10. The Half Vowels and the Syllable Divider (Šewâ)

In Biblical Hebrew, alongside full vowels, there exists a class of reduced or “half vowels” known as Šewâ, representing remnants of earlier short vowels. The simple Šewâ (־ְ) can be either vocal (mobile) or silent (quiescens): the vocal Šewâ is pronounced and forms part of a syllable, often appearing at the beginning or within words (e.g., קְטֹל, יִקְטְלוּ), while the quiescent Šewâ is silent and serves as a syllable divider (e.g., מֶלֶךְ, קָטַלְתְּ). Historically, Šewâ evolved from elided short vowels, and its pronunciation was often influenced by surrounding vowels, as reflected in Greek transliterations. To aid pronunciation, especially under gutturals, compound Šewâ forms (Ḥaṭēph vowels) combine Šewâ with short vowels: Ḥaṭēph-Pataḥ (־ֲ), Ḥaṭēph-Segôl (־ֱ), and Ḥaṭēph-Qameṣ (־ֳ). Šewâ’s classification depends on position and context: it is mobile when at the start of a word, after a Dageš forte, or following another Šewâ (except word-finally), and quiescent when at the end of a word or followed by another Šewâ. This nuanced system reflects the Tiberian scribes’ effort to preserve pronunciation through a delicate balance of phonetic precision and orthographic convention.

1. Nature of Half Vowels

In addition to the full vowels, Biblical Hebrew also makes use of a class of vowel sounds that may be termed half vowels (cf. Sievers’ term: Murmelvokale). These are extremely short, reduced vowel sounds, representing the remnants of fuller vowels from an earlier stage of the language.

They commonly replace originally short vowels that stood in open syllables. In the Tiberian pointing system, these short vowels are either lengthened or weakened into Šewâ. Occasionally, however, the original short vowel may reappear under specific conditions.

2. Simple Šewâ (־ְ)

The sign ־ְ marks a very short, indeterminate vowel, often comparable to an obscure half ĕ sound. It is called Šewâ and occurs in two basic forms:

• Šewâ mobile: a vocal, pronounced sound (also known as simple or vocal Šewâ).
• Šewâ quiescens: a silent, non-vocal marker that merely divides syllables.

3. Use of Vocal Šewâ

The vocal Šewâ stands under a consonant closely connected to the following syllable, functioning somewhat like a grace note. It appears:

• At the beginning of a word: e.g., קְטֹל (qeṭōl, “to kill”), מְמַלֵּא (memallē, “filling”).
• Within a word: e.g., קוֹטְלָה (qôṭelā), יִקְטְלוּ (yiqṭelû).

4. Historical Note on Šewâ

Earlier editions of this grammar distinguished a “medium” Šewâ following short vowels in so-called “loosely closed” syllables (e.g., מַלְכֵי, בִּנְפֹל). Sievers refutes this, explaining these are truly closed syllables where the original vowel is not just shortened, but elided.

For instance, כִּסְאוֹ (from כִּסֵּא) shows no Dageš forte, indicating the full vowel is lost entirely.

5. Pronunciation of Šewâ

Although normally transcribed as ĕ, the pronunciation of Šewâ was often assimilated to adjacent vowels. The Septuagint renders it variously:

• As ε or η: e.g., כְּרוּבִים → χερουβίμ; הַלְלוּ־יָהּ → ἀλληλούια.
• As α: e.g., שְׁמוּאֵל → Σαμουήλ.
• As a vowel harmonized with the following syllable: e.g., שְׁלֹמֹה → Σολομών, צְבָאוֹת → Σαβαώθ.

This evolution illustrates how Šewâ arose from full vowels—e.g., בְּרָכָה from earlier bărakă, where Arabic still retains the short vowel.

6. Compound Šewâ (Ḥaṭēph)

Connected to the vocal Šewâ are the compound forms known as Ḥaṭēph vowels. These combine Šewâ with a short vowel to clarify pronunciation. The three forms are:

• ־ֲ Ḥaṭēph-Pataḥ: e.g., חֲמוֹר (“donkey”)
• ־ֱ Ḥaṭēph-Segôl: e.g., אֱמֹר (“say!”)
• ־ֳ Ḥaṭēph-Qameṣ: e.g., חֳלִי (“sickness”)

These are often required under gutturals, which resist the indeterminate vocal Šewâ and need a more stable vowel sound.

7. Šewâ Quiescens as Syllable Divider

When used as a syllable divider rather than a vowel, Šewâ is silent and known as Šewâ quiescens. It occurs:

• In the middle of words: under any consonant closing a syllable (e.g., מֶלֶךְ).
• At the end of words: generally omitted, except after final kaf (ךְ) or to mark a mute following another vowelless consonant (e.g., נֵרְדְּ, אַתְּ).

8. Šewâ: Mobile vs. Quiescens Summary

9. Rules for Beginners

Šewâ is mobile when:

• It appears at the beginning of a word (except e.g., שְׁתַּיִם).
• It follows a consonant with Dageš forte (e.g., גִּדְּפוּ).
• It follows another Šewâ (unless at the end of a word).

Šewâ is quiescens when:

• It occurs at the end of a word, including final kaf (ךְ).
• It is followed by another Šewâ (the first is silent).