Changes involving the guttural consonants א, ה, ח, and ע in Biblical Hebrew reflect their unique phonetic properties, which resist certain grammatical operations like doubling. These letters typically do not admit Dageš Forte, leading either to the lengthening of a preceding vowel or to “virtual” strengthening where the Dageš is implied but not written. Gutturals also show a strong preference for A-class vowels and often require the use of compound Šewâ instead of simple mobile Šewâ. In final position after long vowels, a furtive Pathaḥ is inserted and pronounced before the guttural (e.g., רוּחַ). Gutturals influence surrounding vowels, especially in Segholate forms, and often trigger the substitution of Seghôl for short ĭ to ease pronunciation. When closing a syllable, gutturals may retain a quiescent Šewâ if near the tone, but otherwise require a Ḥaṭeph vowel. The choice among Ḥaṭeph forms depends on the guttural involved and the vowel origin. Additionally, ר behaves similarly to gutturals: it resists Dageš Forte, favors A-class vowels, and sometimes undergoes virtual strengthening. These phonological tendencies help explain many of the irregularities in Hebrew morphology and vocalization.
1. Gutturals Do Not Admit Dageš Forte
The gutturals ח, ה, ע, א have unique phonetic behavior. Dageš forte is typically not used with them because the doubling is imperceptible. Two situations arise:
- Omission of Strengthening: Requires the preceding short vowel to be lengthened or modified. For example:
- מֵאֵן, הָעָם, הֶֽהָרִים
- Virtual Strengthening: Dageš is not written but phonologically implied. The preceding vowel remains short. Examples:
- הַחֹ֫דֶשׁ, בִּעֵר, נִאֵץ
2. Preference for A-Class Vowels
Gutturals prefer short a sounds before or after them:
- זֶ֫בַח not zèbĕḥ, שֵׁ֫מַע not šēmĕʿ
- שְׁלַח, יִשְׁלַח, יַחְמֹד, וַיָּ֫נַח, נַ֫עַר
Rem.
Words like דֶּ֫שֶׁא, פֶּ֫רֶא retain א as a silent consonant for orthographic reasons.
3. Pathaḥ Furtivum
When a strong guttural (not א) ends a word after a long vowel (except Qameṣ), a furtive Pathaḥ is inserted and written under the guttural but pronounced before it:
- רוּחַ, נוֹעַ, גָּבוֹהַּ
The phenomenon is analogously observed in Swiss German and Arabic (e.g. mesîaḥ). The LXX and Jerome reflect this in forms like Νῶε.
4. Gutturals Influence Following Vowels
In Segholate forms, gutturals may affect the following vowel:
- נַ֫עַר (not naʿĕr), פֹּ֫עַל (not pōʿĕl)
Exceptions: אֹהֶל, בֹּהֶן, לֶחֶם, רֶחֶם
5. Use of Seghôl Instead of ĭ or ĕ
To avoid awkward vowel-guttural combinations, Seghôl is often used instead of short ĭ, especially before gutturals:
- יֶחְבַּשׁ, יֶהְגּוּ, נֶאְדָּר
But Ḥireq is retained when followed by a letter with Dageš forte: הִנֵּה, חִטָּה. Without the doubling, Seghôl returns: הֶגְיוֹן.
6. Gutturals Require Compound Šewâ
Instead of simple mobile Šewâ, gutturals always use compound Šewâ:
- שָֽׁחֲטוּ, אֲקַטֵּל, אֱמֹר, אֳנִי
7. Gutturals in Closed Syllables
When a guttural with quiescent Šewâ closes a syllable, it remains if it’s the tone syllable or immediately before it:
- שָׁלַ֫חְתָּ, יָדַ֫עְתָּ
Further from the tone, the syllable is “opened” with a Ḥaṭeph, e.g.:
- יֶֽחֱזַק (cf. יֶחְזַק), פָּֽעֳלוֹ for pŏʿlô
- Flexion may restore Šewâ: יַֽעַמְדוּ from יַֽעֲמֹד
8. Choice Among Ḥaṭephs
- ח, ה, ע prefer ֲ (e.g. חֲמוֹר, הֲרֹג)
- א prefers ֱ in stress positions: אֱמֹר
- In unstressed contexts, ֲ is used even under א: אֲכָל־
- If derived from ă, use ֲ (e.g. אֲרִי)
- If derived from u, use ֳ (e.g. אֳנִי, עֳנִי)
9. Ḥaṭeph in the Middle of Words
After a long vowel, Ḥaṭeph-Pathaḥ replaces simple Šewâ mobile:
- הֹֽעֲלָה, מֵֽאֲנָה
If a short vowel precedes, it determines the Ḥaṭeph form:
- הֶֽעֱמִיד (Hiph. Perf.), הַֽעֲמִיד (Inf.), הָֽעֳמַד (Hoph. Perf.)
10. Rēš and Its Guttural-like Behavior
ר behaves like a guttural:
- No Dageš forte: vowel before it is lengthened: בֵּרַךְ, בָּרֵךְ
- Preference for a: וַיַּרְא, וַיָּ֫סַר
Exceptions: מָרַּת, כָרַּת, שֶׁרֹּאשִׁי, הַרְּאִיתֶם, etc.
Virtual strengthening occurs after מִ (from מִן) as in מִֽרָגְזֶךָ (Isa 14).
In Samaritan and Arabic, full doubling of gutturals is preserved. The LXX reflects this with doubled consonants: e.g. Σάῤῥα for שָׂרָה.
