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Pronominal Suffixes Before we begin our discussion on pronominal suffixes,

we need to identify some terms.

The best way to do that is by using examples.

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Pronominal Suffixes In English:

She gave my toy to him.

Possessive pronoun +

noun (Direct Object)

Verb

Preposition +

Indirect object (Personal Pronoun)

Subject (Personal pronoun)

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Pronominal Suffixes In English:

David saw her.

Verb

Direct Object (Personal Pronoun)

Subject (Proper Noun)

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Pronominal Suffixes Note that personal pronouns can be used:

Subjectively (as the subject)

Objectively (as a direct and/or indirect object)

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Pronominal Suffixes Pronominal suffixes are pronouns that are used as

objects (both direct and indirect) or possessives.

When they appear on the end of verbs, prepositions, or articles, they are used as objects [me, her, him, us, you (singular or plural), them].

When they appear on the end of nouns, they are used as possessives [my, her, his, our, your (singular or plural), their].

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Pronominal Suffixes There are two different types of pronominal suffixes.

Type 1 is usually used with singular nouns, verbs, and particles. The inseparable preposition ל uses type 1.

The inseparable prepositions כ and ןמ use an alternate of type 1.

Type 2 is used with plural nouns.

The preposition על uses type 2.

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Pronominal Suffixes Pronominal Suffixes Type 1

Person, Number, Gender

Singular Pronominal

Suffix

Person, Number, Gender

Plural Pronominal

Suffix

3ms ו ה, ו 3mp ם , םה 3fs ה , ה 3fp ן , ןה

2ms 2 ךmp םכ 2fs 2 ךfp ןכ 1cs י 1cp ו נ

These are for singular nouns and certain prepositions. 8

Pronominal Suffixes Feminine 3rd Person Suffix:

The dot in the 3fs form ( ה ) is called a mappiq; it marks the 3fs suffix.

Although it looks like one, it is not a dagesh lene or a dagesh forte.

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Pronominal Suffixes Pronominal Suffixes Type 2

Person, Number, Gender

Singular Pronominal

Suffix

Person, Number, Gender

Plural Pronominal

Suffix

3ms וי 3mp םהי 3fs ה י 3fp ןהי

2ms ך י 2mp םכי 2fs ךי 2fp ןכי 1cs י 1cp ו ני

These are for plural nouns and certain prepositions. 10

Pronominal Suffixes Masculine plural nouns:

Drop their plural suffix ( םי ) before the addition of a plural pronominal suffix.

The yod (י) in the plural pronominal suffix is the only way to tell that the noun is plural.

The rest of the suffix determines the person of the pronominal suffix.

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Pronominal Suffixes Type 1 and 2 Pronominal Suffixes

Person, Number, Gender

Suffix for Singular Nouns

(Type 1)

Suffix for Plural Nouns

(Type 2)

Person, Number, Gender

Suffix for Singular Nouns

(Type 1)

Suffix for Plural Nouns

(Type 2)

3ms ו ה, ו וי 3mp ם , םה םהי 3fs ה , ה ה י 3fp ן , ןה ןהי

2ms ך י ך 2mp םכ םכי 2fs ך ךי 2fp ןכ ןכי 1cs י י 1cp ו נ ו ני

* When these appear on the end of verbs, prepositions, or articles, they are used as objects [him, her, me, them, your (sing. and pl.), us.] * When these appear on the end of nouns, they are used as possessives [his, her, my, their, your (sing. and pl), our].

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Pronominal Suffixes Examples of masculine singular nouns with

pronominal suffixes: ו צלמב in his (own) image ( םצל ) ה ש יאל to her husband ( ש יא ; note mappiq) ך עבד your (ms) servant (ע בד) ךעצ ב נ your (fs) sorrow ( ןו עצ ב ) ילו ק my voice ( לו ק ) םש ו רכ their possessions, substance ( ש ו רכ ) םכרש בב in your (mp) flesh ( רש ב ) ו נכ ספ our money ( ףכ ס )

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Pronominal Suffixes Examples of masculine plural nouns with pronominal

suffixes:

יועמ his people ( םע , םעמ י )

יה ע ינ her eyes ( , ןעי םע יני )

םיהפנ ו and their faces ( , פ נה יםפ נ )

םיכרגל your (mp) feet ( רגל םי (רגל ,

יי מ my days ( םימי, םו י )

ו יני ד our hands ( י ד , י ד םי )

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Pronominal Suffixes Before a pronominal suffix is added to a feminine

singular noun which ends in qamets he (ה ), that original he (ה) is replaced by a tav (ת).

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Pronominal Suffixes Examples of feminine singular nouns with pronominal

suffixes:

ו ת ש א his wife ( הש א )

ה ת ח פש her maid ( הח פש )

ך צב אל to your (ms) army (צ ב א)

ךת ו מח your (fs) mother-in-law ( תו מח ) ית ממלכ my kingdom ( הממל כ ) םת פ ש their language ( הפ ש ) ו נת חו א our sister ( תחו א )

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Pronominal Suffixes Examples of feminine plural nouns with pronominal

suffixes:

עו יה תו ר and her companions ( ע תו ר (רע ה ,

ך יבנ תו and your (ms) daughters ( תו ב נ (ב ת ,

יתו מצ my commandments ( תו מצ (מצו ה ,

םת ארצ ב in their lands ( צ תו אר ץאר , )

םיכת ו ב נ your (mp) daughters ( תו ב נ (ב ת ,

ו ת נמ חמל our battles ( תו מח מל מ הח מל , )

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Pronominal Suffixes Now that we have seen how pronominal suffixes are

used with nouns, we will look at their use with prepositions.

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Pronominal Suffixes Pronominal Suffixes with ל

Person, Number, Gender

Singular Person, Number, Gender

Plural

3ms (him) ו ל 3mp (them) םהל 3fs (her) ה ל 3fp (them) ןהל

2ms (you) ך ל 2mp (you all) םכל 2fs (you) ךל 2fp (you all) ןכל 1cs (me) יל 1cp (us) ו נל ...is a inseparable preposition that means to, for, at ל

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Pronominal Suffixes Be careful not to confuse ו ל (to him) with ל א (not).

Genesis 4:15 יהו ה ו לוי אמר

And Yehovah said to him…

Imagine ו is a man (him).

Exodus 20:16 עב תענה ל א ׃קרש ע ד ך ר

Do not bear/testify false witness against your neighbor.

Imagine א is an X (not).

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Pronominal Suffixes Numbers 32:7 יהו ה םל ה ןנ תר ש א

Which Yehovah has given them

Ruth 2:20 ינעמ ל ה ות אמר

And/then Naomi said to her

Psalm 55:2E/3H יל ב ה יש הק יוענ נ

Attend to me, and hear me

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Pronominal Suffixes When the preposition is attached to pronominal ןמ

suffixes, it uses the alternate longer form מ מ and some alternate endings throughout the paradigm.

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Pronominal Suffixes Pronominal Suffixes with ןמ

Person, Number, Gender

Singular Person, Number, Gender

Plural

3ms (from him, it) ו ממ נ 3mp (from them) םמה 3fs (from her, it) הנ ממ 3fp (from them) ןמה 2ms (from you) ך ממ 2mp (from you all) םמכ 2fs (from you) ךממ 2fp (from you all) ןמכ 1cs (from me) יממ נ 1cp (from us) ו נ ממ מ ן is a preposition that means from, out of, some, than…

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Pronominal Suffixes Genesis 3:3 ...ו ממ נ ו אכלת ל א

You shall not eat of it

Genesis 42:16 דח א םמכ חו לש

Send one of you…

Deuteronomy 7:17 ו הג םרב י יממ נ ה א ל ה םי

These nations are greater than I…

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Pronominal Suffixes When the preposition כ is attached to pronominal

suffixes, it uses the alternate longer form ו כ מ .

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Pronominal Suffixes Pronominal Suffixes with כ

Person, Number, Gender

Singular Person, Number, Gender

Plural

3ms (him) הו ו כ מ 3mp (them) םהכ 3fs (her) כ מ ה ו 3fp (them) ןהכ

2ms (you) ך ו כ מ 2mp (you all) םככ 2fs (you) ךו כ מ 2fp (you all) ןככ 1cs (me) ו כ מ ינ 1cp (us) ו נו כ מ

.is a inseparable preposition that means as, like, according to כ 26

Pronominal Suffixes 1 Samuel 21:9/10 יל ת ננ הה ו כ מ ןא י … there is none like it, give it to me.

Judges 9:48 ו כ מ ו ש ע ינ … do as I [have done]. (Note absence of dagesh lene.)

2 Kings 17:15 ת ו עש יבלת ל םא ת יהו ה צו הר ש א

׃םכ ה …whom Yehovah had commanded them that they

should not do like them.

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Pronominal Suffixes Pronominal Suffixes for על

Person, Number, Gender

Singular Pronominal Suffix

Person, Number, Gender

Plural Pronominal Suffix

3ms (him) יוע ל 3mp (them) םיהל ע 3fs (her) יה ע ל 3fp (them) ןיהל ע

2ms (you) ך יע ל 2mp (you all) םיכל ע 2fs (you) לע ךי 2fp (you all) ןיכל ע 1cs (me) ילע 1cp (us) ו ינלע

.means on, upon, against, over, concerning על 28

Pronominal Suffixes Genesis 15:12 ע ל יו נ פלת גד ל הכ ה ש ח א ימ ה Horror of great darkness fell upon him (Abram)

Genesis 27:3 ך קלל ת ע לי ו אמ ו ל ות אמר יב נ His mother said to him, “Upon me [be] your curse my

son”

Joshua 23:14 ב ר רש א םעל יכ םאל ה יכ יהו ה ד Which Yehovah your Elohim (God) had spoken

concerning you.

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Pronominal Suffixes During the separate presentation on definiteness and

prepositions, we saw how the independent preposition and the definite direct object (”meaning “with) אתmarker can appear with pronominal suffixes.

The same chart from that presentation is here for additional reference.

You may recall that it is very similar to את when it is used as the definite direct object marker.

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Pronominal Suffixes The Preposition את־/א ת (With)

3ms (with him) ו ת א 3mp (with them) םת א 3fs (with her) ה ת א 3fp (with them) ןת א 2ms (with you) ך ת א 2mp (with you) םכת א 2fs (with you) ךת א 2fp (with you) ןכת א 1cs (with me) ית א 1cp (with us) ו נת א

Note: The preposition את with pronominal suffixes is spelled with a hireq under the א and a dagesh forte in the ת . This distinguishes it from the definite direct object marker. Remember: The one with the dagesh means “with.”

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Pronominal Suffixes Jeremiah 2:9 … םאת כב יא ר

I will plead with you

2 Samuel 3:15 ה ש איאת ה ךי לו

And her husband went with her.

Isaiah 59:12 ו את נ ו נע יש פ יכ

For our transgressions [are] with us

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Pronominal Suffixes The preposition םע (with) works in a similar fashion.

Isaiah 7:14 את א ל ו נעמ ו מש וק ר

And shall call his name Immanu-El (God with us).

Genesis 26:20 התע יכ ו עמ ו קש

For they quarreled with him (over the wells).

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Pronominal Suffixes The Direct Object Marker את־/א ת

3ms (him) ו א ת 3mp (them) םא ת

3fs (her) 3 א ת הfp (them) ןא ת

2ms (you) ך א ת 2mp (you all) םאתכ

2fs (you) ךא ת 2fp (you all) ןאתכ

1cs (me) יא ת 1cp (us) ו א ת נ

Note: The Direct Object Marker with a pronominal suffix is spelled with a holem or seghol in contrast to the preposition את (which means ‘with’) when it is attached to pronominal suffixes.

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Pronominal Suffixes Jeremiah 39:7 הב בל ו א תא יבל

… to bring him to Babylon

Genesis 30:30 ך א תיהו ה ךיב רו

And YHVH blessed you (ms)

2 Chronicles 33:3 םא ת י עב ד ו

And he served them

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Pronominal Suffixes Pronominal suffixes can be used as resumptive pronouns.

Resumptive pronouns are personal pronouns that appear in relative clauses; they refer back to the antecedent (the noun which the relative clause modifies). Which is the boy I saw him.

That is the book I bought it.

The houses which they lived in them.

It is improper to use these in English but they are often seen in Hebrew.

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Pronominal Suffixes Examples of resumptive pronouns:

Exodus 6:4 ׃ב ה ו ג רר ש א

[to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage] in which (wherein) they were strangers in it (wherein).

Genesis 28:13 ע ליה כ בש את ה רש א

[the land] on which (whereon) you lie on it (whereon)

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Pronominal Suffixes Biblical Hebrew A Compact Guide, Miles Van Pelt,

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 2012.

Biblical Hebrew An Introductory Grammar, Page H. Kelly, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 1992.

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Hebrew lessons compiled by: Beth C. Mehaffey

https://holyhiway.wordpress.com

Contact: betmeh2 at gmail.com

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