The noun system in Biblical Hebrew distinguishes between two principal states: the absolute state and the construct state. This distinction is not merely morphological but also syntactic, as it governs how nouns relate to one another in genitive constructions.
Understanding the contrast between these two states is essential for analyzing possession, partitive relationships, and complex nominal phrases in Biblical Hebrew syntax.
1. The Absolute State: Independent Nouns
The absolute state is the default form of the noun. It appears when the noun stands alone and is not syntactically bound to another noun.
מֶ֫לֶךְ — “a king”
סֵ֫פֶר — “a book”
בַּ֫יִת — “a house”
These forms are unmarked for relational dependency. They may be used:
- Alone or with definite markers (e.g., הַסֵּ֫פֶר “the book”)
- As subjects, objects, or predicates
- With adjectives, prepositions, or pronominal suffixes (though suffixes often trigger construct-like behavior)
2. The Construct State: Bound Nouns
The construct state (סְמִיכוּת) is a morphologically altered form of a noun used when it is directly followed by another noun to express possession or specification (i.e., genitive relationships).
בֵּית־הַמֶּ֫לֶךְ — “the house of the king”
סֵפֶר־תּוֹרָה — “a scroll of Torah”
מַלְכֵי־קֶ֫דֶם — “kings of old”
Key Characteristics of Construct State:
- The construct noun cannot stand alone—it must be immediately followed by its genitive complement.
- It often loses its article. Definiteness is determined by the second noun (e.g., סֵפֶר־הַמֶּ֫לֶךְ is definite because הַמֶּ֫לֶךְ is).
- Its form is often shortened or altered—e.g., בַּ֫יִת becomes בֵּית־, מֶ֫לֶךְ becomes מֶ֫לֶךְ־ (no change), and אִשָּׁה becomes אֵ֫שֶׁת־.
Examples of Common Construct Forms
| Absolute Form | Construct Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| בַּ֫יִת (“house”) | בֵּית־ | “house of…” |
| סֵ֫פֶר (“scroll”) | סֵפֶר־ | “scroll of…” |
| מֶ֫לֶךְ (“king”) | מֶ֫לֶךְ־ | “king of…” |
| אִשָּׁה (“woman”) | אֵ֫שֶׁת־ | “wife of…” |
| אֲנָשִׁים (“men”) | אַנְשֵׁי־ | “men of…” |
3. Syntactic and Semantic Implications
Definiteness Transfer:
The construct form inherits definiteness from its genitive partner:
- סֵפֶר־מֶ֫לֶךְ — “a book of a king” (indefinite)
- סֵפֶר־הַמֶּ֫לֶךְ — “the book of the king” (definite)
Possession & Specification:
The construct form expresses:
- Possession: מַלְכֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל — “kings of Yisraʾel”
- Source or origin: נְבִיאֵי־שֶׁ֫קֶר — “false prophets”
- Partitive meaning: רֹאשׁ־הָהָר — “top of the mountain”
4. Construct Chains and Recursion
Multiple constructs can form chains, with each construct noun bound to the next.
בֵּית־אֵלֹהֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל — “the house of the God of Yisraʾel”
סִפְרֵי־מַלְכֵי־יְהוּדָה — “books of the kings of Yehudah”
These nested structures rely heavily on construct morphology and stress syntactic accuracy.
Grammar in Relationship
The contrast between construct and absolute states in Hebrew nouns reveals a grammatical strategy for expressing possession and specification without prepositions. The construct state signals grammatical dependence, while the absolute state represents syntactic freedom. This distinction is not merely formal but expressive—allowing the Hebrew Bible to articulate layered relationships through tight, compact structures.
