I am surprised I couldn’t find an answer to this. As we’ve seen in the first few parshiyos (Bereishis, Noach Lech Lecha) there are times when the Torah will write a name with one set of Nikkudot, and then again with a different set of Nikkudot, referring to the same person.
Wouldn’t the person have one way to pronounce their own name?
Examples:
Noach’s son: Yefes /// Yafes
Avraham’s father: Tarach /// Terach
Ever’s son: Paleg /// Peleg
There are more instances at the end of Parshas Noach, but most seem to revolve around changing the the name between an “Ah” and an “Eh” sound. Why is this? Wasn’t there name pronounced a certain way?
I understand that there are certain grammar rules that define when a Hebrew world will be an “Eh” sound or an “Ah” sound. I am curious how this pertains to a name. A name is generally pronounced one way. Does this mean the way people pronounced each other’s names actually changed?
Note: I am not referring to Avram/Avraham or Sarai/Sarah. Those are clearly identified changes. I am only referring to names that are spelled the same but pronounced differently.
