The aspiration of the six Begadkephath letters (ב, ג, ד, כ, פ, ת) in Biblical Hebrew reflects a phonological distinction between their original hard (plosive) forms—marked by Dageš lene—and their later-developed soft (spirant) forms. The hard pronunciation typically occurs at the beginning of words or after consonants, while the soft form appears after vowels or mobile Šewâ. Dageš lene is consistently used at word-initial position, even following a vowel if a pause or accent intervenes. However, exceptions arise when the preceding letter is a vowel letter (א, ה, ו, י), which do not close syllables, leading to spirantization. In some cases, Dageš lene appears unexpectedly after prefixes like בְּ or כְּ to prevent over-aspiration, even when a vowel precedes. Within words, the presence or absence of Dageš depends on whether the preceding Šewâ is quiescent (yielding Dageš) or vocal (preventing it). Determining the type of Šewâ often requires tracing the form’s origin, as in second-person suffixes or forms with epenthetic vowels. These patterns reveal the nuanced interplay between phonological environment, morphological structure, and historical development in the use of Dageš lene.
The Nature and Origin of the Hard and Soft Sounds
The six Begadkephath letters (ב, ג, ד, כ, פ, ת) have a harder form (plosive) indicated by Dageš lene. According to comparative linguistics, this harder form is the original pronunciation. The softer, spirant (fricative) sound developed from this harder form.
The hard pronunciation is preserved:
– at the beginning of a word
– after a consonant
It is softened (aspirated) when:
– following a vowel
– following a Šewâ mobile
Examples:
פָּרַץ (pāraṣ) — hard
יִפְרֹץ (yiphrōṣ) — soft
כֹּל (kōl) — hard
לְכֹל (lekhōl) — soft
1. Use of Dageš Lene
(a) At the Beginning of Words
(1) Without Exception: When the preceding word ends in a consonant without a vowel:
Examples:
עַל־כֵּן (ʿal-kēn)
עֵץ פְּרִי (ʿēṣ perî)
(2) At the Start of a Section or Sentence: Dageš lene occurs even if the previous word ends in a vowel, provided there is a pause or a distinctive accent.
Example:
וַיְהִ֕י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר (and it was so, that when…)
But: וַֽיְהִי־כֵן (Gen 1)
Rem. 1
The letters א, ה, ו, י as vowel letters do not close syllables. Therefore, when followed closely, the Begadkephath are softened (spirantized).
Example:
וּמָ֣צָא בָהּ
But when ו or י are consonantal (e.g. in עָלַי֣ פִּיהֶם) or followed by מַפִּיק הּ, the Dageš lene remains.
Also, after the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), which is read as אֲדֹנָי in the Qere perpetuum, Dageš lene appears as normal.
2. Dageš Lene Despite a Preceding Vowel
Dageš lene sometimes appears even though a vowel precedes directly.
Special Prefix Cases:
Occurs with:
– בְּב, כְּכ, בְּפ
– and also בְּם
These combinations, despite having Šewâ, receive a Dageš to prevent over-aspiration.
Examples:
בַּֽחֲמִשָּׁה (1 Kings 12)
Not all combinations are consistent. For example, בְד, כְד, כְג may not take Dageš.
Examples with full vowel yet still using Dageš:
– כַּֽדְכֹד (Isa 54)
– כַּֽלְכֵל (Jer 20)
LXX Observation:
The Septuagint regularly transliterates initial כ and פ as aspirates χ and φ (e.g. Χερούβ, Φαρφάρ).
3. In the Middle of Words
(a) After Šewâ Quiescens:
If a consonant with no vowel precedes, the following tenuis begins a new syllable and gets a Dageš lene.
Examples:
יִרְפָּא (yirpā)
קְטַלְתֶּם (qəṭaltem)
(b) After Šewâ Mobile:
No Dageš appears if the tenuis follows a vocal Šewâ.
Examples:
רְפָא (rəpā — “heal!”)
כָּֽבְדָה (kāvdāh — “she was heavy”)
4. Determining Šewâ Type
Whether the Šewâ is vocal or silent (and whether it affects the following consonant) depends on form origin.
(a) Vocal Šewâ from Weakening of Full Vowel:
Examples:
רִדְפוּ (not רִדְפּוּ) from רְדֹף
מַלְכֵי from original mălăkhê, not מַלְכִּי
(b) Vocal Šewâ in 2nd Person Suffixes:
Examples:
־ְךָ, ־ְכֶם, ־ְכֶן
These forms use vocal Šewâ consistently.
Remark:
Some forms like שָׁלַ֫חַתְּ (you-fem. sent) appear to lack Dageš after a vowel where expected.
Explanation: these derive from שָׁלַחְתְּ with an epenthetic Pathaḥ. This auxiliary vowel does not influence the tenuis and so Dageš is not required.
Compare also:
וַיִּ֫חַדְּ (Ex 18)
References:
Delitzsch, Ztschr. f. luth. Theol., 1878
Baer, L. Psalmorum, 1880
Dikduke ha-ṭeamim, König’s Lehrgeb. i. p. 62
See also Minḥat Shay on יָקְתְאֵל (Josh 15)
