The Preposition in Biblical Hebrew

Prepositions are essential in Biblical Hebrew, serving to connect nouns, pronouns, and phrases, and clarifying relationships such as direction, location, time, and purpose. Unlike in English, many prepositions in Biblical Hebrew attach directly to the words they modify, often influencing their form through vowel changes or suffixes. This guide explores the function, forms, and uses of prepositions in Biblical Hebrew.

1. Simple Prepositions in Biblical Hebrew

Simple prepositions are basic, standalone words or prefixes that indicate relationships between words. In Biblical Hebrew, many of these prepositions are prefixed directly to nouns.

• Common Simple Prepositions:
  • בְּ (be-) – “in,” “at,” or “with”
    • בְּבַיִת (be-bayit) – “in a house”
  • לְ (le-) – “to” or “for”
    • לְמֶלֶךְ (le-melekh) – “to a king”
  • כְּ (ke-) – “like” or “as”
    • כְּמֶלֶךְ (ke-melekh) – “like a king”
  • מִן (min) – “from”
    • מִן־הָעִיר (min-ha-ir) – “from the city”
  • עַל (al) – “on,” “upon,” or “over”
    • עַל־הַשֻּׁלְחָן (al-ha-shulchan) – “on the table”
  • אֶל (el) – “to” or “toward”
    • אֶל־הַבַּיִת (el-ha-bayit) – “to the house”
  • אֵת (et) – marks the direct object (not a preposition in the traditional sense but functions similarly)
    • אֵת הַמֶּלֶךְ (et ha-melekh) – “the king” (as a direct object)

2. Prepositions with Definite Articles

When prepositions are combined with the definite article הַ (ha-, “the”), certain phonological changes occur. These changes often involve vowel shifts or assimilation of consonants.

• Examples of Prepositions with Definite Articles:
  • בְּ + הַ becomes בַּ (ba-) – “in the”
    • בַּבַּיִת (ba-bayit) – “in the house”
  • לְ + הַ becomes לַ (la-) – “to the”
    • לַמֶּלֶךְ (la-melekh) – “to the king”
  • כְּ + הַ becomes כַּ (ka-) – “like the”
    • כַּמֶּלֶךְ (ka-melekh) – “like the king”

3. Prepositions with Pronominal Suffixes

Prepositions in Biblical Hebrew can attach to pronominal suffixes to express possession or relationships with pronouns. These suffixes change depending on the person, gender, and number of the pronoun.

• Examples of Prepositions with Pronominal Suffixes:
  • בְּ (in):
    • בִּי (bi) – “in me”
    • בְּךָ (bekha) – “in you” (masculine singular)
    • בָּם (bam) – “in them”
  • לְ (to/for):
    • לִי (li) – “to me” or “for me”
    • לְךָ (lekha) – “to you” (masculine singular)
    • לָהֶם (lahem) – “to them”
  • עַל (on/upon):
    • עָלַי (alay) – “on me”
    • עָלֶיךָ (alekha) – “on you” (masculine singular)
    • עֲלֵיהֶם (alehem) – “on them”

4. Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions in Biblical Hebrew are formed by combining simple prepositions with additional words, typically nouns. These constructions often convey more complex spatial or relational meanings.

• Common Compound Prepositions:
  • מִלְּפְנֵי (milifnei) – “from before”
    • מִלְּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ (milifnei ha-melekh) – “from before the king”
  • אַחֲרֵי (acharei) – “after”
    • אַחֲרֵי הַדָּבָרִים (acharei ha-devarim) – “after the events”
  • תַּחַת (tachat) – “under” or “instead of”
    • תַּחַת הָעֵץ (tachat ha-etz) – “under the tree”

5. Prepositional Phrases in Biblical Hebrew Syntax

Prepositional phrases in Biblical Hebrew can function in various syntactic roles, modifying verbs, nouns, or entire clauses. They often describe relationships of location, direction, time, cause, or manner.

• Examples of Prepositional Phrases:
  • וַיֵּשֶׁב בַּבַּיִת (vayyeshev ba-bayit) – “And he dwelt in the house.”
  • הָלַךְ אֶל־הָעִיר (halakh el-ha-ir) – “He went to the city.”
  • דִּבֵּר עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ (diber al-ha-melekh) – “He spoke about the king.”

6. Special Uses and Idiomatic Expressions

Some prepositions in Biblical Hebrew are used idiomatically, carrying meanings that go beyond their literal sense. Recognizing these idiomatic uses is essential for accurate interpretation.

• Examples of Idiomatic Uses:
  • עַל־פִּי (al-pi) – “according to”
    • עַל־פִּי דְּבַר־יְהוָה (al-pi devar YHWH) – “according to the word of the LORD”
  • בְּיַד (be-yad) – “by the hand of” (meaning “through” or “via”)
    • בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה (be-yad Moshe) – “by the hand of Moses”

Understanding the Preposition in Biblical Hebrew for Accurate Interpretation

Prepositions in Biblical Hebrew play a crucial role in conveying relationships of space, time, and purpose. Their ability to attach to nouns and pronouns, as well as form compound structures, adds to the language’s richness and complexity. By mastering the forms and functions of prepositions, students and readers of the Hebrew Bible can achieve greater accuracy and depth in their interpretation of biblical texts.