questions about Hebrew grammar
1
vote
1answer
56 views
“Ad shetichleh” or “ad shetikaleh”?
What is the correct ניקוד (and concomitant translation) of the word שתכלה in the phrase
עד שתכלה רגל מן השוק
?
Is it תִכְלֶה, which would be קל or תִכָּלֶה, which would be נפעל?
Does this ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
What information do Hebrew pronouns carry/express?
(inspired by this question)
Does the nominal pronoun in a Hebrew sentence with a conjugated verb
i) add information or ii) deserve to be translated?
Conversely, exactly how muchi) information does ...
4
votes
1answer
236 views
Why are some Hebrew prepositions always conjugated in plural form?
(inspired by this question)
Certain Hebrew prepositions, such as אל, על, and לפני, are always conjugated in the plural form even with a singular object: thus אליו, עליך, etc.
Others don't: the ...
6
votes
6answers
144 views
Ḥaser form of writing “Jerusalem” in the Bible
It seems that Jerusalem is always written "ḥaser" (defective) in the Bible: that is, as ירושלם, without the י/yud, as opposed "malei" (full), as ירושלים. See, for example, Isaiah 62:6. This presents a ...
4
votes
2answers
134 views
Is it “mechayei meisim UHTTuh” or “mechayeh meisim atTUH” (rav lehoshia) in shmoneh esrei?
I've seen both pronunciations (at the beginning of the second bracha in shmoneh esrei):
Aleph-patach, tav-kuhmuhtz, heh (implied stress on second syllable)
Aleph-kuhmuhtz-meseg, tav-kuhmuhtz, heh ...
0
votes
3answers
142 views
Shoresh starting with “Vav”? [closed]
What is the only shoresh in lashon hakodesh that starts with the letter "Vav"?
Nouns are fair game.
(Don't tell me there is more than one - Varod or Vered is Aramaic, and the shoresh of Vidui does ...
6
votes
2answers
360 views
Does the vav hahipuch also mean “and”? Do all those extra “ands” belong in the Bible?
I know that in Biblical Hebrew, take a word like "Vaydaber." "Yedaber" = "He will speak"; the "v" flips the word from future tense to past, so it's "he spoke."
Most translations understand the "v" ...
5
votes
2answers
395 views
Pronunciation of משנה הלכות
Are R' Menashe Klein's volumes of responsa pronounced "Mishna Halachos" or "Mishaneh Halachos"? Can someone provide the grammatical explanation please?
8
votes
2answers
177 views
Is there a difference between “p” and “f” when transliterating from English to Hebrew?
When transliterating an English name to Hebrew (e.g. for a Ketubah or Get), is there a way to distinguish between a "p" and "f" sound? E.g. Fine, NY vs Pine, CO. Would both just be spelled (assuming ...
9
votes
2answers
120 views
verb + its infinitive
Many, many times in Tanach, including Chumash, a verb has its infinitive nearby. Examples include B'reshis 2:16 מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל (I think that's the first example in Chumash) and ...
6
votes
3answers
181 views
רָקִיאַע or רָקִיַע
The מנחת שי at the beginning of בראשית (on "יהי רקיע") cites a מחלוקת whether the word 'רָקִיעַ' (and likewise for other words with a פתח גנובה) is pronounced as רָקִיאַע or as רָקִיַע, that is, with ...
6
votes
1answer
443 views
Why so many vocalized shvas in Siddur Tehillat Hashem?
I prayed using a Siddur Tehillat Hashem the other day, and I noticed that many more shvas were marked with an asterisk above, indicating that they should be vocalized, than I'd expect. In particular, ...
5
votes
1answer
146 views
Bamidbar or Bemidbar?
What is the name of this week's parsha? What about the sefer?
The text clearly says "Bemidbar" (or B'midbar), but many call it Bamidbar. Is this a grammatical or traditional difference? Could one ever ...
13
votes
8answers
387 views
Why is “Shalom Aleichem” always plural?
Why do we say Shalom Alaichem to one person if Alaichem is plural?
Is it saying you and all of the Jews? Is that why it's plural?
