Biblical Hebrew employs distinct pluralization patterns that affect nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and verbs. Unlike English, which typically adds “-s” or “-es” to pluralize, Hebrew uses specific endings to denote gender and number. This guide explores the formation, usage, and nuances of plural forms in Biblical Hebrew.
Basic Plural Endings
In Biblical Hebrew, plural forms are created using suffixes that reflect the gender of the noun:
- Masculine Plural: The suffix -ים (-im) is used for masculine nouns.
- סֵפֶר (sefer) – “book” → סְפָרִים (sefarim) – “books”
- מֶלֶךְ (melekh) – “king” → מְלָכִים (melakhim) – “kings”
- Feminine Plural: The suffix -וֹת (-ot) is used for feminine nouns.
- תּוֹרָה (torah) – “law” → תּוֹרוֹת (torot) – “laws”
- מַלְכָּה (malkah) – “queen” → מַלְכוֹת (malkot) – “queens”
Irregular Plural Forms
Biblical Hebrew includes many irregular plural forms, especially with common nouns and body parts.
- Irregular Masculine Plurals:
- אִישׁ (ish) – “man” → אֲנָשִׁים (anashim) – “men”
- בֵּן (ben) – “son” → בָּנִים (banim) – “sons”
- Irregular Feminine Plurals:
- אִשָּׁה (ishah) – “woman” → נָשִׁים (nashim) – “women”
- עִיר (ir) – “city” → עָרִים (arim) – “cities”
Dual Form in Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew also has a special form called the dual, used to refer to pairs or things that naturally come in twos. The dual ending is -ַיִם (-ayim).
- Examples of Dual Forms:
- יָד (yad) – “hand” → יָדַיִם (yadayim) – “two hands”
- רֶגֶל (regel) – “foot” → רַגְלַיִם (raglayim) – “two feet”
- שָׁנָה (shanah) – “year” → שְׁנָתַיִם (shenatayim) – “two years”
While the dual form is primarily used for pairs, it is also applied to certain time expressions (e.g., days, years) and body parts that come in twos.
Pluralization of Adjectives
Adjectives in Biblical Hebrew must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.
- Masculine Plural Adjective:
- סֵפֶר טוֹב (sefer tov) – “a good book” → סְפָרִים טוֹבִים (sefarim tovim) – “good books”
- Feminine Plural Adjective:
- תּוֹרָה טוֹבָה (torah tovah) – “a good law” → תּוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת (torot tovot) – “good laws”
Plural Forms in Pronouns
Pronouns in Biblical Hebrew also reflect gender and number distinctions.
- Masculine Plural Pronouns:
- אַתֶּם (atem) – “you (masculine plural)”
- הֵם (hem) – “they (masculine)”
- Feminine Plural Pronouns:
- אַתֶּן (aten) – “you (feminine plural)”
- הֵן (hen) – “they (feminine)”
Pluralization in Verbs
Verbs in Biblical Hebrew conjugate based on the number and gender of the subject. The plural form changes the verb ending to match masculine or feminine subjects.
- Masculine Plural Verbs:
- כָּתַב (katav) – “he wrote” → כָּתְבוּ (katvu) – “they (masculine) wrote”
- Feminine Plural Verbs:
- שָׁמְרָה (shamrah) – “she kept” → שָׁמַרוּ (shamaru) – “they (feminine) kept”
Special Cases and Exceptions in Pluralization
Biblical Hebrew contains several nouns with mixed gender plural forms or irregularities.
- Masculine Nouns with Feminine Plurals:
- אָב (av, “father”) → אָבוֹת (avot, “fathers”) – feminine plural ending but masculine meaning.
- Feminine Nouns with Masculine Plurals:
- חַיָּה (chayyah, “animal”) → חַיִּים (chayyim, “animals”) – masculine plural ending.
Understanding Plurals in Biblical Hebrew for Better Interpretation
Mastering the plural forms in Biblical Hebrew is essential for accurate reading and interpretation of the text. Whether dealing with regular, irregular, or dual forms, understanding how gender and number interact enriches comprehension and brings deeper insight into Scripture. By recognizing these patterns, students of Hebrew can navigate the language’s complexities with greater confidence and clarity.
