The particle אֵת in Biblical Hebrew is a syntactic device that marks definite direct objects, enabling clarity within the language’s flexible word order. It appears before nouns with markers of definiteness (article ה, pronominal suffix, or proper name), and its omission—common in poetry or idioms—often reflects stylistic or contextual nuance rather than a shift in grammar. Morphologically, אֵת can adopt pronominal suffixes like אוֹתוֹ (“him”) or אוֹתָם (“them”), replacing explicit object nouns and facilitating compact verbal forms. Its presence not only clarifies sentence structure but can also underscore theological weight, especially in covenantal or divine contexts. Functionally invisible in translation, אֵת silently shapes Hebrew syntax, theology, and poetic rhythm—acting as the grammatical thread that anchors verbs to their targets.
Introduction: A Small Word with a Definite Role
In Biblical Hebrew grammar, the particle אֵת plays a crucial syntactic role: it marks the presence of a definite direct object. While invisible in English translation, this word is essential to sentence structure and helps distinguish between subject and object in Hebrew’s often fluid word order. Unlike prepositions or conjunctions, אֵת has no independent lexical meaning—it is a grammatical tool. This article explores its function, placement, interaction with definiteness, and its use in both prose and poetry.
1. What Is אֵת?
אֵת is a prepositive particle used to indicate that the following word or phrase is a definite direct object of a verb.
Example: Genesis 1:1
בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Here, אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם and וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ are marked as definite direct objects of the verb בָּרָא.
2. Function: Object Marker for Definites Only
The key grammatical rule:
- Use אֵת only when the direct object is definite (i.e., has the article ה, a pronominal suffix, or a proper name).
Examples:
- רָאָה אֵת הַמֶּלֶךְ – “He saw the king.” (definite object → requires אֵת)
- רָאָה מֶלֶךְ – “He saw a king.” (indefinite object → no אֵת)
In some cases, especially in poetry, the omission of אֵת is stylistic even with definites, but in prose the rule is consistent.
3. Morphological Variants of אֵת
אֵת can take pronominal suffixes when the direct object is a pronoun:
| Form | Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| אוֹתִי | 1cs | me |
| אוֹתְךָ | 2ms | you (m.s.) |
| אוֹתוֹ | 3ms | him |
| אוֹתָם | 3mp | them (m.pl.) |
These pronominal forms replace the separate object noun and always follow the verb directly.
Example: Genesis 6:13
קֵץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר בָּא לְפָנַי כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ חָמָס מִפְּנֵיהֶם וְהִנְנִי מַשְׁחִיתָם
→ מַשְׁחִיתָם = “I am destroying them” (object encoded in the verb, no אֵת needed)
But if separated from the verb, the object can be marked explicitly:
וַיַּךְ אוֹתָם בַּחֶרֶב – “And he struck them with the sword.”
4. Word Order and אֵת
Biblical Hebrew word order is flexible (typically VSO: Verb–Subject–Object), and אֵת helps disambiguate who is doing what when the word order varies.
Example:
הִכָּה דָּוִד אֵת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי – “David struck the Philistine.”
→ אֵת marks “the Philistine” as the object.
Contrast:
הִכָּה הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי דָּוִד
→ Could be misunderstood without אֵת, but with it:
הִכָּה הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אֵת דָּוִד – “The Philistine struck David.”
Thus, אֵת prevents ambiguity and clarifies syntactic roles.
5. Omission of אֵת
Although אֵת is standard before definite direct objects in prose, it is often omitted:
- In poetry (for metrical or stylistic reasons)
- In idiomatic phrases (e.g., לָקַח אִשָּׁה – “he took a wife”)
- With inanimate objects if the meaning is clear from context
Example: Psalm 23:4
כִּי־אַתָּה עִמָּדִי – “For You are with me”
→ No אֵת needed, as this is not a transitive verb.
6. Theological and Literary Implications
Though grammatical, אֵת sometimes marks theological emphasis when used with divine or covenantal objects.
Example: Exodus 20:2
אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם
→ In contexts like אֵת יִשְׂרָאֵל or אֵת בְּרִיתִי, the object marking can highlight relational or covenantal significance.
It also adds to literary rhythm and parallelism when repeated:
Genesis 1:1
אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ
→ Symmetric marking strengthens poetic cadence.
Silent Yet Structuring
The particle אֵת may be untranslatable, but it is not unimportant. It quietly ensures clarity, reinforces definiteness, and guides the reader through complex Hebrew syntax. While it rarely grabs attention in translation, in Hebrew itself, אֵת is a syntactic signpost—pointing us toward the objects of divine action, human obedience, and narrative precision. Like a grammatical arrow, it marks where the verb lands—and that makes all the difference.
