i s i o n " ] ( D a n . 7:25). It is d e b a t a b le w h e t h e r or not o t h e r f r ac t i o n s ac t u a l l yo c c u r in BA.

4. The Ordinal Numerals: In BA the o r d i n a l n u m b e r s ( e xc e p t " s e c o n d " )

a r e f o r m e d w i t h the s a m e e n d i n g , •>_, t h a t is used fo r gen t i l i c no un s ( see L esson

I I , sec. 3).

Masculine Feminine

first ma-rp.

s e c o n d pin nnn

t h i r d -p-'Vn njp'Vn

f o u r t h •'S'an n j v a - i



89

T h e o rd i n a l n u mb er s o ccu r i n t h e emp h a t i c s t a t e , a s w e l l a s t h e ab s o l u t e s t a t e .

T h e a p p a r e n t f e m i n i ne c o n s t r u c t e n d i n g n i_ o n t h e n u m b e r " s e c o n d " is a c t u a l l y

a n a d v e r b i a l e n d i n g : mi in " a g a i n " o r " f o r t h e s e c o n d t i m e " ( D a n . 2 : 7 ) .

5. Vocabulary:

T— exi le (9) — n u m b e r ( 3 )

Van — ( p a e l) t o h u r t ; d e s t r o y ; n s n a — p r o p h e c y ; > p r o p h e d a m a g e

n s n a

sying (7)

n n nT : V

- jo y (7)tS — g o a t (5 )

nxpn

naan

— sin-offer ing

— d ed i ca t i o n (7 ) niVs — div i s ion (o f p r i es t s ) (7 )xpn

naan

— m o n t h ( 1 ) T B S — h e-g o a t (4 )

nxpn

naan

— L ev i t e oatf — tr ibe (1 )

— ( p a e l) t o o v e r t h r o w pa? — (p ae l ) t o cau s e t o d w e l l

npVr"? — co u r s e ; d i v i s i o n (o f m — six

Levi tes ) (8 ) — t w o [ m a s c ]

6. Exercises: T r a n s l a t e E z r a 6 : 1 2 - 1 8 .



9 2

2. Laryngeal Verbs: See L e s s o n X.

3. Pe Nun, Pe Y odh, andPe Aleph V erbs: See L e s s o n XL

4 . Hollow Verbs: A y i n Waw and A y i n Y o d h [for o t h e r f o r m s see Lesson

X I I ] .

Perfect

P e r s o n P ea l P ea l H aph e l P o l e l Hi thp o l e l

3 m. sg. OR a'pn n a n n a i n p n

3 f. sg. nap. etc. na'pn e tc . e t c .

2 m. sg. na'pn naainnn

1 c. sg. n ?P, e tc .

3 m. pi . « p . lav.q

3 f. pi. .nap

2 m. pL pnipj? pnxj'pn

1 c. pi. «3ap

Imper fec t

3 m. sg. mp ;• t a'P-Ol n a i T oainn;

3 f. sg. D i p n D- jpn D'pnn etc. e tc .

2 m. sg. D i p n D'fen Q'pnn

1 c. sg. mp ?

3 m. pi. riaip; pa'ir p a ' p a i

3 f. pi. m\ l»'pa:

2 m. pi. riaipn pa^yn pa'pqn

1 c. pi. • i p i a ? ™

Infini t ive

° p a Dfea naain n^ai-inn

etc.

e tc .

njtnn



93

Imperative

Person Peal Peal Haphel Polel Hithpolel Hithaphel

m. sg. t3ip D'pri nan Danpn mf.sg. p i p P 'pn etc. etc . e tc .

m. pi . W i p<

la-pri

Participles

Active Passive Active

m. sg. n-'pna nana aanna

f sg. na't? n a ' p n a etc. e tc . e t c .

m. pi. raT.na

f pi.

5 . Geminate Verbs: Or Ayin Ayin Verbs [for other forms see Lesson X I I I ] .

Perfect

Person Peal Haphel Haphel Hophal Ithpoel

3 m. sg. •?» pnn Vwri "?»n- \

Dain(?st

3 f sg. nVy npnn etc. e tc . e t c .

2 m. sg. etc .

1 c. sg.

3 m. pi. i"?» I p n n iVin

- \3 f pi. nW e tc . e t c .

2 m. p i.

1 c. pi.

Imperfect

3 m. sg.

3 f. sg. pnnn

2 m. sg. p n n n

1 c. sg. VS7K e tc .



9 4

Per so n

3 m. pi .

3 f. pi.

2 m. pi.

1 c. pi .

m . sg.

f . s g .

m . pi.

Peal

-Vs;

H a p h e l H a p h e l

Inf ini t ive

I m p e r a t i v e

Ac t iv e Pa r t i c ip l e

m . sg. >?» pina Vsina

f - s g . nV» npjna etc.

m . pi. pVy rpnna

6. Lamedh He Verbs: O r i g i n a l L a m e d h A l e p h , L a m e d h Waw, and

L a m e d h Y o d h [for o th e r f o rms see L e s s o n XIV].

Perfect

Pe r so n Pea l Pae l H ap h e l H i t h p e e l H i t h p a a l3 m. sg. nn -53 •"jan -lann Jann

3 f. sg. n ia n ? a n n )3ni:» nngn?

2 m. sg. m n - i a n rfnpn n'nnn

1 c. sg. rria n-ja n'jan n'lapi; nânn

3 m. pi . Ua r?a n a n ' rnnn iânq

3 f. pi. nn n;33 n r i a n n n;i3nn

2 m. pi. jvria iw'ian rîann iwrjanji

1 c. pl.i K r i s K? aD w^>n,:i



9 5

Imperfect

Person Peal Pael Haphe l Hi thpeel Hit hpa al

3 m. sg . ^3?n- K n m x n n ;

3 f sg . Kl?n Nianr i x a s n n s a a n n

2 m. sg . x n n r i N i s n n x n n n

1 c. sg. i<l ?^ w a n s K n n K x a a n x

3 m. p i . l i n n ; ] i a a r ;

3 f pi .

2 m. p i . p a ? j i i a n n | i i? n n p a p n

1 c. pi . it iaa N3?fl3 f<3ani ^nam

Infinitive

m nTT -

n - n nTT ; -

n; 3 a pn m n n n

Imperative

m. sg. - n - i a n

f . s g . -?? - ? a n

m. pi . iaa iaan

Participle

Active ]Passive Active Active

Person Peal Peal Pael Haphel Hithpeel Hithpaal

m. sg. Nian ? w a n a KHanp

f sg. :??na m i s n a n;33na

m. p i . ri? m rsana r3??9 riana

f . p l . m m T »oa



97

N i r i i N w e

p j N t h e y , t h o s e [ f e m . ]

D3K t o t r o u b l e , o p p r e ss , m a s t e r

t ] 1 8 * fa ce

t r i N m a n , m a n k i n d

nnis y o u [ m a s c . s i n g . ]

y o u [ m a s c . p i . ]

I I D S b o n d , f e t t e r

« l - l S p N e x a c t l y ; e a g er l y

" I DS p r o h i b i t i o n

» N w o o d , b e a m

(]K also

•"pIBK* a t i t l e o f o f f i c i a l s

•"ponsN* a t i t l e o f o f f i c i a l s

"•pnonpN* a t i t l e o f o f f i c i a l s

D h B N s t o r e h o u s e ; > t r e a s u r y ;

[ e v e n t u a l l y ? p o s i t i v e l y ?]

S ? 3 S N * d i g i t ; t o e ; finger

vg-ps* f o u r

p n K * p u r p l e

n s b e h o l d

m s * w a y

n n s l i o n

•qnS fitting, b ec o m i n g

n 3 3 n s * k n e e

npiK d u r a t i o n ; l e n g t h

"•pis* a n i n h a b i t a n t o f U r u k

S?ns* e a r t h

" • V i N * b o t t o m

pnS* e a r t h

B>N * f o u n d a t i o n

S ^ N fire; > fire-offering

«] B *N e n ch a n te r

p B ^ K * wa l l ; [ t r a d i t . - b e a m ? ? ]

n n r i B ^ K r e v o l t

nx* s i g n ; m i r a c l e

nns t o c o m e

— h a p h e l - t o b r i n g ( i n )

pns f u r n a c e

nns p l a c e ; t r a c e

3 i n ; b y ( m e a n s o f )

E ^ ' S S * b a d

trS3 t o b e d i s p l e a s i n g t o

nnS3 a f t e r

•"VpS* B a b y l o n i a n

nns p a e l - t o d i s p er s e, s c a t t er

iVng h u r r y

'?n3 p a e l - t o f r i g h t e n

— h i t h p e e l — ( t o b e p e r p l e x

e d ) ; > t o h u r r y

— h i t h p a a l — t o b e f r i g h t

e n e d , b e p e r p l e x e d

VP3 t o c e a s e , b e d i s c o n t i n u e d ,

s t o p

— p a e l — t o s t o p

p 3 b e t w e e n , a m o n g

nrs d i s c e r n m e n t

n T a * f o r t i f i e d p l a c e ; f o r t r e s s

^ 3 t o s p e n d t h e n i g h t

n ; 3 * h o u s e ; > t e m p l e

•73 h e a r t ; > m i n d

n'7 3 p a e l - t o w e a r o u t

iVs t a x

ni3 t o b u i l d

— h i t h p e e l — t o b e b u i l t

p 3 * s o n s [ p l u r a l ]

pl3* b u i l d i n g

033 t o b e c o m e a n g r y

n5?3 t o s e e k , r e q u e s t ; b e o n t h e

p o i n t o f ; r u n g r e a t r i s k

— p a e l — t o s ea r c h ( e a g e r l y ) ;

c a l l u p o n

1 » 3 * p e t i t i o n , p r a y e r

Vys o w n e r , l o r d

nVi?3* p l a i n

npa p a e l — t o s ee k , i n v e s t i g a t e

— h i t h p a a l - t o b e i n v e s t i g a t e d

na s o n

-la* field



98

r j i a t o k n ee l

• q i a to b less

— p a e l - t o b le ss•q- ia* k n e e

D"13 ye t , bu t

n ^ a flesh

n a * b a t h ; > a l i q u i d m e a s u r e

a i *

a i

n n i a i *

13?

n a ? *

n n s

n i l

1 3 1 ? *

-ITS

m

T S *

n V a

i V s *

n a s

W

o n s *

0 8 ^ *

K n

a n

s i d e ; b a c k

p i t , d en

m i g h t

m a n

( m i g h t y ) m a n ; w a r r i o r

t r e a s u r e r

t o c u t d o w n

i n t e r i o r ; m i d s t

p r i d e

t r e a s u r e r

t o d e t e rm i n e (d es t i n y >b y a s t ro l o g y )

h / i t h p e . — t o b e c u t o u t ;

b reak o f f

d e c r e e , d e t e r m i n a t i o n

a p h e l — t o s t i r u p

p l a s t e r

w h ee l

t o r ev ea lh a p h e l - t o t a k e i n t o ex ile

exi le

s q u a red ( s t o n es )

to f in ish , complete

t r e a s u r e

w i n g

b o n e

b o d y

n

th i s [ fem.]

b e a r

n a n

n a n *

p a n

n i 3 1

a n n

« i n n

m n

Bhn

m n n *

V n n

- 1

nn

i n *T •

V.

l i n a n *

p V n

n a n

n n

P i?n

in» n n *

n nT

« n n *

n a n ^ *

to sacrifice

sacri f ice (of s lain animals)

t o s t i ck t o g e t h e rm a t t e r ; ( s o ) t h a t

go ld

w h i ch i s ; t h a t i s

to dwel l

t o t r e a d d o w n

[ t r a d i t . — m u s i c a l i n s t r u

m e n t ] ; c o n c u b i n e , p e r

fu me , fo o d , t ab l e , e t c . ? ?to fear

p a e l — t o m a k e a f r a i d ,

f r igh ten

of, that , e tc . [see p . 14]

t o j u d g e

r i g h t , j u s t i c e , j u d g m e n t ,

c o u n c i l ( o f j u d g m e n t )

j u d g e[ t r a d it . — a p r o p e r n a m e ] ;

j u d g e s

t h a t [ f em. ]

t h a t [ m a s c ]

t h a t [ co m. ]

r a m

r e c o r d

r e c o r d ( b o o k )t o b u r n

t o r e s emb l e

t h i s ( is ) [m as c ]

t o c ru s h

h / a p h . — t o c r u s h

g e n e r a t i o n ; l i f e t i m e

a r m

d e c r e e , c o m m a n d , o r d e r ,

l a w

g ras s

j u d g e



99

n

Nn

n s - K n

n g n n «

nnn*

• n n

xin

m n

•qinx'n

Vs-'n

^Vn

i a n

• q i i a n *

VJ •"ID

if inn*

nVnann

n

i n t e r r o g a t i v e p a r t i c l e

b e h o l d

e v e n a s

h i g h r o y a l o f f i c i a l

m e m b e r

p a e l - t o g l o r i f y

g l o r y , m a j e s t y

h e ; t h a t

t o b e ; h a p p e n ; e x i s t

t o g o [ t r a d i t . ]s h e ; t h a t

p a l a c e ; t e m p l e

t o g o ; > r e a c h

p a e l — t o w a l k a b o u t

a p h e l — t o w a l k a b o u t

t o l l , t a x

t h e y [ m a s c ]

t h e y [ m a s c ]

n e c k l a c e

i f ; w h e t h e r

e i t h e r . . . o r

i n j u r y ; d a m a g e

f a n t a s y ( i n a d r e a m )

h u r r y

g i f t

1 a n d ; ( f o r , t h e n , e t c . )

r

p t t o b u y

"ViJ]* ( w a r n e d ) ; > c a u t i o u s

T it h a p h e l — t o a c t p r e s u m p

t u o u s l y

p t h i t h a p h e l - t o l i v e ( o n ) ;

s u b s i s t ( o n )

sn t t o t r e m b l e

T > j * b r i g h t n e s s ; ( p i . > c o m

p l e x i o n )

O T i n n o c e n c e

p t h i t h p . - t o a g r e e ; d e c i d e

p t t i m e ; t u r n

n a p m u s i c f o r s t r i n g s ; o r ,

m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t

n a j * m u s i c i a n ; s i n g e r

| T * s o r t , k i n d

T > V T » s m a l l

p VT t o w a i l ; s h r i e k

« ] p T t o i m p a l e

» n T s e e d ; > d e s c e n d a n t s

nVian h u r t f u l a c t , c r i m e ; d a m a g e

Van p a e l - t o h u r t ; d e s t r o y ;

d a m a g e

— h i t h p a a l — t o b e d e s t r o y e d ,

p e r i s h

h u r t ; d a m a g e

n a n * c o m p a n i o n

n n a n * c o m p a n i o n [ f e m . ]

in o n e

mr j * b r e a s t

rrpn j o y

m n n e w

m n p a e l — t o s h o w , m a k e k n o w n

— h / a p h . — t o m a k e k n o w n ;

i n t e r p r e t

w h i t e

t o s e e , p e r c e i v e

a p p a r i t i o n ; v i s i o n ; a p

p e a r a n c e

nirq* s i g h t

T\^n* s i n - o f l f e r i n g

' yq* s i n

•«n l i v i n g , a l i v e ; ( p i . ) l i f e

m n t o l i v e

ntn



101

T p *

an'

Tn;

n a n ?

na

Vna

nja*

n a a *

VVa

naa

FN a i a

t2^a

n j a *

1 9 ?

niya

nsa

w el l - e s t ab l i s h ed , r e l i ab l e ;

firm; true

t o b u r nb u r n i n g ; > firebrand

di f f i cu l t ; honorab le

d i g n i t y , h o n o r

m o n t h

( t h e u p p e r p a r t of the)

t h i g h

s i g n of the a c c u s a t i v e

t o sit; dwel l

h a p h e l — t o s e t t l e ; c a u s e t o

d w e l l

e x t r a o r d i n a r y ; e x c e e d i n g

ly

as ; a c c o r d i n g t o ; a b o u t

l iew h e n , as s o o n as

h e re

t o be ab l e

pr ies t

w i n d o w

t a l en t

w h o l e ; all, every

b ecau s e ofshaphel—to f in i sh

h i s h t a p h a l - t o be finished

h o w [ e x c l a m a t i o n ]

t h u s ; (so)

t h u s

t o a s s emb l e

h i t h p a a l - t o a s s e m b l e

co l l eag u e

si lver

n o w

a n d now

p e i l — t o be b o u n d

— p a e l — t o b i n d , tie

n b * k or ; a dry m e a s u r e

n^^'O* c a p ; h a tm a i t h p e e l - t o be d i s t ressed

l i n a * herald

n a h a p h e l - t o p ro c l aim

K O n a s e a t ; t h r o n e

i-iji a Chaldaean

ana to w r i t e

ana w r i t i n g , d o c u m e n t , in

s c r i p t i o n

Vna wal l

•p to , for; s ign of the ac

c u s a t i v e

k V not ; n o t h i n g

A V * h e a r t

A A V * h e a r t

B#IAV* g a r m e n t

vflib to be c l o t h e d w i t h ; w e a r

— h a p h e l - t o c l o th e ( w i th )

| J I V e x c e p t ; but; yet

JO^ t h e re fo re [H e b . ]

•NV* L ev i t e

N I V * n e a r , b e s i d e , w i t h

A N V ( b r e a d ) ; > meal , feas t

N J N V c o n c u b i n e<Y i n i g h t

N A V w h y ? for w h a t p u r p o s e ?

> les t

yf?* t o n g u e ; > l a n g u a g e

a

nxa h u n d r e d

]TSB* b a l a n c e

naxa w o r d ; o r d e r

]Na* vessel

nVia scr o l l ; ro l l



102

n a n a *

n n a• i n a *

nj-n ?*

' n a

ni a

]iTa

Hna

npVna*

« » a

sVa

nV)?

nVa

nVa

na>a'laViS

VVa

' T I P

nnja

nia

nnia

p a e l — t o o v e r t h r o w

a l t a r

t ax , t r i b u ted we l l in g

M e d i a ; M e d e ( s )

p r o v i n c e ; t o w n ; c i t y

w h a t ? t h a t wh ich

d e a t h

food

to smi t e

p a e l - t o c h e c k , p r e v e n t ;

s t ay

h i t h p e e l — t o be imp a led

(o n a s t ak e )

c o u r s e ; d i v i s i o n (of

Levi tes)

t o r e a c h , a t t a i n ; c o m e

u p o n ; h a p p e n to

to fill

h i t h p e e l - t o b e f i l l e d ( w i t h )angel

wo rd ; ma t t e r , a f f a i r

t o eat s a l t ; > be u n d e r

o b l ig a t io n of loya l ty

sal t

k in g

counse l

q u een

k i n g s h i p ; r e i g n ; k i n g d o m

p a e l — t o s p e a k

w h o ?

w h o e v e r

f r o m ; out of; t h a n

since

m i n a

tax , t r i b u te

u n d e r s t a n d i n gt o n u m b e r

p a e l — t o a p p o i n t

(grain) offer ing

pljp n u m b e r

nas?a* work , deed

nya* belly(go ing , en te r ing) ; [wi th

" s u n " ] > sunse t

tna lo rd

ma* rebe l l iousT T

nna rebe l l ion

ana p e i l - t o be p l u c k e d out

n^a ( a n o i n t i n g ) oil

a a a p * bedpsto* a b o d e

•'i?in?'a* p ip e ; flute

xriB?a* d r i n k i n g ; > b a n q u e t

nina* gift

xai h i t h p a a l - t o p ro p h es y ;

a c t as a p r o p h e tnsiai* p r o p h e c y ; > p r o p h e s y i n g

natai p r e se n t , g i ft

N - a i* p ro p h e t

nir nai* c a n d l e s t i c k ; l a m p ( s t a n d )

n il to flow

nil t o w a r d s ; in the d i r e c t i o n

o f

nil* b r i g h t n e s sana h i t h p a a l - t o offer w i ll in g

l y ; b e s t o w ; be wil l ing

lay e r (of s t o n e s or w o o d )

to flee

( s h e a t h > b o d y ) ; > on

a c c o u n t of

l i g h t

l ig h ti l l u m i n a t i o n (of min d )

r iver

to flee

n n i

n n i

n i n i *

T r i i *

i T n i

" i n i

m i



103

WiVll r e f u s e - h e a p ; r u i n ( s )

T U f ir e

pn t o c o m e t o g r i e f

— h a p h e l - t o d a m a g e

B?m c o p p e r ; b r o n z e

nm t o c o m e d o w n

— h / a p h . - t o d e p o s i t

— h o p h a l — t o b e d e p o s e d

bvi t o l i f t u p

— p e i l - t o b e l i f t e d u p

nw t o k e e pnimi* i n c e n s e

D D I * r i c h e s

na j p a n t h e r ; l e o p a r d

noi h i t h p e e l - t o b e p u l l e d o u t

• |D 1 p a e l - t o p o u r o u t ; o f i " e r

•jjDl* l i b a t i o n

" 7 D 3 t o f a l l ( d o w n )

p D l t o g o o u t

— h a p h e l — t o t a k e ( o u t )

npDl* e x p e n s e

naSJ* f irm n ess, h a r d n e s s

ns i h i t h p a a l - t o d i s t i n g u i s h

o n e s e l f

Vsi h / a p h . - t o r e s c u e , d e l i v e r

Xpi p u r e

B pl t o k n o c k t o g e t h e r

N i w t o t a k e ; c a r r y a w a y ; l i f t

u p

— h i t h p a a l - t o r i s e u p a g a i n s t

• pm* w o m e n [ p l u r a l ]

naitfl* b r e a t h ( o f l i f e )

na l e a g l e ; v u l t u r e

QTtpi* d e c r e e ; o f f i c i a l d o c u m e n t

pni* s a n c t u a r y s e r v a n t ; ( o n e

w h o is g i v e n )

]n3 t o g i v e

nni a p h e l - t o s h a k e o f f

Vao p o e l - t o b r i n g ; l a y ; >

p r e s e r v e

nao t o i n t e n d

niD t o p a y h o m a g e t o

]lp» g o v e r n o r

niD t o s h u t

n ; i S p 1 D b a g p i p e ( ? )

r\^0 t o b e f u l f i l l e d

— a p h e l — t o p u t a n e n d t o ,

a n n i h i l a t et io e n d

p"?D t o g o ( c o m e ) u p

— h a p h e l - t o t a k e u p

— h o p h a l — t o b e l i f t e d u p

nVD p a e l — t o h e l p , a i d

n a p * c l e r k ; s e c r e t a r y ; s c r i b e

npp b o o k

Vanp* a g a r m e n t ; [ c l o a k ? t r o u

s e r s ? ]

• ]np* h i g h o f f i c i a l

nno t o d e m o l i s h

nno p a e l - t o h i d e

nas?

nras?*

nv

nns?

nis?

tjis?

t o d o , m a k e

h i t h p e e l - t o b e m a d e ;

t u r n e d i n t o ; b e d o n e

s e r v a n t

w o r k , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t o i l ,

s e r v i c e

t h e o p p o s i t e b a n k

u n t o ; u n t i l

t o g o ; p a s s a w a y ; d e p a r t

h a p h e l - t o t a k e a w a y

t i m e ; > y e a r

s t i l l , y e t

i n i q u i t y

b i r d



1 0 5

n n s t o d e s i r e ; w i s h , l i k e

U S m a t t e r , t h i n g ; w i s h , d e s i r e

S 3 S p a e l — t o w e t

— h i t h p a a l — t o b e w e t

n s s i d e

x n s * t r u e

T J

np-fS ( r i g h t - d o i n g ) ; > r i g h t

e o u s n e s s

n s i s * n e c k

m Vs p a e l - t o p r ay

nVs h / a p h . — t o ( c a u s e t o ) p r o s

p e r ; f a r e w e l l ; m a k e

p r o g r e s s

D V S s t a t u e ; i m a g e

T B S * h e -g o a t

n e s * b i r d

- a i P *

Dip

Vtjp

Pip.

p a e l - t o r e c e i v e

b e f o r e ; b e c a u s e

h o l y

b e f o r e

f o r m e r t i m e ; f o r m e r l y

f i r s t ; f o r m e r

t o r i s e, s t a n d ; e n d u r e

p a e l — t o s e t u p , e s t a bl i s h

h / a p h . — t o s et u p , f o u n d ,

a p p o i n t , e s t a b l i s h

h o p h a l - t o b e s et u p

t o k i l l

p e i l - t o be k i l le d

p a e l - t o k i l l

h i t h p e e l - t o b e k i ll e d

h i t h p a a l - t o b e k i l le d

k n o t ; j o i n t ; > d ifl &c ul t

t a s k

s u m m e r

s t a t u t e

Djj? e n d u r i n g ; ( su r e )

o n m p z i t h e r

Vp i n s o l e n c e ; c u r s eVp v o i c e ; s o u n d

nip t o b u y

t]Sp t o b e ( c o m e ) f u r i o u s

«]Sp w r a t h

I ' S p p a e l - t o c u t off

n sp e n d ; p a r t

x n p t o c a l l ( o u t ) ; r e a d

— p e i l - t o b e r e a d ; ( be

s h o u t e d )

— h i t h p e e l - t o b e c a l l e d

a n p t o d r a w n e a r ; a p p r o a c h

— p a e l — t o o ffe r

— h a p h e l - t o b r in g n e a r ; >

offer

a n p w a r

n n p * v i l l a g e , t o w n , c i t y

p p h o r n

^ n p * p i e c e

Dij*p t r u t h

tt^xn h e a d , c h i e f

an g r e a t , b i g ; c h i e f

nan t o g r o w ( u p ) ; b e c o m e

g r e a t

— p a e l — t o m a k e g r e a t ;

h e i g h t e n

ia n m y r i a d ; g r e a t m u l t i t u d e

ia n g r e a t n e s s

"•yan* f o u r t h

fia ^an» l o r d s , n o b l e s , g r a n d e e s ;

[ p l u r a l o f an]

m h a p h e l - t o i r r i ta t e, m a k e

a n g r y

m r a g e

Vjn* f o o t



106

o n

n

tr*n haphel—to throng in;

(storm in)

n * appearancen n wind; spirit

to rise; be high, be

haughty

aphel-to raise; heighten

polel-to praise; (exalt)

hithpolel-to rise up

(against)

height

secret

p'>ni* far

flpni compass ion(s)

hithpeel-to trust in

smell

to throw; place, impose

(a tax)

— peil - to be thrown

— hithpeel—to be thrown

|S?n* will; decision

•fcai* thought

yiVl flourishing

VVI to crush

— pael—to crush

OB") to tread down

Oftil to write, inscribe

hoary; [plural] elders

K D 3 t * stringed instrument; (tri

angular; 4 strings)

afe to grow great

K^iiD great , much, many; [ad

verb] very

n n ^ * witness; testimony

ipfc side

D"" ? to place, lay; make, es

tablish

— hithaphel —to be put; >

be made

VsiP hithpaal-to considerunVpB insight

WiP to hate

1VV hair

V N E ^ to ask; > require

nbvm* question; requirement

- ) X B rest, remainder

nyo pael-to praise

D3i;#* tribe

flame

seven

p3ir^ to leave (behind)

— hi thpeel- to be left; pass

on to

tr*31£> hithpaal—to be perplexed

nbit* concubine

11 ^ hithpaal—to strive

niltf to be like

— pael —to make like

— hithpaal —to be made (like)

- if * wall

an inhabitant of Susa;

Susanian

mP to spoil

sr?* to rescue

N 'S' t J to finish; be finished

nSB? ha ph e l - to find

— hithpeel—to be found

VVaa? [see' 7 ' 73 ]

to dwell

— pael—to cause to dwell

n"?( (t o be) at ease; carefree

l"?^ negligence

niVB>* prosperity



1 0 7

IbVi?*

ot

to send

t o ru l e ; h av e p o w er o v e r

h a p h e l — t o m a k e r u l e r o v e rd o m i n i o n

high official

migh ty ; o f f i cer ; it is

a l l o w ed

p e i l — t o be finished

h ap h e l - t o co mp l e t e , f i n

i s h ; d e l i v e r ( c o m

p le te ly )w e l f a r e ; [as a s a l u t a t i o n ]

h a i l

n a m e

Tot h a p h e l - t o d e st ro y , an

n i h i l a t e

]?aB>» h e a v e n ; sky

oat i t h p o e l - t o be a p p a l l e d

s?atf to h e a r

— h i t h p a a l - t o o be y

Vhit p a e l - t o s erv e

Vtpt* sun

ift* t o o t h

nitt* to be c h a n g e d ; be dif

f e r e n t

— p a e l — t o c h a n g e ; > v i o l a t e

— h a p h e l - t o a l t e r ; > v i o l a t e

— h / i t h p a . — t o be c h a n g e d

rat* y e a r

niB^* s l eep

nvt m o m e n t ; ( s h o r t s p a c e of

t i m e )

DDB> to j u d g e

T B t t > f a i r ; b ea u t i fu l

bot h / a p h . — t o h u m b l e ; h u m i l

i a t e

Vptf low; h u m b l e

IB t to p l ea s e , s eem g o o d

l ^ n B a ^ * d a w n

pt* leg

nit to l o o s e n ; > d w e l l

— p a e l - t o b eg in— h i t h p a a l — t o be l o o s e n e d ;

> s h a k e

ttt* r o o t

ytit b a n i s h m e n t ; [ li t. — a r o o t

i n g out]

r\t six

nnt to d r i n k

fFit s i x t y

nan

T i n *

am

m n

nin*

ninn

s V n

• • n i V r i *

n V nNn " ? n

n a n

n a n *

nii^in

• .nDn*

T p ? ? *

Vpn

Vpn

t o b r e a k

( e n c i r c l i n g , d u r a t i o n ) ;

[ w i t h a] c o n t i n u a l l y

t o r e t u r n

h / a p h e l — t o gi ve b a c k ; del i v e r ; a n s w e r

t o be a m a z e d , be f r i g h t

e n e d

o x , b u l l

u n d e r

s n o w

t h i r d

t h r e e

t h i r d p a r t ; [ t r a d i t . — t h i r d

i n r a n k ]

t h i r t y

t h e r e

w o n d e r

s e c o n d

a s e c o n d t i m e , a g a i n

p o l i ce o f fi cer ; m ag i s t r a t es t r o n g , m i g h t y

p e i l — t o be w e i g h e d

s h e k e l



108

p n h o p h a l — t o b e r e e s t a b

l i s h ed

tjppi to be s t r on g , be co m es t r o n g

— p a e l — t o m a k e s t r i n g e n t ;

e n f o r c e

*]pri s t r e n g t h

r^pri* s t r e n g t h

p iri* t w o [ m a s c ]VIFi* d o o r k e e p e r

»nri d o o r ; m o u t h ; g a t e

prinn tw o [ fem.]

johns a short grammar of biblical aramaic

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