Morphological changes in Biblical Hebrew are primarily shaped by two interrelated factors: (1) the unique phonological behavior of certain consonant groups, which may lead to irregularities in combination or inflection, and (2) the structural rules governing syllables and word stress, which determine how vowels and consonants can be arranged and where the primary accent falls. These two forces—consonantal idiosyncrasies and phonological constraints—together account for many of the distinctive patterns and deviations found in Hebrew word formation and pronunciation.
Overview
The morphological changes that occur in the forms of Hebrew words are influenced by two main factors:
- The inherent characteristics of specific groups of consonants: Certain letters behave irregularly in combination or under inflection due to their phonological properties.
- The phonological laws governing syllable structure and word stress (tone): These laws dictate permissible combinations and positions of vowels and consonants within a word, and determine where the primary stress (accent) falls.
Together, these factors explain many of the peculiarities and modifications seen in Biblical Hebrew word formation and pronunciation.
