The rise of new vowels and syllables in Biblical Hebrew reflects a complex interaction of phonological processes, morphological pressures, and syntactic environments. New short vowels often emerge when two half-syllables—typically involving a mobile Šewâ—combine, especially in prefixes like בְ, כְ, and לְ, which become בִּ, כִּ, and לִ before another Šewâ (e.g., בִּפְרִי). Gutturals with Ḥaṭeph vowels influence the prefix vowel to match their quality, producing forms like לַעֲבֹד or לֶאֱכֹל. In some cases, the Ḥaṭeph disappears, leaving a short vowel in a closed syllable (e.g., לַחְטֹב). Under inflectional pressure, Ḥaṭeph vowels can transform into full short vowels, especially before vocal Šewâ (e.g., יַעֲמֹד). Final syllables with two consonants—especially emphatics or tenuis—are common, but to avoid harsh endings, helping vowels like Seghôl, Pathaḥ, or Ḥireq are inserted (e.g., בַּ֫יִת from bayt). These helping vowels, akin to the furtive Pathaḥ, do not alter the word’s monosyllabic nature and often disappear before suffixes. Additionally, full vowels may arise in pause or in specific environments, further enriching the phonological texture of the Masoretic tradition.
1. Formation of New Vowels from Two Half-Syllables
A consonant with a mobile Šewâ (weakened from a short vowel) forms a half-syllable and can only exist in connection with a full syllable (cf. § 26m). When a second half-syllable follows with a simple Šewâ, the first syllable receives a full short vowel, usually Ḥireq, which often originates from ă, not as a mere helping vowel. Sometimes analogy contributes to the use of ĭ.
For instance, the prefixes בְּ, כְּ, לְ become בִּ, כִּ, לִ before a Šewâ mobile (cf. § 102d), as in:
בִּפְרִי, כִּפְרִי, לִפְרִי.
Before יְ, the pointing follows the pattern in בִּֽיהוּדָה (from bi-yehûdā, cf. § 24c). Similarly, the copulative וְ becomes וִֽיְ־, as seen in וִֽיהוּדָה, derived from וַיְ־.
Often the two resulting half-syllables merge into one firmly closed syllable:
לִנְפֹּל (Numbers 14) = lĭnephōl, commonly found with the infinitive construct after ל (cf. § 45g), and also with כְּ, as in כִּזְכֹּר (Jeremiah 17).
2. Influence of Gutturals and Ḥaṭeph Vowels
When a guttural with a Ḥaṭeph follows, the prefix vowel adapts accordingly:
– Before Ḥaṭeph Pathaḥ, the original ă is retained.
– Before Ḥaṭeph Seghol or Ḥaṭeph Qameṣ, the prefix vowel is modified to match the short vowel in the Ḥaṭeph.
Examples of resulting vowel combinations:
– וַֽאֲנִי (“and I”)
– כַּֽאֲשֶׁר (“as”)
– לַֽעֲבֹד (“to serve”)
– לֶֽאֱכֹל (“to eat”)
– לָֽחֳלִי (“in sickness”)
See § 16f for the Metheg placement with such short vowels.
Sometimes, the Ḥaṭeph disappears, and the short vowel is retained in a closed syllable:
– לַחְטֹב instead of לַֽחֲטֹב
– לַחְמָם (Isaiah 47) for לַֽחֲמָם (cf. § 67cc)
– לֶאְסֹר and לֶֽאֱסֹר
– וַעְצֹר (Job 4; cf. Genesis 32)
In Qal infinitives and imperatives of the verbs הָיָה (“to be”) and חָיָה (“to live”), the same rule applies:
– לִֽהְיוֹת, וִֽהְיוּ
– Also מִֽהְיוֹת with the preposition מִן (cf. § 102b)
– But: וֶֽהְיֵה (“and be”), וֶֽחְיֵה (“and live”) take ĕ instead of ĭ under the prefix
3. Transformation of Ḥaṭeph under Flexional Pressure
When a Ḥaṭeph stands before a vocal Šewâ due to inflection, it transforms into its corresponding short vowel, especially when under a guttural.
Examples:
– יַֽעֲמֹד (“he will stand”) for yaʿămōd; cf. plural יַעֽמֲדוּ
– נֶֽהֶֽפְכוּ (“they have turned themselves”)
– פָּֽעָלְךָ (“your work”) — cf. § 26k
Syllable division: yăʿă-mĕdhû. The second ă mirrors the helping Pathaḥ (as in נַ֫עַד).
4. Final Syllables with Two Consonants
Some Hebrew words end with syllables that contain two consonants (cf. § 10i, § 26r). This structure occurs only when the second consonant is:
– Emphatic (ט, ק), or
– Tenuis (בּ, דּ, ךּ, תּ)
Examples:
– יֵשְׂטְ (“let him turn aside”)
– וַיַּשְׁקְ (“and he caused to drink”)
– אָמַ֫רְתְּ (“you [fem.] said”)
– וַיֵּבְךְּ (“and he wept”)
– וְיֵרְדְּ (“and let him have dominion”)
– וַיִּשְׁבְּ (“and he took captive”)
5. Avoidance of Harsh Endings by Insertion of Helping Vowels
The Masora mitigates these double-consonant endings by inserting a helping vowel:
– Usually Seghôl
– Pathaḥ when the second consonant is a guttural
– Ḥireq after י
Examples:
– וַיִּ֫גֶל (“and he revealed”) for wayyigl
– יִ֫רֶב (“let it multiply”) for yirb
– קֹ֫דֶשׁ (“holiness”) from qudš
– נַ֫חַל (“brook”) from naḥl
– שָׁלַ֫חַתְּ (“you [fem.] sent”) for šālaḥt
– בַּ֫יִת (“house”) from bayt
These are similar to the furtive Pathaḥ (cf. § 22f–g) and do not affect the monosyllabic nature of the word. They disappear before suffixes:
– קָדְשִׁ֫י (“my holiness”)
– בַּ֫יְתָה (“homeward”)
6. Rise of Full Vowels under Pause and in Other Environments
– For full vowels replacing Šewâ in pause positions, see § 29m.
– For initial אֵ replacing אֱ, see § 23h.
