Irregular plural forms in Biblical Hebrew—such as אָבוֹת for “fathers” and אֲנָשִׁים for “men”—reflect ancient linguistic conservatism and theological depth. These plurals often diverge from standard masculine (-ִים) or feminine (-וֹת) patterns due to historical Semitic morphology, vowel shifts, or suppletion. Kinship terms, collective nouns, abstract concepts, and certain numerals preserve archaic or fossilized patterns that enrich poetic meter and covenantal meaning. Despite their morphological irregularity, they follow normal syntactic agreement and often carry enhanced lexical weight—elevating “ancestors” beyond mere biological reference and embedding theological resonance within grammatical form.
Introduction
Biblical Hebrew primarily employs two regular suffixes to form plural nouns: -ִים (masculine) and -וֹת (feminine). However, the language also preserves numerous irregular plural forms, often reflecting its Semitic roots, phonological shifts, archaic morphology, or lexical conservatism. These irregularities are especially prominent in common kinship terms, body parts, numerals, and some abstract nouns. This article explores the major categories and examples of irregular plural forms, focusing especially on cases like אָבוֹת (“fathers”) instead of a theoretically regular אֲבִים.
Irregular Plural Formation: Definition and Overview
An irregular plural in Hebrew refers to any noun whose plural deviates from the standard paradigms:
- Masculine nouns typically use -ִים
- Feminine nouns typically use -וֹת
Irregularity may involve:
- Unexpected plural suffix
- Internal vowel changes (known as apophony)
- Archaic retention of duals or broken plurals (Semitic patterning)
1. Kinship Terms and Archaic Plurals
The most common and theologically significant irregular plurals in Hebrew occur in kinship vocabulary.
| Singular | Irregular Plural | Expected Regular Plural | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| אָב (ʾāv) | אָבוֹת (ʾāvōt) | אֲבִים | Fathers, ancestors |
| אֵם (ʾēm) | אִמּוֹת (ʾimmōt) | אֵמִים | Mothers |
| בֵּן (bēn) | בָּנִים (bānīm) | — | Sons |
| בַּת (bat) | בָּנוֹת (banōt) | בָּתּוֹת | Daughters |
| אִישׁ (ʾīsh) | אֲנָשִׁים (ʾănāshīm) | אִישִׁים | Men |
| אִשָּׁה (ʾishshāh) | נָשִׁים (nāshīm) | אִשּׁוֹת | Women |
These forms often preserve older Semitic or Northwest Semitic plural structures. They are deeply embedded in biblical literature and prayer.
2. Plurals of Abstract Nouns or Collectives
Some abstract or collective nouns take irregular plural forms due to their semantic class or phonological history.
Examples:
- דָּם (blood) → דָּמִים (bloodshed, multiple acts of blood)
- מַיִם (“water”) → appears plural in form but functions as a singular or collective
- שָׁמַיִם (“heavens”) → dual-looking form but semantically plural
These cases reveal the blurring of number and conceptual category in Hebrew.
3. Suppletive Plurals
Some nouns change their root entirely in the plural—known as suppletion.
Examples:
- אִישׁ (“man”) → אֲנָשִׁים (“men”)
- אִשָּׁה (“woman”) → נָשִׁים (“women”)
These forms reflect older root shifts or analogical formations across ancient Semitic dialects. Their irregularity marks them as highly idiomatic.
4. Internal Vowel Shift (Broken Plural Pattern)
Borrowed from Northwest Semitic roots or related to Arabic broken plurals, some Hebrew plurals shift internal vowels rather than using suffixes alone.
Examples:
- סֵפֶר (“book”) → סְפָרִים (“books”) – regular form
- דָּבָר (“word, thing”) → דְּבָרִים – slight internal vowel shift
These are usually minor shifts, but they reflect older non-concatenative pluralization processes common in Semitic languages.
5. Numerals with Irregular Plurals
Hebrew cardinal numbers also display gender sensitivity and irregular plural morphology, especially for 2–10.
Examples:
- שְׁנַיִם (masc.), שְׁתַּיִם (fem.) – “two”
- שְׁלֹשָׁה (masc.), שָׁלוֹשׁ (fem.) – “three”
These are not pluralized like nouns but follow unique morphology related to number agreement with counted nouns.
Syntactic Behavior of Irregular Plurals
Irregular plurals still follow normal syntactic agreement rules, requiring matching in:
- Adjectives (e.g., אָבוֹת צַדִּיקִים – “righteous fathers”)
- Verbs (e.g., אָבוֹת עָבְרוּ – “the fathers passed by”)
- Pronouns (e.g., אֲבוֹתֵינוּ – “our fathers”)
Despite irregular morphology, their syntactic roles behave consistently.
Literary and Theological Implications
1. Weight of Tradition
Words like אָבוֹת are not just grammatical exceptions—they carry covenantal and ancestral significance. Their preservation signals linguistic conservatism and religious reverence.
2. Poetic Aesthetics
Irregular forms enrich poetic rhythm and structure. They help with:
- Meter and stress
- Alliteration and parallelism
- Thematic repetition (e.g., “fathers” in laments or praise)
3. Lexical Identity
Some irregular plurals take on independent lexical meaning. For example:
- אָבוֹת – may refer to “ancestors” or patriarchal figures, not just biological fathers
- מַיִם – refers broadly to waters, rain, rivers, etc.
Exceptions That Define the Norm
Irregular plural forms in Biblical Hebrew highlight the interplay between linguistic structure, historical development, and literary tradition. Far from being mere anomalies, these forms embody some of the most important theological, poetic, and cultural vocabulary in the Bible. Understanding them is key not only to mastering Hebrew morphology, but also to appreciating the deep textures of biblical meaning—where fathers are more than men, and waters more than drops.
