Biblical Hebrew construct chains (סְמִיכוּת) preserve a tightly bound syntactic unit between two or more nouns, with the first in construct state and the final in absolute state. When prepositions such as בְּ־ (“in”), לְ־ (“to/for”), or מִן־ (“from”) are introduced, they must appear before the first noun, governing the entire chain without disrupting its internal structure. These prepositions never intervene between nouns, and definiteness remains determined solely by the final noun. Phonological adjustments—like the shortening of מִן to מִ־ with dagesh or spirantization of ב and כ—preserve fluidity. Even in nested chains, prepositions apply globally from the start, ensuring unity and precision in expression.
Prepositions and the Integrity of the Construct Chain
In Biblical Hebrew, the construct chain (סְמִיכוּת) expresses close syntactic relationships, most often genitive possession or specification, using a sequence of bound nouns. The first noun (construct state) is grammatically linked to the second noun (absolute state), forming an indivisible syntactic unit.
When prepositions such as בְּ־ (“in”), לְ־ (“to/for”), מִן־ (“from”), and others occur with construct chains, they always attach to the first noun. They cannot appear between the two nouns of the chain. The semantic relationship introduced by the preposition applies to the entire chain, not just one component.
Basic Rule: Preposition Precedes Entire Construct Chain
The preposition modifies the construct unit as a whole, and thus must appear before the first noun.
בֵּית־הַמֶּלֶךְ
“the house of the king”
בְּבֵית־הַמֶּלֶךְ
“in the house of the king”
The phrase בְּבֵית receives the preposition, while הַמֶּלֶךְ remains in the absolute state. The entire construct chain is affected by the prepositional force.
Incorrect: בֵּית בְּהַמֶּלֶךְ ✖
Correct: בְּבֵית־הַמֶּלֶךְ ✔
Examples Across Common Prepositions
| Preposition | Construct Chain | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| בְּ־ (in, at) | בְּסֵפֶר־הַתּוֹרָה | “in the book of the Torah” |
| לְ־ (to, for) | לְעֶבֶד־הַמֶּלֶךְ | “to the servant of the king” |
| מִן־ (from) | מִדְּבַר־יְהוָה | “from the word of the LORD” |
| כְּ־ (as, like) | כְּכָבוֹד־הַמֶּלֶךְ | “like the glory of the king” |
These prepositions are prefixed to the construct noun and govern the meaning of the entire phrase.
Definiteness Still Determined by Final Noun
The presence of a preposition does not alter the rule that definiteness in a construct chain is determined by the final noun.
- בְּבֵית־מֶלֶךְ — “in a king’s house” (indefinite)
- בְּבֵית־הַמֶּלֶךְ — “in the king’s house” (definite)
- לְאֱלֹהֵינוּ — “to our God” (definite by pronominal suffix)
Prefixes like בְּ־ and לְ־ attach outside the construct chain and do not affect internal definiteness agreements.
Phonological Notes When Prepositions Join Construct Nouns
Prepositions often undergo phonological adjustments when joined to construct forms:
- מִן־ reduces to מִ־ and triggers a dagesh forte in the following letter:
מִדְּבַר־יְהוָה - בְּ־ and לְ־ may cause spirantization (e.g., בּ → ב, כּ → כ):
בְּבֵית־הַמֶּלֶךְ becomes בְבֵית־ - Prepositions never interrupt a chain (e.g., בֵּית בְּהַמֶּלֶךְ is incorrect).
These phonological features preserve the unity and fluidity of the chain without breaking grammatical bonds.
Nested Construct Chains and Prepositions
Prepositions appear only once, at the beginning of the chain, regardless of how many construct elements follow:
בְּסֵפֶר־דִּבְרֵי־הַיָּמִים
“In the book of the chronicles”
Here, the preposition בְּ־ applies to the entire multi-noun chain. Additional prepositions are not inserted between nested components.
Incorrect: סֵפֶר בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים ✖
Correct: בְּסֵפֶר־דִּבְרֵי־הַיָּמִים ✔
Summary: Syntax and Semantics of Prepositions in Construct Chains
| Rule | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Preposition precedes first noun | Attached only to the construct noun | לְבֵית־אֱלֹהִים |
| Cannot interrupt chain | No prepositions between construct nouns | בְּבֵית־הַמֶּלֶךְ |
| Definiteness by final noun | Preposition does not determine definiteness | מִבֵּית־הַנָּבִיא |
| Phonological assimilation | מִן־ > מִ־ with dagesh; spirantization occurs | מִדְּבַר־יְהוָה |
Preserving Syntactic Unity and Meaning
Prepositions in Biblical Hebrew construct chains serve to govern the entire chain, not isolate its parts. Their placement before the first noun maintains the chain’s integrity while guiding the semantic scope. Through careful phonological integration and syntactic discipline, Biblical Hebrew ensures that prepositions enhance—rather than disrupt—the clarity and cohesion of construct phrases.
