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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 עַל uses type 2.

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Pronominal SuffixesPronominal Suffixes Type 1

Person, Number,Gender

SingularPronominal

Suffix

Person, Number, Gender

Plural Pronominal

Suffix

3ms ו ֹה, וֹ 3mp םָ ֹ,םהֶ3fs ה , ָ ה 3fp ןָ ֹ,ןהֶ

2ms ך ֹ 2mp םכֶ2fs ךְֹ 2fp ןכֶ1cs יִָֹ 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 leneor a dagesh forte.

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Pronominal SuffixesPronominal Suffixes Type 2

Person, Number,Gender

SingularPronominal

Suffix

Person, Number, Gender

Plural Pronominal

Suffix

3ms ויָ ֹ 3mp םהֶיָ ֹ3fs ה יֶָֹ 3fp ןהֶיָ ֹ

2ms ך ֹיֶָֹ 2mp םכֶיָ ֹ2fs ִַָֹֹ ךְֹי 2fp ןכֶיָ ֹ1cs יַָֹ 1cp ו ֹניָ ֹ

These are for plural nouns and certain prepositions. 10

Pronominal Suffixes Masculine plural nouns:

Drop their plural suffix ( ֹםִָי ) 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 SuffixesType 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, וֹ ויָ ֹ 3mp םָ ֹ,םהֶ םהֶיָ ֹ3fs ה , ָ ה ה יֶָֹ 3fp ןָ ֹ,ןהֶ ןהֶיָ ֹ

2ms ך ֹ ך ֹיֶָֹ 2mp םכֶ םכֶיָ ֹ2fs ךְֹ ִַָֹֹ ךְֹי 2fp ןכֶ ןכֶיָ ֹ1cs יִָֹ יַָֹ 1cp ו ֹנ ו ֹניָ ֹ

* 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:

וֹ צַלְמב ְ in his (own) image ( םצֶלֶ ) ה ֹש יאִלְ to her husband ( ש ֹיאִ ; note mappiq) ך ֹעַבְד ְֹ your (ms) servant (ע בֶד) ךְֹעִצ ְב נ ֹ your (fs) sorrow ( ןוֹ עִצ ב ) ילִוֹ ק my voice ( לוֹ ק ) םש ו ְֹרכ their possessions, substance ( ש ֹו ְֹרכ ) םכֶרְֹש ַבְב ִ in your (mp) flesh ( רש ב ) ו ֹנכ ַסְפ our money ( ףכ ֶסֶ )

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Pronominal Suffixes Examples of masculine plural nouns with pronominal

suffixes:

יועַמ his people ( ֹםעַמ ִי םעַ , )

ֶֹ יה ע ינ her eyes ( ִֹ ִֹ, ןעַי ֹםע ינַי )

םיהֶפְנ ֹו ֹ and their faces ( ִֹ, פ נֶה יֹםפ נ )

םיכֶַרגְל your (mp) feet ( ִַֹרגְַל ֹ ֹםי (ֶרגֶל ,

יי מ my days ( ֹםיַמִי, םוֹ י )

ו ֹיני דֹ 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:

וֹ ת ש ְאִ his wife ( הש אִ ) ה ֹת ח פְש ִ her maid ( הח פְש ִ ) ך ֹצְב אֲלִ to your (ms) army (צ ב א) ךְֹת ְוֹ מחֲ your (fs) mother-in-law ( תוֹ מחֲ ) ית ִמַמְלַכְ my kingdom ( המַמְל כ ) םת פ ש ְ their language ( הפ ש ) ו ֹנת חוֹ אֲ our sister ( תחוֹ אַ )

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Pronominal Suffixes Examples of feminine plural nouns with pronominal

suffixes:

עוְֹ יה תֶוֹ ר and her companions ( ע תוֹ ר (ֶרע ה ,

ך ֹיבְנ תֶֶ֫ו ֹ and your (ms) daughters ( תוֹ ב נ (ב ַת ,

יתַוֹ מִצְ my commandments ( תוֹ מִצְ (מִצְו ה ,

םת אְַרצ ב ְ in their lands ( צ תוֹ אֲר ץאֶרֶֹ , )

םיכֶת וֹ ב ְנ your (mp) daughters ( תוֹ ב נ (ב ַת ,

ו ֹת נמ חֲמִלְ our battles ( תוֹ מח מִלְ מ הח מִלְ , )

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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 SuffixesPronominal Suffixes with ְל

Person, Number,Gender

Singular Person, Number,Gender

Plural

3ms (him) וֹ ל 3mp (them) םהֶל 3fs (her) ה ֹל 3fp (them) ןהֶל

2ms (you) ך ֹלְ 2mp (you all) םכֶל 2fs (you) ךְֹל 2fp (you all) ןכֶל 1cs (me) ילִ 1cp (us) ו ֹנל ֶ֫לְ is a inseparable preposition that means to, for, at...

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

Genesis 4:15 יְהו הוֹ לוַי אמֶר

And Yehovah said to him…

Imagine ֹו is a man (him).

Exodus 20:16 עֲבְתַעֲנֶהל א ׃קֶרש ע דך ֹ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 ֲיְהו ה םל הֶןנ תַר ש ֶא

Which Yehovah has given them

Ruth 2:20 ינַעֳמִל ה ֹוַת אמֶר

And/then Naomi said to her

Psalm 55:2E/3H ְִֹיל ִב ה יש ִהַק יוַעֲנ נ

Attend to me, and hear me

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Pronominal Suffixes When the preposition ןמִ is attached to pronominal

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

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Pronominal SuffixesPronominal Suffixes with ִןמ

Person, Number,Gender

Singular Person, Number,Gender

Plural

3ms (from him, it) ו ֹמִמ ֶֶ֫נ ֹ 3mp (from them) םמִהֶ3fs (from her, it) הנ ֹמִמ ֶֶ֫ 3fp (from them) ןמִהֶ2ms (from you) ך ֹמִמ ְ 2mp (from you all) םמִכ ֶ2fs (from you) ךְֹמִמ 2fp (from you all) ןמִכ ֶ1cs (from me) ימִמ ֶֶ֫נ ִֹ 1cp (from us) ו ֹנ ֹמִמ ְֶֶֹ֫מִ ן is a preposition that means from, out of, some, than…

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Pronominal Suffixes Genesis 3:3 ...ו ֹמִמ ֶנ ֹו ֹאכְלת ל א

You shall not eat of it

Genesis 42:16 ִ דח אֶםמִכ ֶחו ֹלְש

Send one of you…

Deuteronomy 7:17 ִֹוֹ הַג ֹֹםַרב ִי ימִמ ֶ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 וֹ כ ְמ .

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Pronominal SuffixesPronominal Suffixes with ְ כ

Person, Number,Gender

Singular Person, Number,Gender

Plural

3ms (him) הו ֹוֹ כ מֶ֫ 3mp (them) םהֶכ 3fs (her) ֶ֫כ מ ה ו 3fp (them) ןהֶכ

2ms (you) ך ֹוֹ כ מֶ֫ 2mp (you all) םכֶכ 2fs (you) ךְֹוֹ כ מֶ֫ 2fp (you all) ןכֶכ 1cs (me) ִֹוֹ כ מֶ֫ ינ 1cp (us) ו ֹנוֹ כ מֶ֫

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

Pronominal Suffixes 1 Samuel 21:9/10 יל ִת ְנֶנ הה וֹ כ מֶ֫ןא י … there is none like it, give it to me.

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

2 Kings 17:15 ֲתוֹ עֲש ֹיבִלְת ִלְםא ת יְהו ה צִו הר ש ֶא׃םכ הֶ

…whom Yehovah had commanded them that they should not do like them.

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Pronominal SuffixesPronominal Suffixes for עַל

Person, Number,Gender

SingularPronominal Suffix

Person, Number, Gender

Plural Pronominal Suffix

3ms (him) יוע ל 3mp (them) םיהֶל עֲ3fs (her) יה ע לֶֶ֫ 3fp (them) ןיהֶל עֲ

2ms (you) ך ֹיע לֶֶ֫ 2mp (you all) םיכֶל עֲ2fs (you) ִֹלֶַ֫ע ךְֹי 2fp (you all) ןיכֶל עֲ1cs (me) ילַע 1cp (us) ו ֹינלֶֶ֫ע

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

Pronominal Suffixes Genesis 15:12 ע ל יונ פֶלֶתגְד ל הכ ה ש חֲא ימ ה Horror of great darkness fell upon him (Abram)

Genesis 27:3 ִֹך ֹקִלְל תְע לַיוֹ אִמ וֹ לות אמֶר יב ְנ His mother said to him, “Upon me [be] your curse my

son”

Joshua 23:14 ֲב ֶררש ֶא םעֲל יכֶםאֱל ה יכֶיְהו הד ִ 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 אֶת (meaning “with”) and the definite direct object marker 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 אֶת when it is used as the definite direct object marker.

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Pronominal SuffixesThe Preposition אֶת־/א ת (With)

3ms (with him) וֹ ת אִ 3mp (with them) םת אִ3fs (with her) ה ֹת אִ 3fp (with them) ןת אִ2ms (with you) ך ֹת ְאִ 2mp (with you) םכֶת ְאִ2fs (with you) ךְֹת אִ 2fp (with you) ןכֶת ְאִ1cs (with me) ית ִאִ 1cp (with us) ו ֹנת ֶ֫אִ

Note: The preposition אֶת 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 … ִֹםאִת ְכֶב יא ר

I will plead with you

2 Samuel 3:15 ַֹה ֹש אִיאִת ה ֹךְֹי לֶו

And her husband went with her.

Isaiah 59:12 ִ ו ֹאִת נו ֹנע יש פְיכ

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 לו ֹנעִמ ֶ֫וֹ מש ְוְק ר

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

Genesis 26:20 ִ ְהִתְעַיכ וֹ עִמ ו ֹקש

For they quarreled with him (over the wells).

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Pronominal SuffixesThe Direct Object Marker אֶת־/א ת

3ms (him) וֹ א ת 3mp (them) םא ת

3fs (her) א ת ה ֹ 3fp (them) ןא ת

2ms (you) ך ֹא תְ 2mp (you all) םאֶתְכֶ

2fs (you) ךְֹא ת 2fp (you all) ןאֶתְכֶ

1cs (me) יא תִ 1cp (us) ו ֹא ת ֶ֫נ

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

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Pronominal Suffixes Jeremiah 39:7 הב בֶל וֹ א תא יבִל

… to bring him to Babylon

Genesis 30:30 ַֹך ֹא תְיְהו ה ךְֹיְב רֶֹו

And YHVH blessed you (ms)

2 Chronicles 33:3 ַֹםא ת י ַעֲב 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 SuffixesExamples 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 לֶיה כ בש אַת הרש ֶאֲ

[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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