Pronominal suffixes—also called suffix pronouns—are a hallmark of Biblical Hebrew morphology. These bound forms attach directly to verbs, nouns, and prepositions to indicate possession, direct object, or indirect object, replacing independent pronouns in many contexts. Though their form remains relatively consistent, their function and shape can vary depending on phonological context.
This section explores their morphology and usage across three domains: verbal suffixes, nominal possession, and prepositional relationships, including important variations in form (allomorphs).
1. Suffixes on Verbs: Direct Objects
When attached to verbs, pronominal suffixes mark direct object pronouns (e.g., “he saw me,” “you heard us”). These are most commonly found on perfect verbs, imperatives, and occasionally infinitives.
רְאִיתִ֫יךָ — “I saw you” (masc. sg.)
שְׁמָעַנִי — “He heard me”
יְכַסֵּ֫נִי — “He will cover me”
Common Direct Object Suffixes on Verbs
| Person | Suffix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. (“me”) | -נִי | אָהֲבַ֫נִי — “He loved me” |
| 2nd masc. sg. (“you”) | -ךָ | רְאִיתִ֫יךָ — “I saw you” |
| 3rd masc. sg. (“him”) | -וֹ / -הוּ | כִּסָּ֫הוּ — “He covered him” |
| 1st pl. (“us”) | -נוּ | שְׁמָעָ֫נוּ — “He heard us” |
| 3rd pl. (“them”) | -ם / -ן | רְאִיתִ֫ם — “I saw them” |
Allomorph Notes
- 3ms suffixes can appear as -וֹ or -הוּ depending on final consonant and phonological environment.
- 1cs often surfaces as -נִי (on verbs) and -י or -ִי on nouns, depending on syllable structure.
- Final gutturals in the verb stem may affect vowel choice before the suffix.
2. Suffixes on Nouns: Possession
Suffixes on nouns express possession or belonging (e.g., “his house,” “their words,” “our king”). This eliminates the need for the independent preposition לְ (“to”) or the possessive particle של in Modern Hebrew.
בֵּיתוֹ — “His house”
מַלְכֵּ֫נוּ — “Our king”
דְּבָרָ֫ם — “Their word(s)”
Common Possessive Suffixes on Nouns
| Person | Suffix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. (“my”) | -י / -ִי | אִמִּ֫י — “my mother” |
| 2nd masc. sg. (“your”) | -ךָ | שִׁמְךָ — “your name” |
| 3rd masc. sg. (“his”) | -וֹ | עַבְדּוֹ — “his servant” |
| 1st pl. (“our”) | -נוּ | אָבִ֫ינוּ — “our father” |
| 3rd pl. (“their”) | -ם / -ן | סִפְרָ֫ם — “their book” |
Form Variation Notes
- The 1cs suffix is -י when added to nouns ending in consonants but may appear as -ִי when the noun ends in a vowel (e.g., שֵׁם → שְׁמִי).
- Final vowels of nouns often contract or shift when suffixes are added: בַּ֫יִת → בֵּיתוֹ.
3. Suffixes on Prepositions: Indirect Objects & Relational Phrases
When added to prepositions, suffix pronouns indicate indirect objects or relational participants in spatial, logical, or metaphorical expressions.
עִמּוֹ — “with him”
לָ֫ךְ — “to you” (fem.)
מִמֶּ֫נּוּ — “from him”
Examples of Common Prepositions + Suffixes
| Preposition | Base Meaning | With 3ms Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| עִם | “with” | עִמּוֹ | “with him” |
| לְ | “to/for” | לוֹ | “to him” |
| מִן | “from” | מִמֶּנּוּ | “from him” |
| בְּ | “in/with/by” | בּוֹ | “in him” |
| אֵל | “toward” | אֵלָיו | “toward him” |
Phonological Adaptation Notes
- Prepositions often undergo doubling or vowel change to accommodate suffixes: מִן → מִמֶּנּוּ.
- Short prepositions often expand with matres lectionis to host the suffix.
The Grammar of Relationship
Pronominal suffixes enable Biblical Hebrew to express nuanced grammatical relationships in a compact, elegant form. Their varied appearances across verbs, nouns, and prepositions demonstrate the language’s morphological richness. While forms may shift slightly depending on phonological context, their role remains consistent: to bind entities together, revealing both possession and action in the economy of the Semitic verbal and nominal system.
