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The Use of the Definite Direct Object Marker אֵת in Biblical Hebrew (Genesis 1:1)
Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Introduction to אֵת
The word אֵת appears twice in Genesis 1:1:
– אֵת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם – “the heavens”
– וְאֵת הָאָֽרֶץ – “and the earth”
In Biblical Hebrew, אֵת functions as the definite direct object marker, which means it marks the noun that receives the action of the verb when the noun is definite.
אֵת as the Definite Direct Object Marker
In Hebrew, when the direct object is definite (e.g., it has the article ה- “the”), it is often preceded by אֵת.… Learn Hebrew
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“Yat” and the Marking of Definiteness: The Syntax of Direct Objects in Targum Onkelos
בְּקַדְמִין בְּרָא יְיָ יָת שְׁמַיָּא וְיָת אַרְעָא
(Genesis 1:1 in Targum Onkelos)
In the beginning, the LORD created the heavens and the earth
Opening Focus: Why Study יָת?
In Biblical Aramaic, and especially in Targum Onkelos, the particle יָת (yat) plays a critical grammatical role. It marks definite direct objects, a feature not found in the same way in Biblical Hebrew. The verse בְּקַדְמִין בְּרָא יְיָ יָת שְׁמַיָּא וְיָת אַרְעָא (Genesis 1:1 in Targum Onkelos) beautifully demonstrates this phenomenon, containing two uses of יָת that frame the syntax of the act of creation.… Learn Hebrew
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