The construct chain (סְמִיכוּת) in Biblical Hebrew is the grammatical thread that weaves possession, identity, and relational nuance directly into the fabric of the noun. By morphing the first noun into a dependent “construct” and anchoring its meaning to an absolute noun that follows, the chain captures associations like בֵּית־מֶלֶךְ (“house of a king”) with elegant precision. Definiteness trickles down from the final noun, the article never adorns the construct, and adjectives trail the whole unit like respectful companions. Even multi-noun chains, like כְּבוֹד יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, preserve syntactic hierarchy while enriching theological depth. This isn’t just grammar—it’s covenantal architecture.
What Is a Construct Chain?
In Biblical Hebrew, a construct chain (סְמִיכוּת) is a grammatical structure that links two (or more) nouns to express possession or close relationship—similar to saying “the king’s house” or “a song of praise.” This is accomplished not with prepositions or word order alone, but by modifying the form of the first noun (the construct) and leaving the second noun (the absolute) in its regular form.
Basic Structure
The chain is formed as follows:
Construct Noun + Absolute Noun = Construct Chain
- בֵּית מֶלֶךְ – “house of a king”
- דִּבְרֵי הַנָּבִיא – “words of the prophet”
- שֵׁם יְהוָה – “name of YHWH”
Key Rules of Construct Chains
- Only the First Noun Changes: The first noun (construct) may lose a suffix or alter its vowels; the second noun remains in absolute state and carries the definiteness for the entire phrase.
- Definiteness Spreads from the Absolute: If the second noun is definite (has הַ- or is a proper name), the whole construct chain is definite.
- סֵ֫פֶר מֶלֶךְ – “a book of a king” (indefinite)
- סֵ֫פֶר הַמֶּ֫לֶךְ – “the book of the king” (definite)
- No Article on the Construct: The first noun in a construct chain never takes the definite article הַ-.
Common Construct Forms
| Absolute Form | Construct Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| בַּ֫יִת (house) | בֵּית | House of… |
| מֶ֫לֶךְ (king) | מֶ֫לֶךְ | King of… |
| אִשָּׁה (woman) | אֵ֫שֶׁת | Wife of… |
| דָּבָר (word/thing) | דְּבַר | Word of… |
| בֵּן (son) | בֶּן | Son of… |
Multi-Noun Chains
Construct chains can extend beyond two words. In such cases, only the first noun is in construct state, and all following nouns remain absolute.
- בֵּית אֵם הַנַּעַר – “the house of the mother of the young man”
- כְּבוֹד יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – “the glory of YHWH, God of Yisraʾel”
Irregular and Suppletive Forms
Some nouns have irregular construct forms:
- אִשָּׁה → אֵ֫שֶׁת
- אָב → אֲבִי
- אֵם → אֵם (no change)
- בֵּן → בֶּן
Usage in Biblical Syntax
Construct chains are pervasive throughout Biblical Hebrew, especially in:
- Genealogies: בֶּן־אָדָם – “son of man”
- Theophoric Names: עֶ֫בֶד יְהוָה – “servant of YHWH”
- Possession & Relationships: אִשְׁתּוֹ – “his wife” (from אֵ֫שֶׁת + pronominal suffix)
The Grammar of Bonding
The construct chain is one of the most elegant and foundational features of Biblical Hebrew. It doesn’t just convey grammatical relationships—it reflects semantic unity between the nouns involved. Whether binding a king to his throne or YHWH to His covenant, סְמִיכוּת shows how language can weave meaning into structure.
