Questions tagged [grammar-dikduk]
Questions about Hebrew grammar as related to Judaism.
600
questions
3
votes
1
answer
731
views
What is the difference between Vayomer and Vayomar?
In Chumash, sometimes it says vayomer, but other times it says vayomar. What is the difference? Don't they both just mean "he said"?
- 457
1
vote
0
answers
21
views
Exodus 15:11 Parasha Beshalach [duplicate]
In Exodus 15:11 the first chaf doesn’t have a dot (dagesh) but the second one does: Mi-chamocha, and then Mi kamocha. The meaning of both phrases is the same: “Who is like you?” The first Mi-chamocha ...
- 91
0
votes
0
answers
88
views
Dikduk- yud suffix on a hebrew verb
In Parshas Bo 10:1 it states למען שתי the yud here indicates that Hashem is doing the placing.
I was wondering that generally, the yud indicates possessiveness on nouns, however over here it is ...
- 9
3
votes
0
answers
24
views
Two Consecutive Segol's at End: When They Change To Kamatz & When Not [duplicate]
I used to think it was a hard fast rule that when a word ends in two consecutive segols such as: אֶרֶץ (or כסף) it will change the first Segol to a Kamatz as in אָרֶץ. However, it was pointed out to ...
- 573
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
Difference between "face of" and "faces of" in Hebrew
If you want to say "face of gold" (sing.) in Hebrew, you say פני זהב.
If you want to say "faces of gold" (plural) in Hebrew, you say _______.
Part of the difficulty is that the Hebrew word for "...
- 4,313
2
votes
0
answers
151
views
Silent sheva after long vowels
I assume most have heard about the 5 famous rules of Elia Levita regarding the vocal sheva. His rules tend to work well in practice, even the third, much debated rule about the concept of long vowels (...
- 7,434
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
Pesukim in Chumash where Rashi adds in extra words or switches order
I have been trying to remember examples in chumash where Rashi uses dikduk rules to significantly change the order of words or add words to a passuk so that it has another meaning.
What are some ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
124
views
Bphi Kol Chai not Bphe
In SA Orach Chaim 187:1 in Mishnah Brurah Sif Beis, he writes that the phrase in Birchas Hamazon should be 'Bphi' kol chai and not 'Bphe'. Anyone have an idea why?
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
97
views
What is the explanation of spelling the same word with a Patach instead of a Sh'va in Megillat Esther?
In Megillat Esther, why is the word "maidens" spelled with a sh'va under the first letter (נְעָרוֹת) in verses 2:2, 2:8, 2:9, but with a patach (נַעֲרוֹת) in verse 4:4?
user17319
1
vote
1
answer
114
views
Yehoshua 8:30- יבנה= built or will build?
Yehoshua (8:30)
אָ֣ז יִבְנֶ֤ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּהַ֖ר עֵיבָֽל׃
At that time Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,
(Sefaria ...
- 3,250
1
vote
0
answers
207
views
Closed one-syllable words -- patach or kamatz?
For closed one-syllable Hebrew words that take only a patach or kamatz (יָ֥ד, עַ֖ל, רַ֛ק, etc.), is there any rhyme or reason as to which ones can only take one and which the other, or is it just ...
- 455
4
votes
2
answers
128
views
Dikduk question on psalm 93
This question bothers me every Friday night; I have looked at various Bible translations and traditional commentators but have not found an answer.
In Psalm 93 we have the phrase:
נָֽשְׂא֤וּ ...
- 455
1
vote
1
answer
129
views
How Many vav Hahipuchs in each of the 24 books of Tenach
How Many vav Hahipuchs (Conversive vav) are in each of the 24 books of Tenach compared with the number of letters / verses in that book. As far as I know they are only in Tenach rather than Mishna or ...
- 371
8
votes
1
answer
171
views
Why isn't המלך המשפט a grammatical mistake?
During these ימים נוראים we finish the 11th blessing of the amida with the words המלך המשפט. What does this exactly, literally mean? Melech and mishpat are both nouns, so it would seem that we need a ...
- 1,312
6
votes
1
answer
133
views
Grammatical difficulty in root אשר (happy)
The root אשר seems to act weirdly in relation to number.
On the one hand, it takes on plural morphology in situations that are clearly singular, here in the form of a plural (const.) noun (...
- 141
2
votes
0
answers
56
views
Question about the comma in Psalm 82:1
I've a short question about Psalm 82, verse 1.
The hebrew reads: מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת־אֵל בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט
So how should one read these verse?
1. Is it that G-d will ...
- 7,328
2
votes
0
answers
54
views
Where does HaShem stands and in which council?
Psalm 82 teaches that Elohim (אלהים) stands (נצב to position oneself) within the council/congregation (עדת-אל) of El, among/amidst (בקרב) elohiem (אלהים) He judge (ישפט).
Someone told me to look at ...
- 7,328
3
votes
1
answer
128
views
'Nishbaati' or 'Nishbawti'
In Vayelech, the Tikkun Simanim has a couple ambiguities in the notes. In shishi a sentence ends with "נשבעתי". The text shows a patach, but the notes indicate should be a kamatz (in MT)? Is it a ...
- 35
7
votes
1
answer
228
views
Is Melech ever a verb?
In the Artscroll machzor (ashkenaz), in the Chazarat Hashatz for shacharit of Rosh Hashana, the piyut with the refrain "Hashem Melech, Hashem malach, Hashem yimloch le'olam va'ed" has a strange ...
- 37.8k
3
votes
0
answers
48
views
Mappik hei in word in Onkelos Devarim 23:11?
The Artscroll Chumash has no mappik hei in the word "mikrei" in the phrase "mikrei leilya" in Devarim 23:11 in Onkelos. However, I have seen some non-Artscroll Chumashim that have the mappik hei in ...
user19758
3
votes
2
answers
379
views
Genesis 6.4: Nephilim, Gibborim and Benei ha’Elohim
The question I’ve asked is not centered on the identity of the benei ha’Elohim but on the text itself and whether the text has sufficient grammatical support to identify the subject with respect to “...
6
votes
4
answers
623
views
Why does Artscroll indicate that the מ of למנצח should have a שוע נע?
The Artscroll siddur indicates that the שוע on מ of למנצח (e.g. תהלים כ א) is a שוע נע, but I am not sure why this is the case. The vowel beforehand is a פתח (a תנועה קטנה) and none of the other rules ...
- 1,995
9
votes
1
answer
344
views
הדרן עֲלָךְ מסכת פלונית - why not עֲלִיךְ?
The standard text for a siyum on a masechta, as printed in Gemaras, is
הדרן עֲלָךְ מסכת פלונית
מסכת seems to be feminine, so shouldn't it be עֲלִיךְ, with similar changes for the other words?
As ...
- 9,086
0
votes
0
answers
49
views
מִמֶּֽנּוּ From Us or From him/it?
מִמֶּֽנּוּ
On the words (siddur from Anneinu said on fast days) אַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶֽיךָ מִמֶּֽנּוּ the translation on the word מִמֶּֽנּוּ is "from us" yet isn't it supposed to mean from him/it ? Doesn't the ...
- 573
0
votes
1
answer
94
views
How should the second vowel in ציצת be pronounced?
I presume that there a distinction in the way that different Chirik's are pronounced if they are blended syllables ("Chaser") or not ("Malei"). If so...
How should the word Tzitzis ציצת be ...
- 573
1
vote
1
answer
107
views
What type of Dagesh is נָּא֙ from (Breishis 38:16)
On the pasuk of "הָ֤בָה נָּא֙ אָב֣וֹא אֵלַ֔יִךְ" there is a dagesh in front of a word on a the letter nun. What type of Dagesh is this? Shouldn't there not be a dagesh chazak on front of a word?
- 573
3
votes
1
answer
169
views
In Parshas Chukas, why is first mention of Parah Adumah "פָרָה" instead of "פָּרָה"?
The first mention of the Parah Adumah in Parshas Chukas (Numbers 19:2) is:
דַּבֵּ֣ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֣וּ אֵלֶיךָ֩ פָרָ֨ה אֲדֻמָּ֜ה
Instruct the people of Israel to bring you a red cow ...
- 12k
-1
votes
1
answer
101
views
How reliable is the Nikkud in our books?
As we all know, in Hebrew, the Nikkud can change a lot. When studying for this question, I notice slight deviations between different books and I'd like to know how reliable the Nikkud in our books is?...
- 25.7k
1
vote
2
answers
454
views
What is the meaning of Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 12:5 when it uses the Hebrew phrase "כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה'"?
In Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 12:5, Rambam quotes Isaiah 11:9 using the phrase:
כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה' כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים
This is commonly translated as, That the earth ...
- 14.2k
1
vote
1
answer
85
views
Aramaic word from Col. 22 of the Dead Sea Scrolls Genesis Apocryphon: אשכח
I want to apologize in advance if this is not the type of question for this forum. I have been searching around and unfortunately there do not seem to be any places specifically for asking questions ...
- 389
2
votes
0
answers
85
views
Kamatz katan in "kadashim" in Vayikra 24:9
In the verse Vayikra 24:9 in the printed tikkun the first kamatz of the word kadashim (קׇֽדָשִׁ֨ים) is not katan. However, on Wikisource it has that first kamatz as a kamatz katan:
וְהָֽיְתָה֙ ...
user19156
2
votes
0
answers
45
views
Why is the prefix "and" omitted before "servant" in Exodus 20:9?
וְיוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שַׁבָּ֖ת לַֽיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹֽא־תַעֲשֶׂ֨ה כָל־מְלָאכָ֜ה אַתָּ֣ה ׀ וּבִנְךָ֣ וּבִתֶּ֗ךָ עַבְדְּךָ֤ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔ךָ וְגֵֽרְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃
But the ...
- 7,896
0
votes
1
answer
89
views
Why this order of words: יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר
We end the Rabbi Chananyah ben Akashya quote with a quote from Yeshayahu 42:21, the last 3 words of which say יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר, meaning "Torah great and glorious" (which quote also ...
- 7,896
-2
votes
1
answer
64
views
Are there any kometz katans in the maftir for parashas zachor
Are there any kometz katans in the maftir for parashas zachor? Anyone who knows or has a tikkun that indicates kometz katans, if you could tell me where the kamatz katans in that maftir are, if there ...
user18976
5
votes
0
answers
525
views
Ha’am ha’aretz or am ha’aretz?
In yechezk’el (45:16):
כֹּ֚ל הָעָ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ יִהְי֖וּ אֶל־הַתְּרוּמָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את לַנָּשִׂ֖יא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃- Ha’am Ha’aretz.
Yet just a few pesukim later, (46:3):
וְהִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ עַם־הָאָ֗רֶץ ...
- 3,250
2
votes
4
answers
683
views
Milel and milra in the Aramaic of the Bavli
What are the rules for the pronunciation of phonemic stress (milel and milra) in the Aramaic of the Bavli, and how do they differ from Hebrew and/or the Aramaic of the Targums (if at all)? None of the ...
- 45
1
vote
2
answers
362
views
Mishloach Manos or Shalach Manos?
What is the proper grammar of giving/receiving mishloach manos/shalach manos? I've heard people use both terms as in, "I'm preparing mishloach manos for tomorrow" and "I hope to bring the shalach ...
- 13.7k
2
votes
1
answer
60
views
Does the conjunction AND also means EVEN in Hebrew?
I am studying Ezra. In chapter 6 verse 14 it says "...according to the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia." I believe Darius and Artaxerxes are one in the same. Therefore, ...
- 29
0
votes
0
answers
33
views
Is והבאת in the gerund form?
In the משנה פאה א:א, in the phrase והבאת שלום, is the word והבאת a הפעיל gerund?
Regards,
Ben
- 463
4
votes
4
answers
527
views
Gomel chasadim tovim - are there bad chasadim?
In the first b’racha of the amidah, Avos, we say "גומל חסדים טובים"... which is normally translated something like- “who does good deeds...” but literally, “Gomel chasadim” by itself means “does good ...
- 3,250
4
votes
2
answers
71
views
Meaning of the phrase הכנסת כלה
Is the literal translation of the phrase הכנסת כלה, 'bringing in the bride'?
If this is correct, where are we bringing her in from, by whom and for what?
- 463
6
votes
1
answer
248
views
Shva na and shva nach on almost the same word in מגילת אסתר?
Esther 2:3 ends with the word תמרקיהן. Esther 2:9 contains the word תמרוקיה.
The question is about the sh'va under the mem. My source, via Kinnor software, says that this sh'va is na in the first ...
- 203
1
vote
1
answer
79
views
Priestly blessing grammar - וישם
In the Priestly blessing (במדבר ו:כד-כה), for the word וישם, is the the root שים or is the root ישם?
ישם -'Implement', https://pealim.com/dict/864-leyasem
שים - 'Put', https://www.pealim.com/dict/45-...
- 463
5
votes
1
answer
215
views
Why Sho'atah and not She'atah
A number of times in davening, we find the word שאתה, which I would assume would be vowelized as שֶׁאַתׇּה, "she'atah", that you. Instead, we find it vowelized as שָׁאַתָּה, "sha'atah".
For ...
- 20.9k
1
vote
3
answers
279
views
Why is G-d mentioned in the feminine sometimes?
In one part of the Birkat Hamazon we say "veal hakol... anu modim lach umevarchim otach".
This is only one small example, and there are many others, but why is God being adressed in the feminine "...
- 103
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Why is the plural form used in describing the creation of man? [duplicate]
When man is being created, it is Betzelemenu Kidimutenu, why is this in plural form? Is this implying that the oneness of God Echad is somehow contradicted?
- 95
2
votes
2
answers
166
views
Root of the word פרעה
The Hebrew word פרעה (Pharaoh) is probably directly derived from (a phonetic way to pronounce) the Egyptian word.
But it reminded me of the Hebrew root פרע as seen in Exodus 32:25 which is actually ...
- 7,328
1
vote
1
answer
75
views
Priestly blessing grammar - יאר
In the Priestly blessing (במדבר ו:כד-כה)
... יברכך ה' וישמרך.יאר ה', פניו אליך, ויחנך.. What is the שורש and בינין of the word יאר?
Thanks
- 463
2
votes
2
answers
74
views
This (G-d) or these (gods)?
I noticed that the words זֶה אֱלֹהֶיךָ from the verse of Nehemiah 9:18 describing the Golden Calf are often translated as: 'This is your G-d'. But Exodus 32:4 and 32:8 speak of אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ which ...
- 7,328
0
votes
1
answer
101
views
Why a kamatz rather than a seqol at the end of a pasuk?
Why does a segol change to a kamatz at the end of a pasuk (or on an esnachta), as in the word for bread in the last paragraph of the birkat hamazon? (I know that is the pattern. The question is why.) ...
- 7,896