וְאֵת֙ הַמִּצְנֶ֣פֶת שֵׁ֔שׁ וְאֶת־פַּאֲרֵ֥י הַמִּגְבָּעֹ֖ת שֵׁ֑שׁ וְאֶת־מִכְנְסֵ֥י הַבָּ֖ד שֵׁ֥שׁ מָשְׁזָֽר׃
And the turban of fine linen, and the splendid caps of fine linen, and the linen trousers—of twisted fine linen.
Explanation of Feature
This verse from Exodus 39:28 demonstrates the use of construct state (סמיכות) to indicate possession or close association, and also illustrates adjective agreement in Biblical Hebrew, where adjectives must match their nouns in gender, number, and definiteness.
Each noun phrase refers to part of the priestly garments and is linked to the material used—שֵׁשׁ (shesh, fine linen), followed by מָשְׁזָר (mashzar, twisted).
Examples from Exodus 39:28
| Phrase | Structure | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| הַמִּצְנֶפֶת שֵׁשׁ | Definite noun + attributive noun | “the turban of fine linen” – material indicated by following noun, not adjective |
| פַּאֲרֵי הַמִּגְבָּעֹת שֵׁשׁ | Construct plural + definite noun + attributive noun | “the splendid caps of fine linen” – construct state shows possession; שֵׁשׁ describes the material |
| מִכְנְסֵי הַבָּד שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר | Construct noun + definite noun + attributive noun + participle | “the trousers of linen—twisted fine linen” – last part describes the texture of the linen |
Related Grammatical Insight
– Construct chains: Hebrew often expresses material or ownership with a construct form:
– כְּלֵי זָהָב – “vessels of gold”
– בֶּגֶד שֵׁשׁ – “a garment of fine linen”
– Adjective agreement: When functioning as adjectives, nouns like שֵׁשׁ must match the modified noun in number and gender. Since שֵׁשׁ is often a noun in apposition, not technically an adjective, it remains in singular even with plural garments.
This verse emphasizes the careful and repeated specification of sacred garment materials, reinforcing their purity, uniformity, and sanctity.
