Full text of "The Hebrew accents of the twenty-one Books of the Bible ([K"A Sefarim]) with a new introduction"

See other formats

•'

THE HEBREW ACCENTS

OP THE

(DHBD K"

THE HEBREW ACCENTS

OF THE

AETHUR DAVIS

WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION.

495761

Y\. 8.

LONDON:

MYERS & CO., BOOKSELLERS ROW, STRAND.

1900.

LONDOF :

PRINTED BY WERTHEIMER, LEA AND CO,
CIRCUS PLACE, LONDON WALL.

THE HEBKEW ACCENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

The Hebrew Accents; — the origin, the development,
the history, the function of these symbols, is the
purpose of the following pages.

There is a well-known rule laid down by the famous
and keen-sighted Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra (12th Cen-
tury) ra^n xh D'&y&n B>WS ^y iuw B>WB hi

vStf J?£E>n fcCh if? " No interpretation can be adopted
unless in accord with the massoretic punctuation."

The sacred writings — Torah, Prophets and Hagio-
grapha — were written in archaic style, the letters were
unaccompanied by vowel or punctuative signs. Certain
letters were surmounted with aureole or tittle and a
few letters were dotted above with filTlpX as in
Deut. xxix. 28. (There are ten places in the Torah
where a letter or group of letters is so dotted, and
according to Midrash, these fi*nip3 betoken occult
interpretations of the text.) Isolated irregularities —
such as a large or small or defective letter — were

rigidly reproduced ; nothing was added, nothing was
taken away.

Inside the sacred text there was naught to indicate
the way in which it was traditionally recited, beyond
the slight guidance afforded by the matres lectionis
1, *, X. The reading of the text was taught orally,
and thus was it handed down from generation to
generation. It was — in the quaint language of the
Talmud— ^Dfc PlPD*? PO^PI " a Mosaic tradition re-
ceived on Sinai." The accents and the vowel system
are an integral part of the Massorah. The Massorah
is the magic key that at once opens the sealed letters
of the sacred text, and casts them in the grip of fetters,
so that not a jot or tittle shall pass away. Verses,
words, and letters are counted, all variations and
peculiarities are noted, and the number of times they
occur. The middle words or letters of a book are
recorded, and every phenomenon, redundancy or defi-
ciency is rigidly preserved and reproduced.

Punctuation is governed by the length of each
individual verse, and some explanation of the scheme
involved in the main and sub-divisions of the text,
may not be out of place, though it is impossible to
deal exhaustively with the subject in these pages.

The manuscript scroll of the Torah is dissected
only by variously prescribed blank spaces.

(a) Between the " Five Books "— D^fiD (a blank
space, the equivalent of four lines.)

(6) Between the paragraphs (a blank space on the
line of the text).

There are 669 blank paragraph spaces : —

290 are open — fil PllfiS (the blank space occurring

at the end of a line).

379 are closed — ni/JDIHD (the blank space occur-
ring in the middle of a line).

The terms PinifiS and Pl/blHD apply respectively to
the dividing blank spaces, but the name is also given
to the paragraphs so divided from the following ones.

(e) 5845 verses— D^DS.

The manuscript unpunctuated scroll of the Law
contains no space indicative of the division into
verses. The space of "a hair's breadth" between
each letter, and the equivalent in space of " a small
letter " between each word, is adhered to throughout
the text.

The massoretic text is written after this pattern,
but symbols are introduced into the blank spaces,
thus : fi or D, depending upon it being nPllfiS — open
or PT/blfiD — closed.

In the same fashion certain of these blank spaces
are marked thus: £ 5 £ or D D D indicating 54
sections fiVEHS. (The eleventh and twelfth fiVEHS
are not divided by space or symbol.)

There is a further general division of the whole
Tcrah into 154 pericopes — D^TTD, to regulate, pro-
bably, the reading of the Law in the synagogue in
accordance with a three years' cycle instead of the
annual cycle generally adopted at present. These
divisions are not visible in the text, and are known
only by massoretic rubrics.

The 5,845 verses are indicated by a small vertical line
drawn under the accentuated letter of the last word.

The divisions of the other books of the Bible are
less complex, and, for the student's purpose, the main
facts may be set forth in a tabulated form : —

No. of Sections. No. of Verses.

D'HTD D^plDQ

Joshua ... ... ... 14 ... 656

Judges 14 ... 618

Samuel 34 ... 1506

Kings 35 ... 1534

Isaiah 26 ... 1295

Jeremiah 31 ... 13C5

Ezekiel 29 ... 1273

Twelve Minor Prophets 21 ... 1050

Psalms (150 Psalms) ... 19 ,.. 2527

Proverbs 8 ... 915

Job ... 8 ... 1070

Canticles 117

Ruth 85

Lamentations ... ... 154

Ecclesiastes 4 ... 222

Esther ... 5 ... 166

Daniel 7 ... 357

Ezra (including Nehemiah) 10 ... 688
Chronicles ... ... 25 ... 1565

The foregoing figures are taken from the Massorah
collected by Jacob ben Chayim.

The remark made above, regarding the divisions
termed DHID, relates also to these books of the Bible.

They are not indicated by symbols, and are known
only by massoretic rubrics. Possibly they were of
liturgical, but not of exegetical value. Various spaces
between groups of verses appear in the massoretic
Bible, similar to the nniJ"l£ and HDIfiD of the Penta-
teuch, but the Massorah does not include any list or
enumeration of them, and their existence can be pre-
served only by the care of the copyist. It was, how-
ever, of imperial importance that every letter and
word should be reproduced and cast into faultless
verses — D^plDS.

The "chapters" of modern Hebrew and English
Bibles are absolutely unknown to the Masso rites.
They were introduced at a later period by non-Jewish
scholars to facilitate the work of reference. The stu-
dent of the Hebrew Bible, whether from the tradi-
tionally exegetical, or higher critical standpoint, should
free himself from the intrusion and embarrassment
of these arbitrary " chapters/'

The Massorah, transformed from an oral tradition
into a written and stereotyped code, once and for all
defined and fixed, to which nothing extraneous might
be added, would suggest finality. Wherefore, then,
has a whole literature grown round the subject of the
massoretic punctuation ?

The massoretic text of the Bible and the rubrics
which control it, t display the phenomena which
enable the reader to recite the Scriptures in accor-
dance with the traditional melodies and punctuation ;
but the scientific insight into the laws controlling the

selection of a particular accent, and the various
sequences of accents, can be acquired only by a
critical examination and comparison of the phenomena
presented by the text. To evolve systematic rules
which would elucidate the principles which guided
the Massorites in punctuating the text, has been the
aim and object of scholars who have written treatises
upon this subject.

It must not be supposed, when at last the Massorah
was written down, that one copy of the Bible con-
tained the whole of the ponderous apparatus. Each
Bible contained only so much as the copyist cared to
include. The Massorah in the margin of each textual
page frequently took the form of enigmas, with
reference to Biblical verses, the force of which could
not easily be seen.

The schools of the Massorites in Tiberias flourished
from two or three centuries B.C. down to the fifth
or sixth of the common era, and the massoretic
writings continued to accumulate for many generations
without any effort being made to collect and combine
the disjecta membra into one harmonious whole.
Briefly, it may be said — ignoring certain efforts in this
direction — the herculean task was achieved by Jacob
ben Chayim. This indefatigable scholar collected a
huge number of massoretic manuscripts, and after
years of examination and comparison, deciphered the
puzzles and evolved in systematic order the treasures
of the Massorah. In 1524 Jacob ben Chayim's great

Hebrew Bible appeared with the Massorah parva in
the columns and the Massorah magna in the upper
and lower margins and at the end of the Sacred Book.
The Massorah collected by Jacob ben Chayim remains
the classical and standard work, the model for sub-
sequent Hebrew Bibles, and is the " Massoretic Text "
of authority.

Long before the collection of the massoretic frag-
ments by Jacob ben Chayim, the special treatment of
the accents commenced. Probably the first work was
that attributed to Aaron ben Asher at the beginning
of the tenth century. From that time to the present,
the subject has been the theme of many writers. The
following must not be regarded as a complete list : —

Aaron ben Asher (work attributed to)
rniD/bPl; Ben Balam (works attributed to)
K")p&n and n"fcK D'TfiD 'J 'J&JJD "JJft?; Rabbenu
Gersham, Menachem, Jekutiel, Elias Levita, David
Kimchi, Simon the Punctator, Moses the Punctator,
Jacob ben Meir, Meir ben Todros, Menachem ben
Solomon, Joseph Zarka, Joseph Sassoon, Menachem
di Lanzano, Kalonymos, Senior, Solomon Norzi,
Heidenheim, Baer, Wickes.

There are three distinct systems of punctuation :—

(a) The Babylonian, which relates to all the
twenty-four books of the Bible, and which— together
with its vowel points — is less complex than those
of the Palestinian Schools.

(b) The Palestinian system employed for the
"Twenty-one Books" of the Bible, and

(c) The system for the "Three Books " Job, Proverbs
and, Psalms, commonly known as n"£tf , (initial letters
of the Hebrew names of the books).

The scheme of the Palestinian schools, in regard
to vowel points and punctuation, was adopted by the
Massorites. "We can therefore dismiss the Babylonian
with the remark that those interested in examining
it, should inspect the manuscript specimens in the
British Museum. Although the following pages
relate to the accents of the "Twenty-one Books," it
may not be inopportune to make some observations
about the symbols [of the three so-called poetical
books of the Bible, Job, Proverbs and the Psalms.
(The prologue and epilogue of Job are punctuated
with the accents of the " Twentj^-one Books.") Ben
Asher includes these accents in his work. Many
of the names employed by him are unknown to
later writers, and are somewhat difficult to identify.
The standard authority on this set of accents is
the work attributed to Ben Balam, and all subsequent
writers take their cue from him.

This system is exceedingly obscure, it is indeed
one of signs and wonders. Some scholars have
attempted to dispel the obscurity enveloping this
set of accents, but their elaborate rules to explain
the assumed theory of transformation and sub-
stitution of accents, lead the student into a labyrinth
of intricacies ; and excellent and ingenious as these
rules may be, they do not suffice to explain numerous

exceptions and difficulties. Some writers have
adopted the opinion that these accents are less
ancient than those of the " Twenty-one Books," but
this theory involves the hypothesis that the
" Three Books " were originally accentuated in the
same way as the "Twenty-one Books" by the
Palestinian Massorites, as in the case of the
Babylonian system, and that, at a period when they
sought to retain every atom of the traditional
apparatus, they boldly and bodily exchanged an old
for a new system of punctuation. Ben Asher, in
his description of the symbols of the " Three Books,"
declares " these are ancient things " — a paraphrase
from I Chron. iv. 22, D^p'Hj; D'llTTl.

It is related that some Sephardic congregations,
have preserved the traditional musical value of
these accents, but if we may disregard this allegation,
we may conclude that the melody of this punctuative
scheme is a lost chord.

It is interesting to compare Psalm xviii. with the
recension in II. Samuel xxii., and Psalm cv. 1-15
with I. Chron. xvi. 8> 22, annotated with the accents
of the " Three Books " and the " Twenty-one Books "
respectively. Here we might reasonably expect to
discover our Rosetta Stone, but we are woefully
disappointed. Psalm cv. offers few textual variations
compared with I. Chron. xvi., but there is not
absolute parallelism, and the textual variations be-
tween Psalm xviii. and II. Samuel xxii. are numerous

moreover, even where verses are identical, such
verses are so short and the range of accents is
consequently so restricted, that the hope of finding
a key to the mystery has to be abandoned. Hence
it is not strange that most scholars have left the
decipherment of the accents of the " Three Books "
until all other problems of the universe have been
solved.

It may be interesting to glance at the work assigned
to Ben Asher, to which I have before referred, as
probably the first treatise on the special subject of
the accents. Ben Asher's book is, for us, a sphinx :
it mutters like an ancient oracle. To solve its riddles
is difficult; the whole book is penned in rhythmic
rhyme, the opening clause runs thus : —

D'&iBn 127 D'JP D'&jnon 110 TTD
D*mn DW Dn&i D^top DPID Dwipa

: D Win hw DIPS D'Mm D'^QJ *M DWJW
The order of the symbols' secret lore,
The twelve designed
Like to fixed stars of yore,
These great, these small;
Each beautifully linked, nor hid at all.
Uttered by those of understanding mind;
Set in the way of wisdom, sealed withal.

Elsewhere a clause concludes thus : —

nrn pon nnrn TOD >£& m hy anp&n hi

tnrr x

Through Scripture writ clear
By Scribe and by Seer,
The symbol set here
Shall not disappear.

And thus throughout its weird, wild leaves. I will
conclude this description with a snap-shot at the
sphinx as she proposes he'r enigma of the "Twelve
Stars "—or symbols— of the " Three Books."

pun * Dnuj Dne> rubw : n^i ws D'ainn
vh\ D^top * Dnsina srb JTJDIKI • oniax
pjj njniK * D'ppru "i^j; D^^ 0^3 j

* pm -i ^»
* pn ib ^^ty : pro
* pbo iS *y^i : pfi iTia v^ab
rnu ib ^^n : pbn ib ^^ Dn^b^ni * pbrr 16
* t)pn iS ^^ : mn^ai ^iiina TOM JDXW

mip« bpa

niia 4 miya DJ?^ ^M 4 nn
* mny «S Dna * nino nposi :
ruin vn« dy * niijn wie nn^i :
* rtajn m n^i : mai' Dna xini * n:n^* niaiD
nr i

pn :nWn itnsni *r6ijn TIWI

Those left of the accents be eight, revealed

Within three books of the Scripture's field,

By wisdom and understanding sealed.

Eight mighty princes, spoken all

With throat and tongue ; and four in thrall,

Enlinked, not mighty men, but small.

Twelve by statute when all are told :

Four making music, and eight that unfold

Exceeding sweet singing; lo, these things, how old!

He, called Chizzer, is set at the head,
Girt like a strong man with power inbred,
All through the three books scattered and spread.

*
K

The second is Rethek ; chained he
Of lip and tongue ; and it cannot be
That he shall be broken hastily.

The third is Therets, with him for aye
Doth pleasing harmony hold sway,
Upbuilding the breaches on the way.

The fourth Salek ;* and lo, for this
Among the accents no part there is,
Yet amid three is a portion his.

* It is not amongst the accents of the " Twenty-one Books," but
found only in the "Three Books."

The fifth is Natzeach, set in state,

With a hand upheld and a finger straight,

Mighty and honourable and great.

The sixth is Tokef, that riseth high,
And looketh forth with a watchful eye,
In two ways powerful to espy.

The seventh Toref with an upward bent

And a tearing finger forward sent :*

With the third one and the fourth one blent.

The eighth Gazer that hath display
Of a staff and a dot in set array.
Girt at the head and placed midway, t

IK and IK

Shophar Harab amid the rest
Moveth ever upon his quest,
Turning east and turning west.

Piskah is set in order right ;
From thence he will not disunite,
Dwelling always full in sight.

* Ben Asher probably describes the Toref or Athnachta found
in some manuscripts with one claw or finger, i.e. two dashes forming
an acute angle.

f The dash over the first letter and the dot over the tone syllable.

Muttach he turneth about with a cry,
Camped with his brethren, changed constantly,
Yet numbered among their company.

And Niach* falling and rising once more
About a word — now he mounteth o'er,
Now to the right hand he may soar.

This is theirt order set : Meuleh,
Yored v'Oleh, Poneh and Toleh,
Bin and Haskeel and Memuleh.
Who is wise will observe their way.

With the exception of enclitics, which are
connected to the following word by a hyphen, every
word in the Hebrew Bible has its pausal or con-
nective sign (or signs), chanted upon the tone
syllable. The Reader acquires the knowledge by
vocal tuition; and although in recent years, he is
permitted to use the punctuated text in chanting
the Prophets and Hagiographa, this license is not
taken in publicly reciting the Law. In chanting
from the scroll of the Torah, he must know, from
memory, the vowel sounds, and the musical note,

* It is not clear if fVO or r6iyi "11 IT»J is the name of the
accent, or if it is an accent at all. According to Heidenheim it is
an instruction.

f Viz. : the connective accents.

%* The English rendering of these verses and of the three
Hebrew lines in the middle of page 14 is the work of
my daughter, Nina Davis.

or musical phrase, for every word, and the syllable
upon which it falls. The melodies to which the
different books of the Bible are chanted vary;
some are in the major, others in the minor key, or,
to be precise, in ancient keys approximating to the
modern major and minor; the musical phrases
retaining their technique, or general characteristic,
under these varied treatments. The n*)3MO or musical
phrases admit of an infinite variety of expression,
and, in the oriental sense of punctuation, breathe
into the Sacred Text a wealth of meaning or
"flavour" DJftD. (Such indeed is the name of the
H3MO in its punctuative capacity.) The true artist,
who has mastered his subject, cannot fail to weld
PG\33 and DJftO into one harmonious link, and
consciously, or unconsciously, he delivers the Sacred
Text with unerring skill and accuracy. The
emotions, which the ancient records excite, have
thus full vent. Didactic vigour, pathos, death, life,
song of war and victory, the prophet's burden, the
captive's wail, the sob, the sigh ; all these and more
touch harpstrings of the Neginah song.

Are parallel verses of the Bible punctuated with
identical sets of accents ?

The question is so frequently asked, that a few
explanatory words may be of service to the student.
It is important in the first place, to determine
whether such verses are parallel, from the punctator's
plane of vision. On page 15 I have indicated

that an additional syllable may require a change
of accent. Identical verses are punctuated with
identical series of accents. In Numbers chap. vii.
12-83, there are twelve paragraphs enumerating the
offerings of the princes at the dedication of the
Tabernacle. These paragraphs are parallel in the
sense that the text is identical, so far as the nar-
ration of the offerings and the closing verses are
concerned; and the series of accents are identical, but
there are slight textual variations in the headings
of the first, second, eleventh and twelfth paragraphs,
which involve a slight variation of the accents employed
in the first, eleventh and twelfth, but not in the second
heading. Many passages may be carelessly supposed
to be parallel, which if closely examined, side by
side, will be found to present slight textual variations
which the punctator would not consider parallel.
In Isaiah xvi. 6, the following verse will be found :

-*h imrun faix^ imaw nto x

• ^3 P

And in Jeremiah xlviii. 29 :

ijteyi iniaa nfc& rwu

These two verses, with their curious alliteration, —
perhaps an echo from some older prophet — present
several textual variations, but from the punctator's
stand-point, they are parallel, and are identically
punctuated. The foregoing examples will suffice, to

demonstrate that parallel verses are subject to parallel
punctuation, but some special knowledge is needed to
determine which verses are technically parallel.

It does not however follow, that the Massorites
were bound by hard and fast rules, which admitted
of no latitude whatever; evidence to the contrary
is afforded by the Ten Commandments, Exodus xx.
and Deut. v.

In both recensions the first, second, fourth, sixth,
seventh and eighth Commandments possess two sets
of accents, }vSj?n D^tO and pHDHH OJffi, the former,
which is fuller of musical variations, is employed in
the public reading of the Law, the latter privately.
The two recensions of the Commandments thus
present the phenomenon of four different sets of
accents. The two sets JV7J? and flftHD for each
recension respectively > can be employed, because the
text of these seven Commandments has been set
in two different ways in regard to verses or
and the reason why neither JV7J? nor
of the two recensions correspond, is that the textual
variations claim different punctuative treatment.

In the effort to discover the origin of the massoretic
system of punctuation, care must be exercised not
to start upon an expedition like the " Quest of the
Holy Grail." The stream must be traced to the
visible source, but the primary forces remain hidden.

The accentual system, like grammar, is a science
which has for its object the laws which regulate

the expression of the language, which hitherto were
instinct, though not yet elaborated into defined and
written rules. We cannot therefore reasonably expect
to discover in the Talmud, more than scattered and
vague testimony of the existence of the system.

The Bible speaks of scribes and seers, of prophets
and singers.

The vigour and elegance of their rhetoric, the charm
and poetry of their composition, the pathos and
grandeur of their utterances, are unsurpassed by
anything in ancient or modern literature.

There was a latent, yet potent force, swaying the
sacred penmen.

The Totem concept was instinct in the rude breast
of the savage before he tattooed the impress upon
his skin. The bamboo, fantastically carved by the
Indian, is but the reflex of his brain picture. The
landscape, veiled in darkness, waits only sunrise to
cast its beauty upon the retina. Something akin
to this imagery underlies the mystic words of the
rabbis in their allusions to the punctuation of the
Sacred Text as " a tradition of Moses from Sinai,"
or as " a divine revelation to primeval man." Such
phrases — not infrequently met with in hagadic
literature — are no childish utterances of simple-
minded pietists, as suggested by some writers ; rather
are they indications which connote deep thought, and
insight into large problems.

In Nehemiah viii. 8, the following verse occurs

The Talmud Nedarim 37, B., interprets these words :

'JY IfcTlp'1) " They read the Text," etc.

KnfiJb " Which they explained by a paraphase into
the vernacular " (Aramaic).

/3W DlfeD "And divided it into. verses and para-
graphs."

fcnpMl Wl'l "And they made the Text clear by
rendering it according to the accents."

If the Rabbinical interpretation is regarded as Mid-
rashic and failing in exegetical value, it, at least,
proclaims the fact that the punctuative system was
esteemed at the period when the gloss was made.

It must not be assumed that the date of Talmudic
traditions can be fixed by ascertaining the period
when the spokesmen lived. Traditions, recorded in
the name of certain Tanaim and Amoraim of the
Mishna and Gemara, were handed down through
successive generations ; it is consequently difficult or
impossible to fix the date of their inception.

The word fl^i) is found in the superscriptions of
Psalms iv., vi., liv., lv., Ixvii. and Ixxvi.

According to some authorities rttVO was a musical
instrument, but the weight of opinion is that the word
related to melody or musical punctuation. The verb
p2 is generally employed as touching or playing a

stringed instrument, but the noun Pl^IO is used also
for song or chant. The word appears in many parts
of the Bible ; for example, in the body of Ps. Ixxvii. 7 ;
Isaiah xxxviii. 20 ; Lam. v. 14 and iii. 14 ; Job xxx.
9 ; Hab. iii. 19.

If we may adopt the hypothesis that the musical
and accentual functions of the symbols were insepa-
rable, we may discover in the word M^IO of the Bible
an embryonic, but no silent witness of the source
from which the system flowed.

The following passage occurs in Talmud Megilla
32A:—

rwi n&'jtt vhi Ktipn hi pnv /tai I&K

airon vS mar

Saith Kabbi Jochanan, " He who reads [Scripture]
without melody, or learns [the Oral Law] without
song, to him the verse applies, and even I have given
them statutes which are not good."

The Tosefoth gloss on this runs thus : " They were
accustomed to learn the Oral Law with song, because
they learnt it by heart, and the chant aided them to
commit it to memory." Even at the present time the
student of Talmud reads Mishna and Gemara to a
sing-song chant, with a swing and ring about it, which
is both quaint and impressive.

In Nedarim 37 A and B, there is a Talmudic debate
relating to the payment for teaching the science of
the accents in their punctuative function

; and in Chagiga 6B, a discussion occurs upon
the interpretation of a verse in Exodus xxiv. 5, in
which the question arose as to the object of the
debate, since no point of the Halacha was involved.
Mar Jutra explained that it was essential to know
the correct interpretation in order to read the passage
accurately, with the proper punctuation — p*)D^7
D^lbJ^D. The Rabbi's pronouncement is valuable testi-
mony of the fact that there was a traditional way of
reading the Bible text, by which the verses were
divided by logical pauses, but it does not prove the
existence of any written and recognised system of
accents.

In Berachoth 62A there is a reference to the
teacher of the accents in the terms *DJ?tD PD HKI^^
PHin " he indicated the accents of the Torah with
it [his right hand]." Some scholars have assumed
that this means, " the teacher sketched the symbols
in the air." Rashi's comment on the passage does
not seem to support this interpretation. Rashi relates
that he has seen teachers from Palestine waiving
the hand when teaching the vowel points of the
*")SD and the modulation of the musical phrases of
the rOMO. Probably signals were given after the
style of a modern choirmaster to guide the_ pupil in
regard to the modulation of the musical phrases,
but it is not clear what signals were made in
reference to vowel points.

Erubin 53 A, last ten lines, draws a comparison

between the accurate pronunciation of the Judseans
and the inaccuracy of the Galileans, also between
the zeal of the Judseans, who adopted artifices of
mnemonics fcOft^D, in order to retain in memory
what they learnt, and the Galileans who did not.
Some scholars have understood this term iOJ^D
(sign) to refer to the accents of the Torah. I
prefer to interpret the term Torah, as employed
in this passage, as relating to the Oral Law and the
word fcO/^D as relating to mnemonics —composed
of the initial letters of Rabbinical dicta now scattered
in various places in the " webs " of the Talmud, but
originally learnt by heart and in sequence. Elias
Levita (1468) in his exposition of the Massorah —
" Massoreth Ha-Massoreth " expresses his opinion that
the accents were unknown until after the close of
the Talmud, and declares emphatically that there is
no allusion by name to the vowel points and accents
throughout Talmud and Midrash.

The accentual system is probably a development
from very small beginnings. The verses once defined
by the vertical line under the tone syllable of the
last word, would suggest the propriety of marking the
dichotomy by indicating the half -verse by a modified
vertical line with antennae turned right and left — (or
vertical line with one finger only, as it was originally
marked) then further modifications of the vertical

line and combinations of dots, as * J_ _ and other

i ? '

symbols would be devised until a complete system

would be gradually developed, marking every grada-
tion of pausal, and connective value, revealing with
precision the traditional way of reciting the text.

The nomenclature of the accents — partly Hebrew,
partly Aramaic — does not disclose their origin, but
both the names and designs of the symbols are signi-
ficant of their punctuative and musical power. A few
examples may serve to illustrate this proposition :
pi?D, cessation or break; rOHK, pause; tf^il, rest.

| | • AT : v • :

The three accents represented by dots, viz. : 7i3D S|pT
and y*51> are indicated, in regard to their relative
pausal value, according to the combination of dots,
three, two and one respectively, and their musical
characteristics are implied by their names: 713D, a
bunch of grapes — suggestive of the sweetness of its
musical phrase of four notes : £]DT , a support — of
the nature afforded to something drooping — has a
musical phrase of three staccato notes; ^5""), a res^ —
has a phrase of four notes descending. The theory
of a dual meaning being reflected by the names and
designs of the accents is, in a large measure, sup-
ported by Ben Asher in his definition of the symbols,
e.g., the accent ^113, scattering — is traditionally
rendered by four short notes ascending, three descen-
ding, one high long sustained note falling away by
two short notes. The symbol seems to reflect this
musical variation or "scattering" phrase. The
vertical line may represent the ascending scale of
four notes, and the return — to the junction of the

hook — the descending three notes. The curve or
hook, the high long sustained note, down which the
closing two notes fade away. Ben Asher describes
it thus :

ITS

Pazer doth soar on air,

Then downward doth repair;

With swelling tone and fair

Disperseth to his lair.

Again HJflft, the name for which, according to Ben
Asber, is *")£1fc^, a ram's horn trumpet, indicated by
two lines at an angle, is described by him thus :

The image well portrays Shophar:
Like low of herds of shor u'phar*
'Tis music sighing oft, -afar.

In Ben Asher's definition of the accents of the
" Three Books " — reproduced in these pages — similar
allusions to the designs and music of the accents
occur. The accents are hieroglyphics, or perhaps
may more appropriately be regarded as ideographic
symbols.

* Oxen.

THE HEBEEW ACCENTS

OP THE

TWENTY-ONE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.

SIMPLE SHEVA, SILENT AND VOCAL.*

SHEVA (:) is vocal at the beginning and silent at the
end of a word.

Two shevas cannot occur at the beginning of a
word, and two shevas at the end of a word are both
silent, as J;l$?.l, though originally the second may have
been vocal.

Sheva in the midst of a word is vocal under seven
conditions, indicated under the seven letters forming
the mnemonic term T'H3 D'^ft viz. :

After a long or short vowel followed by metheg.
Examples:

After a short vowel which has taken the place of a
shera, simple or compound.

• The reason for prefacing the subject of this work with the
rules regarding Sheva, is explained on page vii. of the Introduction.

Examples : fi instead of ^fc, from twfc ;
HJ3 instead of Htt, from DHtt. '

From the plural ^tpj?!, singular Cjbg!.

Before either of the above six letters without
dagesh lene.

Example:

After a conjunctive accent, employed as a substitute
for metheg in a word with two accents.

Example: DW8?p.

OIHK ^IDi) 3

After an accent thrown back from the ultimate to
the penultimate syllable,

Example : m 'ftTh.

Under the first of double letters.
Examples;

Under a letter with dagesh forte
Examples:

(These examples include )"I3 N1&? and J?3 fcOfc?, and
are pronounced ^2 I 3G?

The same rule applies when sheva is under a letter
•which should have dagesh, but which by traditional
usage has dropped it.

Examples:

Sheva in the middle of a word is silent under two
conditions, indicated under the two letters forming
the mnemonic term .

After every short vowel not included in the rules,
under (£) and (p) page 1.

Examples:

After a long or short vowel accompanied by an
accent.

Examples:

ACCENTS,

THERE are in Hebrew two kinds of accents, con-
junctive and distinctive.

The object of the accents is threefold : —
To mark the tone syllable, to show the relation of
words to each other, and to serve as signs of cantilla-
tion in chanting the Scriptures.

DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS, D'p'

There are eighteen disjunctive or distinctive accents,
divided into four grades, each grade being composed
of accents upon a sliding scale.

TABLE OF DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS.

First power ...... K mHK K

Second

„

Third

„

& rhuhw K

Fourth „

^s M

4.
CONNECTIVE ACCENTS,

There are eight connective accents, all of the same
power, but employed in connection with different
distinctive accents in accordance with rules (para-
graph 18).

5.
TABLE OF CONNECTIVE ACCENTS.

p ITV K r

I v -v 0 «

It is important to note that some of the accents are
always attached to the last letter of a word and
others to the first. Their proper position is indicated
in the foregoing tables. It therefore follows, that what
has been said in paragraph 1 in respect to the accents
marking the tone syllables, calls for some explanation,
which will be found in the various paragraphs where
the accents are treated individually. It will suffice here
to state briefly, that should one of those accents which is
not moveable, but subject to fixed laws of position, fall
upon a letter which would create a conflict between such
fixed laws and the proper accentuation of the word, the
latter necessity takes precedence, by such accent being

exchanged for its "equivalent" or "substitute" which.
can be attached to the tone syllable, and thus the
claim holds good " that the accents mark the tone
syllable " (see paragraphs 7 and £7), etc. ; yet this

lii ^

claim must be qualified in regard to /13D Kpl!

rbm «^p and na&jp KE^P,

These four accents are immoveable, being fixed in
the positions indicated, and the tone syllable of the
words to which they are attached can only be ascer-
tained by a knowledge of the rules of punctuation.

In some modern Hebrew Bibles the same plan of

\
doubling the accent, as in the case of Xfrfc^B (para-

graph 7), has been adopted in order to mark the tone;

.».
but this method is not general. Example : ^jnftfcO is

correctly pointed, but the tone being T$J pp, this can

A A

be indicated as above named, thus; ^H^NI.

Ntpfc^§ is always written over the last letter
of a word, and when the tone is on the previous
syllable, this is shown by doubling the accent, thus :

fn *D Via

N£*]f? is written over the tone syllable, but should

%
this be the first syllable, N£p*Tp cannot be placed over

the first letter, unless preceded by

7
9.

'TV is written before the first letter of a word.

• :<

10.

nft is written under the tone syllable.

11.

3 is written over the tone syllable. When the
word is accented A$?pp, the accent is called £H5,
when accented Jn?fi the accent is called N/K.

is sometimes called ^ ?V and

13.

$ is sometimes called

14.

D is generally attached to *, but this is unsup-
ported byMassorah.

15.

n?bp Kg^l is included in the « Table of Con-
nective Accents " (paragraph 5). Yet in " Table of

the Connective and Distinctive Accents in Order of

Consecution " (paragraph 19), we find Jljtpp NB^vJjl
posing as a distinctive accent. This anomaly is thus
explained :

It is a connective accent in regard to the following
rule : If a word ending with one of the letters K'"]JT
and having a distinctive accent is followed by a
word beginning with one of the letters H"^ T'JQ,
such letter takes a dagesh, except in the case of

Tiptop Xfey vJH ; for this accent, though otherwise dis-
tinctive, ranks in this respect as a connective

accent. Example : Gen. i. £6, D*H Hin^ ^T.V

In this sense ri^tDp N&? v)l is a connective accent, but
in regard to the laws of punctuation it is a distinctive

accent. It is the filUS of £H3 and tf/T^, and never
appears unless followed by the connective accent

16.

TABLE OF THE DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS
IN ORDER OF POWER.

.... w:ri ^nsb tbp-ftpr

• : VT : - | T JT II-T

..... ehji4
wotr ......

17.
THE REMAINING SEVEN ACCENTS.

njlpp N&r?J;l may be added to the above
table. They are mostly substitutes, as will be explained.

18.

TABLE SHOWING THE EESPECTIYE RELA-
TIONSHIP BETWEEN CONNECTIVE AND
DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS.

jttE ministers to all the distinctive accents,
excepting . . . pyD and NHiSb
ministers to .....

and

|b(5 X^n precedes ...... .

ministers to p^D NHgt? Nt:^3 "l£fi and
ministers to

19.

TABLE OF THE CONNECTIVE AND DIS-
TINCTIVE ACCENTS IN ORDER OF
CONSECUTION.

Distinctive.

ovrwa

Connective.

Distinctive.

£3 T

IT t t

(I t f

P"n

rn
rn

ORDER OF THE DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS.

20.

is the principal distinctive accent, and is
the equivalent of a full stop. It is employed at the
end of a verse. Its minister or connective accent is
Xp""]E, that is to say, the preceding word, if connected
to the one following, is accompanied by XIHftj an(i
its rflHB is NHSDtp, that is to say, the word preceding,
if requiring a distinctive accent, is always XJlS^?*
which is the rflPl3 or smaller distinctive in regard to
pY?. Should a member of a verse consist of two
words, the last having p^D, the preceding word must
be accompanied by KHSb, whether the sense requires
a distinctive or a connective accent.

Example : tTtt y&*) n/blMHI STK (Gen. ix. 20).

pY? and NPl$tp appear in five places in one word.
Example : ipnPp (Lev. xxi. 4).

mav aPPear alone in the last word of a
verse, such word being a member of a verse in itself.

Example : NfilH pjl (Lev. xiii. 18).

If the last member of a verse is composed of three

words, the last word with p*l7D is directly preceded
by its minister or by its less distinctive, according as
the sense requires.

Examples : pKH MM D^H (Gen. i. 1),
or n^T » Vl? (Gen. xxii. 14).

21.

is second in power, and is employed at
the end of the first member of a verse consisting of
two complete members.

Its minister is HJ^, and its n^HS or less distinctive
is KPl$t?.

Should the member of the verse only consist of
two words, the last having rOHX, the preceding word
must be accompanied by KHBtp, whether the sense
requires a distinctive or a connective accent.

Example: tttfl K (Lev. xix. 11).

fl^N may appear in a word, such word itself con-
stituting a member of a verse.

Example : IfcK'l (Exod. xxxiii. 14) ;

and n^nNt and XH^tp may both appear in the same
word,

Example : DJa (Num. xxviii.

D is the third distinctive in rank, and marks
the end of the first member of a verse consisting of
three members, n,Dfitf and pyD following at the end
of the second and third members respectively.

Example :

yh MTI pwi ems* TDK D&TI ^ cm

». T ^ : • : | AT : • : JT T : - v~ -: '•• : • : i r

pKH l^pa (Gen. xlviii. 16).

I V |T T -.-J ;v: V /

It happens sometimes that the first member of the
verse with TttD is followed by the second member in
parenthesis.

Example :

:n Pttjpo-'3

. (Deut. iii. 19),

The words D^S ^ nij?fi-%3 %WTT are in paren-
thesis.

D never comes after H^ri5jj>, and never before
Nrififck or NPISC) Wp^lb, nor*' before 1*^ unaccom-
panied by ^S|T!'

Its minister is HJ^, and its fi^n3 or less distinctive
is SjTjT.

23.

t)pT is next in power and its place is before
KH^t? as its IHV or major, that is to say, it is placed
over a word having NH3tp in advance, and requiring
a distinctive accent of greater power.

PjDT is found in three forms, viz. :

and

which are equal in power and are employed in accord-
ance with the following rules :

If the word requiring tjDT also needs metheg in the
first syllable of the word itself, the latter gives place

to the connective accent 1"0^> and |tpD &]DJ is em-
ployed.

Example: Drnjft . (Deut. iii. 19).

Exceptions to this rule are : if the metheg is directly
preceded by a syllable with a n^HB or less distinctive,
it is not changed into HD^, but the metheg remains.

Example: HTPin JTfTj (Lev. vii. 31).

So also if the first syllable to which metheg is
attached is followed by a letter from which a dagesh

has been dropped, or is followed by a guttural, in
both cases the metheg is retained.

Examples: BJOKp PON"iy (Exod. xvi.

D'iurtt tofyw (Num. xiii. 33).

If the word with t]pT does not require metheg ; if
there are three syllables before the one with fc]DT, or
two syllables with one vocal sheva, or two vocal shevas

: i

and one syllable, then tjT Nt0^5 is employed.

Examples: Df

If the conditions specified above do not apply, then
g employed.

Examples:

(for only to simple, not to compound sheva, does this
rule apply).

The foregoing rules only apply to a word with
which is not preceded by a word with a connective
accent. If preceded by a word with a connective

accent this must be HJIID if the word with *T is a

short word (that is to say, with only one syllable be-
fore the accent).

Examples : D'llN

JL T ; -

but if the word with S]pT is a long word, that is to
say, if it has before the accented syllable, two syllables,
or one syllable with a metheg followed by vocal sheva,

then the preceding word has

Examples: DH^IS Tb1 pjH JlNTSl.

Notwithstanding, if the word connected to the one
with £]PT is preceded by a word with a less distinctive
accent, then the accent is HD^, although the word
with JtJD &]J2J is a long one, and the word which stands
before it has

Examples : ni'n *!« 3 (Deut. i. 33),
Drmtf ^K {rt^N (Gen. xxiv. 1

T T ; ~ J* "; •• V; \

precedes the last word of a verse as ex-
plained. Should the word preceding the last one re-

quire a connective accent, then if the last word be a
short one, that is to say, having only one syllable before
the tone, the connective accent immediately precedes
the last word, and Xn?tD is attached to the word
before.

Example : pjjO XV V\Wri} (Gen. i. 22).

If the last word be a long one, that is to say, con-
taining two syllables, or one syllable with metheg before
the tone, then the word immediately preceding the last

word has XfiStp and is preceded by a word with
or one of its two equivalents (see paragraph 23).

Example: mSJ pN3 W71 ^ (Exod. xviii. 3).

IT • : T ) vvv : • • T j- V. ./

Notwithstanding, if the sense demands that the word
preceding the last should be marked with a connective
accent proper, although the last word is "long," the
connective accent is supplied.

Example : DWP! Wl Vflrfl (Gen. i. 20).

25.

is the fourth and least of the D

Two of these accents do not appear in succession even

with a connective accent between them unless there be
some kind of break in the sense, or that the verse con-
tain some qualifying expression. (For further elucida-
tion see paragraph 35.)

Example :

(Lev. xxii. 3).

Two D^^T) are admissible in this sentence, the
meaning being without the break : DpJTVT? $*$ /3.
Its minister is

If two connected words precede, both have
and if the former has a slightly distinctive sense it has
, that is to say m^ and I 'DS.

Example : TYDN fltt I Tg (Exod. xxxiv. 7).

Sometimes the minister H^l/ft is preceded by D^KHlj
ajid sometimes by D.^HJ and H??^

Examples ; ^3£p ^H? (Dent. xvi. 1).

nWn D^nn I rosriia ^ (Deut. ix. 5).

v •• T j- j- ; • ; • \ J

Sometimes the minister HJIIb immediately precedes
the word with an(^ tne former word has

, Example : ir i SH (Exod. xii. 48).

. f
Its JTinS is &JHL3 or one of its two equivalents (i.e.,

gha or *&»)•

There are seven instances where

p*D|D is employed in the place of *V*3l«

KjTlT is the njgto of UD, and therefore pre-

cedes it as its J"ti)"lS. Sometimes one Nplt follows
another, providing generally ^5*1 is before them
This rule applies to all the D'Ofc^p, that one may
follow another with ^11: before them. Three
D^^p cannot occur in any case in succession, with
the exception of NtO^S. The minister of fijTlT
generally is H^, but in some places it is tfp"J??.
In one place (Isa. xlv. 1) &P*]! occurs before ^3*1.

'P^B is the rWft of, and therefore precedes,

as its jvns.

c 2

Its substitute is ^f\ see « Table of Distinctive

Accents In Order of Power"), that is to say, KD§ is
always placed over the last letter of a word excepting
when preceded by a word with a connective accent, or
by a word with &)J5'5, when it can stand over the first
letter.

Examples : JlPQI n PtfVri (Gen. i. 2),

(Isaiah Ixvi. 23

but should Kb3 fall upon a word which is
requiring the tone on the first letter, and the word is
not preceded by one with a connective accent, then

the Kt0^5 is changed into its substitute ^fi\

Example: JH. gnp 3B^ (Gen. i. 11).

Care should be taken to distinguish between
which is always written over the last letter of the

word with the exceptions noted (and in which cases

% •
it is doubled as shown), and XDHp, the connective

accent which is written over the tone syllable.

Example: PlJP! DVH DtfM (Gen- vii

The first (') is Xplp, the second (') is
Its minister is ^Hft, if there be a syllable between
it and «ID^S,

Example : nnK DIDZj^X (Num. xxiii. 13) ;

but if no syllable intervenes its minister is

Example : \ filTH (Gen. i.

28.

Tpfl is the r\Wti of N(1§)lp, and therefore
precedes it as its rtth3.

Its minister is ^^3' un^er tne following condi-
tions : —

If there are two syllables between NyTVl. and T^ft.
Example: ^ D^ (Gen. vL 19).

If there be one syllable and a vocal sheva between
them.

Example : Igh DJjl (Job i. 1).
If there be one syllable with metheg between them.
Example ; 3JJ3£ Hip (Jos. xxiv. 32).

If I p*D$ be between them.

Example : h\Q\ I b^D (Gen. xvii. 13).

If the foregoing conditions do not exist, then the
minister of TJ-I is

Examples : WU 1^« n« TO.

J. • 3- T ;v -: %••)•.• ) j"

There are thirteen exceptional places, where the
minister of 'VJlfi is tfjFFl where these conditions do
not exist, and there are seventeen instances where
H/^M Kp^?? is employed in the place of *VJ?fi, not-
withstanding the former is treated as a connective
accent.

B| is the rttPib of »V'3, and therefore pre-
cedes it as its

:!, D^ll and X/J^ are of equal power, and the
choice of the one employed depends upon the fol-
lowing conditions ; —

If this accent should fall upon a word whose accent
is yiffo, and is preceded by a word with a connective
accent (but not over the first letter), K/W is employed,
preceded by

Example : MD 3o?l (Num. xxxiii

If the word is not preceded by one with a con-

nective accent, and the word itself requires metheg,

% %

then tf??*lp takes the place of metheg, and K^lp and

fcs?TK appear over the word, providing tfb'lp is not
thrown on the first letter.

Example : 'jiO (Amos ii. 9).

If the word is not one in which metheg can ap-

".
pear, D?BH;l is employed,

Example : J?l?l (Exod. xviii. 1),

the reason being that K/TX is never used unless
preceded by tfbHp, and EHjj cannot be used when

the word is JTlpP, hence D^&?H3 is employed ; and
if the word be preceded by one with a connective
sense, the minister is H^ft,

Example : M" HJ) (Num. xii. 8),

for K£*!p is not marked over the first letter of a

* • L

word except after Hjltpp N^yJp,

Example : ^tbEH & »3 (Gen. ii. 5),

because Jll|t?jp K^v^ only appears followed by N/b*]p,
in which case fcflblp stands in place of HJ^Jb, and

*$TK in the place of d?gh;l. This rule only holds
good if K/W is followed by one of the three first
D\5fcTp, but if ^y\ follows, then the word takes
d^^JJ, although its construction admits of metheg,

Examples : WTK $ fcN'l (Gen. xi. 3),
Ttt WgB 'iifcO (Deut. x. 10),

the reason being that N??*!p an^ ^vl^ ^n a word
preceding *?^5*1j are not admissible unless a word
intervenes with a connective accent and also a
metheg,

Example : W) /jn1! (Deut. vii. 13).

Words pointed with Q^I-5 and metheg are
frequently followed by Np^B, and sometimes by

Examples ; Vt^f &$ *$$ (Gen. xlii. 28).

zvh pn r\rh pspxn ^ (Exod. v. 7).

The foregoing rules determine which equivalent of
viz., K/TX or dJKnil, takes its place when the
word is y^F/b^ but when the word is 7*S?fA ^T5

itself is employed, and its minister is tf*1p, provided
it can be employed otherwise than over the first letter.

Example : Dntfb 1OTV1 (Exod. xiv. 9),

but should the minister fall upon the first letter of the
word, then H^ft is employed.

Example: MBTlJPI HPin (Isa. Ix. 17).

If no word with a connective accent precede, and

•» . '

the word itself admits of metheg, then Nb*|p and EHi!

appear over the same word, Nib*!p taking the place of
metheg.

Example : MDfc fr^tf (Deut. xxv. 19).

(The makkeph connecting the two words, tf?p*]p is
not considered to stand over the first letter.)

The same remark applies to NJb*Tp and X7li$ over
a word preceded by one connected with makkeph.

Example: DnlTK).

If the word does not admit of metheg, then
appears alone.

Example; W^

3 and its two equivalents cannot precede one of
the P*0fc^p unless a word with, a minister intervenes,

Example : *f HK £ ^hT S^Tp? C10611*- xxiii- 22),
or unless metheg intervenes,

Example: DjVK¥ifc-nN nfeto ^fr??! (Num. xxxiii. 2).

30.

and n^ri} Nfc^n are the two t
the former being a greater distinctive than the latter.

Their place is before feSHJl and its two equivalents, also
before the other three superior D^&?£ as explained
below.

It will be seen from the " Table of Connective and
Distinctive Accents in Order of Consecution " that
although nSnS K&rSn is a Wh& it stands in the

column (*irP) as a greater distinctive than the smallest

. i
of the D'O&^D, i.e., BHlj and its two equivalents, and

P
that ^ITS stands in the column (*1J"IV) as a greater dis-

tinctive than J"P*n3 tf$ vJ;), and is consequently greater

. i
than fc^Hil and its two equivalents.

•"1/IT5 X&^v^ is °nly employed when followed by
one of the four D^G^D, and it cannot precede llj^/b
with Wy\ unless fe^jj or one of its two equivalents

tr.

intervene, and as D?G5HII is not used over a word of one
syllable preceding one of the D
is employed as a substitute.

Example: nTWt HXQft Dy (Gen. xxxi. 32).

In the ordinary order of consecution the word D$7
would have D?gh3. If ^^] follows, D^gh5 stands,
as nSnj «^]|1 cannot precede Wy\.

Example: ^^ Bhha *5 (Deut. xvi. 1).

If the word is of one syllable and a vocal sheva,
D^gHl! stands, although followed by one of the d

Example: f^p MVT 1^« ^ (Num. ix.

31.

It will be seen from paragraph 15 in what sense

. f
lP3? tf£"7P is included amongst the connective

accents, and how otherwise (in regard to punctuation)
it is a distinctive accent. It will also be seen (para-

graph 29) that it only occurs directly followed by

^
Nft*lP, and in the " Table of Connective and Dis-

tinctive Accents in Order of Consecution" it will be

found in the column of DWH5 as the r^PllS or less

• ' (L
distinctive preceding KH3 or X7TK.

Examples : 'fl tf-H JBH (Gen. xlviii. 16).

If B5HJI should fall upon a word not requiring tf^lf?
before it, but which should be directly preceded by its
fiinS (Mibfp fctt^pft), in view of the rule that the
latter can only be employed followed by tfblp, this
sequence takes precedence, and HllDp fctt? vp is

thrown back one degree nearer the beginning of the

>
sentence ; thus the minister ^5*]p is employed instead

of the mriS (Pljtojp N^?W), and the previous word
must have n5t?p K^ V^, although the sense may re-
quire a connective accent.

Example ; DWrnSi K^HH D1*3 "IDJJ (Gen. xxx. 35).

29
Otherwise the accents would be as follows : —

Win,

In other cases the difficulty is met by substituting

for

The fixed rule that Kll and X7TK must be pre-
ceded by NfcHp, and that J"]|top N&T7J;! cannot appear

unless followed by N£p*Tp, needs care on the part of
the student, where this sequence is met, to determine
whether the sense of the passage agrees with the
punctuation, or if this has yielded in favour of the
fixed rule of the sequence, in which latter instance

. !

he will consider i"l3tpp N^v^ as a conjunctive
accent and K*T as a distinctive accent,

Example of the sequence in order of the proper
punctuation of the words :

:87! p1! (Deut. iv. 9).
Example of the exceptional sequence.

^ t|DV DnS |M (Gen. xlvii. 17).

or Piyifc with I p*pa, is the smallest
of the DTfiPlfi, and its place is always before

foUowed by W

All words in a sentence which precede

"1??, or n-l&jp K^J-l, and which require
S or less distinctive accents, are marked with

Example :

Should words precede the three above-named accents
which require greater distinctives than these are, bu*
of less distinctive power than a J"0|5fyp following, then

each of such preceding words takes ^13.

Example: mnfcn ^ D.H JD^ NJ?"D«
n^H (Exod. iv. 9).

Should a word precede these three accents which
requires a greater distinctive than these are, and also

greater than a POfc^ft following, then *&y\ is em-
ployed.

31
Example :

'in ^jgp ~u iS nripS NIS^ D'hSaj np?n i IK

iv. 34)?

If a word precede these three accents which requires
a greater distinctive than these are, and also greater
than a p£ which follows, then jtpj5 &)pj is employed.

Example :

nn a

p (Gen. xxxi. 52).

It may here be noted that sometimes rn|5 ^)
employed as a substitute for *!]£ or
and its minister is 125V

SHORT RULES FOR PUNCTUATING.

1. Find how many members are contained in the
verse.

2. If the verse has but one member the last dis-
tinctive is generally pyD.

32
3. If the verse contains two members. FOPtf con

} AT ; •.•

eludes the first member, D the second.

4. If the verse contains three members, /*UD con-
cludes the first member, njHX the second, and p^D
the third.

5. After setting the great distinctives to the members,
read the whole verse from the beginning, mentally
pairing the words, commencing with the first one, then
repeat the operation, commencing with the second word.
By this method it will be readily determined whether
the first word should be connected to, or separated from
the second, and so on through the whole verse. Over
each word to be connected to the following one, place
the mark ^ , and over each word to be separated from
the following one, place the sign I .

This process applied to the verse below will show
that the first pairing of /frOH ^]{v7ftn is inadmissible,
and that the second pairing, commencing with the
second word, is accurate in the result.

It must be borne in mind that three words must
not follow in succession without a distinctive accent,
between the first and second, or between the second
and third; hence the word ^N/^H will have a dis-
tinctive accent and ^fcOJl will be connected to *PK by
a minister.

The exception to this rule will be found fully ex-

\> t/f

plained in paragraph 32 (in respect to ^TS, J"fi and

p'Tlj and in paragraph 34.

Having thus determined which words of the mem-
bers of a verse require distinctive and which connec-
tive accents, the selection of the proper ones will be
made in accordance with the rules of consecution con-
tained in these pages.

Example :

rhS MTI pnic^i Dmsx TDK D#I *&& bni

: VT » *•:• | A* » *• JT T : - v- -; ^- : • : v T

H (Gen. xlviii. 16).

It is hardly necessary to point out that these " Short
Kules for Punctuating " are intended only for practice,
but the real object in acquiring a knowledge of the
art is to understand the Massoretic text of the Hebrew
Scriptures.

34.

EXPLANATION OF THE "TABLE OF

CONNECTIVE AND DISTINCTIVE ACCENTS

IN OEDER OF CONSECUTION"

(Paragraph 19).

It will be observed that this table shows various dis-
tinctive accents in the two columns headed respectively

")JV and *\r\V, which precede the columns of distinc-
tives, D^DSft, connectives, DTn£>D, and less distinc-

Supposing that a word requires a distinctive
accent of greater degree than one directly following,
but of less degree than the one further onward, this is
called ITV, which, for want of a better English equi-
valent, may be termed comparatively distinctive.

Example : l! 'p3 OSfc W$\ (Exod. i.

The word W>J! requires a greater distinctive than
the word ^$2?, but a less distinctive than the word

TWyfP. The sense would indicate that ^5>fc should
have a connective accent, but must be marked with
Xn$p in accordance with the rule noted in paragraph
80.

jllV Supposing that a word requires a distinctive
accent of greater degree than the one directly fol-
lowing, and also greater than the one further onward,
this distinctive accent is called ^IHV, or major,

Example :

yy nWn osston £ 1^1 (Num. xxii. 9).

The word ^ requires a less distinctive than the word
X/1, and the word *l?pS*l requires a greater distinctive

than the word *£, and also a greater distinctive than
the word PTpXH.

It may here be pointed out that if the word *£ stood
alone, its greater distinctive, as shown in the table,
would be *V*5*!i but this sequence does not hold good

in the case of a phrase including a ^IHV, as is the

P
case in our example, where the IJIV"^"?— concerns

itself only with the distinctive XPl3!p, and ignores the
intervening less distinctive l^?^.

With these remarks the table will be understood and
the sequence appear clear.

D>jrp§jb Q'rntffc D^rnna inj inv

Great Distinctives. Ministers. Distinctives. Distinctives. Distinotives.

thus *"tfV and IHV apply to all the distinctive accents
excepting the great distinctives p^D and H.JJ1X.

Before the D*?/9 there is no distinction between
TJV and TTIV, the 1JV before the D^S^ being P)pT or
its two equivalents, and the ^fiV before them being
likewise tjDT and its two equivalents, for it is a general
rule that where two of the same distinctive accents are
in juxtaposition, the former is a greater distinctive than
the latter, hence t|j5j repeated before the &*?/£, the
first is ^IMV. the second

" *

V V

D 2

Example ;

nnxn DP (Exod. xviii. 3).

The word *\ti$ is more distinctly disconnected than

the word W*Pl, and the word DKHll more so than IftK.

There is no difference consequently between *")JV and

riV excepting before the DOPfc and W

. The mnS before the D^DD is KHStD. The

T | VT : -

before the DWO is the il^KO attached to each
as indicated in the Table.

A PO&^D is not employed unless followed by its
(excepting Nb^'S? and under conditions speci-
fied in paragraph 35), but a \?fo is used without its
P0&?/b (excepting /DD, which never appears unaccom-
panied by its POGftb, Np^JT). The n^S before the first

three D^fc^D is ^5 or one of its two equivalents.

Example :

irra D^n*] j a^n (Esther m. is).

Between the n^O and Hin^ a minister must inter-
vene unless the j"OE?Jb is attached to a word with
metheg preceded by a syllable.

Should neither condition exist, then the W*\% or its

equivalent is deposed in favour of the minister of the
following p^DM, thus the POtPD is preceded by two
ministers.

Example : pL^S Iflfc ^??] (Lev- iiL 5>

The usual form would be IH TOPp?) with

t
(the equivalent of BH-D> but in deference to the fore-

going rule the N^TX gives place to the minister

>
**H?n??j and Kp*lp is left in position ; thus two ministers

precede the Jl^D.

The J^na before the fourth PtiB>& Bhi is

Example : DJJ1 n*p WV\ (Gen. i. 26).
The JtiriS before the D^^S^ is

The *tfV and ITJV before the D*0 (excepting
is t)p{.
Example :

nneten jw JIN] v^-n«i n^jpn (Exod. xxxv. is).

The first ftjpj being a greater distinctive than the
second, due to its position of precedence, concerns
itself only with the second P]pJ, and ignores the inter-
vening

The "in; before the first three D^B>» is W^}, for
although it is of less power than the three greater
D*D /£, it is of greater power than the D^&PD.

Example : }PQ1 }PlH nrVH pKHI (Gen. i. 2).

T JT : |T | %• T T : V

The ^IJT before the fourth rWfc, Bhj is not its

but

Example: IDIT (Gen. xviii. 28).

The ^JlV before the D^ft (that is to say, the accent
of greater power before the i"GfcTD following and also

greater than the *J /D following the Pl3&?/b) is C|DT and
its two equivalents, for as it must be of greater power

than the *] ?ft it follows that it must be t|DT, and it
concerns itself only with the "1^^ following in advance,
and ignores the intermediate PGfe?£.

The "IJV before the WtTJV (that is to say, the
accent of greater power than the W*?W following but
of less power than the POfe^fc following the wh&) is

The in? before the tW*» (that is to say the
accent of greater power than the £^ v£J following, and
also greater than the fti&?Jb following the £"7^) is
the same as the ")JTV and IJlV before a H^^, and
the intermediate less distinctive* are ignored.

If a greater distinctive be required than the
following, fcjT must be employed, and all the less dis-

tinctive accents intervening are considered only as if
they were ministers.

If a less distinctive be required than the "pft fol-

lowing, Wy\ is employed as the 'TTP before a

Note that if the WW be H^H:! XE"7fi then the

*UT is not fl7njl tf^yJ;), because two IfJl cannot

P
come together, in which case the *")fV is ITS.

* . f

This rule also applies to n|t?p W yfl. See par. 32.

Example : P&y tDPlBfa ^8 D1?5 (Lev- vi- 18)-

The foregoing will serve to explain the meaning of
the letters £"YT in the Table in the column

which letters stand for t)pt ^5*1 ^.1? the three
accents of greater power, one of which is required
before the D^ vfc^, dependent upon the rules and con-
ditions set forth.

35.

It has been stated (paragraph 34) that a !"l3fePD is
not used unless followed by a *]%, yet if one of
the three greater D*0&^ft be preceded by an accent
of greater power, which in its turn is preceded by
one of still greater power but of less power than
the *]/^ following, in this case two similar D^fe^ft
precede the *]% according to the rule that when two
of the same accents follow in juxtaposition, the first

is more powerful than the second, and in this case
the accent preceding the two D^fc^Jb is ^51 (as the
"))V before a rtiB>fc).

In this way the D^&?Jb may follow each other
preceded by Wll.

Example :

bkr\ pa ^an (Gen. i. T>

This order of sequence in regard to the D^&^Jb is
not altered, even if a small distinctive intervene.

Example :

rn^n-n^ (Lev. ix. T).

) : IT - v V /

The reason being that ^V*1?1! cannot be employed in

\
the place of the first XW$ over HJl^n as the IJ^J

before a ("Ofc^ft, because two D^V^^l cannot be in
juxtaposition, jtpp P|pT cannot be employed instead
of ^?1 over Hj because it would be of greater

power than the second tjDT over ^H7y, whereas
an accent of less power is required than this *]/£,
therefore two D^&PJb are employed in juxtaposition,

preceded by ty^], ignoring the smaller p*D£ib (d?gh|)
which intervenes.

In the same manner the sequence of two similar
preceded by Wy] is not altered if a smaller
intervenes between the an(^ the first

Example :

nr TnSx » Tp'Sin "$« Tirm (Deut. viii. 2).

dv I j>v v: JT; ) t f v -: | v v - V

If a smaller |TD££ come between two D^&?D, then

>
the first PDfe?£ is always Ktpfc^S, even if the second one

is not, and without ^jHT following.
Example :

fef P&K;; -ira; wx mpaa u^xn (Deut.xii. is).

The rule would indicate that the word D1p£p? should
be marked with ^5*1* but this becomes inadmissible
on account of the preceding word having this accent,
which cannot follow in juxtaposition, and in view of

CM C^

this, the accent should be tf?*]!, the same as the Np^!

\f «>

following, but as &wTX intervenes ^P^l gives place to

The same rule applies if two D^JYlt^D intervene
between two of the three greater D^G^Ib, that is to say,
the first rora is

42
Example :

}£$> DnS r&rn nriN rrcs r/?n np^f jj

(Lev. viii. 26).

The rule would require HllX to be marked with

'V'?"] as the inj of the D^fc, but of less power than
the *]?£ following, but this order is impeded by the

preceding ^51? so that the proper accent for HH^
would be ^Iptt, to agree with the Tpft following, but
as two Q^nifc^lb intervene, the first H^/b is changed

into

Should three words precede a POfc^ft, each one of
greater power than the one following, but of less power

than the *J /£ in advance, then the first word has ^51*

the second W£>, and the third 5").

The same order of consecution is observed if four or

five words precede a *p£ with its POtPlb; thus the set
of accents would be, the first W^f], the second KW3,

the third *iP!H, the fourth and fifth two D^^Jb, and

should a smaller distinctive or two D^rH^ft intervene,

>
then the first of the last two D*0fc?ft is always

36.

It has been stated (paragraph 34) that the
before the three greater D^S?D is K^j|^ and that the

before BhS is n»p KB^bw.

. f
If two or three words precede EHS, each one being

marked with an accent of smaller power than the one
following, and consequently of smaller power than the

EH;!, and after the Bhll one of the three greater D^&Pfi

follows, then the &JHJ1 is changed into the Tr\Wti of
the

If two or three words precede VT\$,, which is fol-
lowed by one of the greater D'Ofc^ft, each one marked
with an accent of greater power than the one following,

but of less power than the rOfc^fo following the

then B! is preceded by its 1JV (Tlnj Kfi), or

by rUtOp KB^fi, and the Ktf^fi by its "tfV (ITS),

TH M

and ^TiS by another ^ITS, which, due to its position, is

a *1JT to its fellow, according to the rule that when
two similar accents occur in juxtaposition, the first is
to the second.

Example :

37.

The rules contained in the foregoing paragraphs
refer chiefly to consecution ; it remains to show upon
what fixed principles the original selection of an accent
rests which gives rise to the train or set of accents by
which the member or verse is punctuated,

The subject has a greater distinctive than the dis-
tinctive following (unless the latter concludes the verse).

Example : IflK mimX JTV Dn&ni (Gen. iv. 1).

A : • JT - v ' v T T T JT : V

Explanation : 1 WK requires ftiflK. The Table,
No. 19, will show that the ITWO of rOHK is
TO£, and that its n^HS is KH99- So far the
sequence is found in order. It only leaves the
pointing of the subject D*TtfP!}, which under the rules
just specified requires a greater distinctive than the
distinctive following, but of less power than the *lD'p
closing the passage, and which Table 19 indicates to

be *)|3T.

Should the stress obviously rest upon some word
other than the subject, the latter is pointed with a
smaller distinctive than the one following,

Example: tt, DPl-DKTlN T13 ^ (Gen- xxiv- l)>

| - VT T : - v I !-•• ->T|- V

*Vj3ft being employed as the 111113, or smaller dis-
tinctive, before KPl^D, instead of a greater one, because
the stress is to be laid, not upon the subject, but upon
the object /D.

Again, if the subject is incomplete, per se, having
some qualification following, it is marked with either
a rflPlB or a

Example :

rdpn d? tVn3^ n?^n-S$? &$r\\ (Lev. vi. 5).

38.

Of two nouns in juxtaposition or otherwise closely
connected, the first is marked with a

Examples : fi&KI tStf

|T T : v Jv

This rule is not absolute.

Examples : TO?| JHJ (Gen. viii. 22).

t (Gen. x. i4>

Should the first noun be preceded by a word with a
, then it is marked with a small distinctive, the
of the distinctive following.

If a noun and verb appear together, whichever pre-
cedes takes a

Examples : Tl PDJI (Num. xxxii. 42).

^I (Gen. xv. 3).

but should the verb after the noun attach itself to a
word following, then the noun takes a distinctive.

Example : D£V \ DITQN'] (Gen. xviii. 16).

If the verb is attached to a personal pronoun fol-
lowed by a noun with one of the ^3/3, or if the noun
is attached to a personal pronoun followed by a verb,

the first word under these conditions takes a distinctive
accent.

Examples: HDM 1JVDJ *TB>$ (Deut. xxxiii. 8).
fe>? fiBhr?5? (Num. xix. 5).

39.

Of three similar nouns in succession, the first takes
, the second a

Examples :

The same rule applies to three verbs in succession.
Example: V|?l nj^) Vl# (Jer. xxv. 27).

But should the second noun or verb be more akin
to the third than the first, then the first takes a T
and the second a

Example : TUT] £>n^ P? (^eut. xxviii. 51).
PII ^|1^n VH (Gen. viii. 5).

Thus it will be found when mention is made of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in reference to the covenant,
takes a p^DSD, but in other passages a

40.

Of four similar nouns in succession, the first takes a
mG?£, the second a jTDSft (HIPIS), the third a
and the fourth a greater distinctive.

Example : lEfl H| fiStf ] ft (Exod. i. 4).

41.

Of five similar nouns in succession, the first takes a
rr\Wfo, the second a p^Dfift, the third a greater p'
the fourth a mfe?Jb, and the fifth a greater

Example: TW) ]\^} *1T\A] ]W] $W (Gen. xlvi. 10).

But if the fourth be more akin to the third, than it is
to the fifth, then the third takes a J"n&?£, and the fourth
a greater p^D^D than the second, and the fifth takes a
greater p*D£)£ than the fourth.

Example :

^narn r\wn:y\ ihjrrt ^DDS (jos. xxii. 8).

Of two nouns in succession, the first being in
takes a m&?£, as explained (paragraph 18), but if

preceded by another noun in H^ftD the first takes a
and the second a

Examples : BH3H M^ltf ftfc (Exod. xxxvi. 1).

(Num. ii. 3).

•.••>•.• V /

If the first be in J"fl^lbD and the third be a word
qualifying the second, the first takes a p^D£fo and the
second a

Example : B'l D^$? l^H (Isa. xvii. 12).

If the third qualifies the first word, the first takes
a m&y/b and the second a i

Example: nlfclrmN njfl) (2 Sam. xvii. 14).

This rule will explain the apparent anomaly that in
Dent, xxviii. 61 the phrase is written Pnirin *")3p3
n^jfn, because the third word qualifies or applies to the
second, and therefore must be HN-in (feminine), and
the word preceding takes a rnfc^ft, whereas in Deut.
xxix. 20 the phrase is written H-TH Pniflri ^ISDS, be-
cause the third word applies to the first, therefore it
must be masculine, and the first takes a rPl&^ft and
the second a p^DSD.

If the first noun be in Hl^DD to the second, and the
third has "VQlin Y"), then the first takes a rftfPfo and
the second a

Example : DTI ^W Hp^ (Mai. iii. 4).

If three nouns in filD'lbD precede a fourth word, the
first takes a p*D£/b— "HlV, the second a
the third a

Example : BHJ3PI rngB *lb )VlpS (Num. iii. 32)

If the first be in fil^DD followed by the second with
VI expressed or understood, the first takes a
, the second a ^Dfitt, and the third a

Example: Min pHlF DmiK VlStf (Exod. iii. 16).

v-:p: 'T : • *T T : - :•• v: > y

If the second word be in JTO^&D to the third, and
the fourth has TQnP! VI, then the first takes a ^
the second a m&?£, and the third a

Example : B^ l nT 7" (Exod. iii. 8).

43.

Every member of a verse containing three words,
one being a verb governing the other two words, the
verb takes a rn&^ft, the first of the other two words a
, and the second a greater

Example : $111 ^HM PUVp (Gen. i. 2).

If the verb be in the plural and the other two words
in the singular, then the verb takes a

Example : }hn«1 H^tt fofagj (Num. xx. 10).

If the first word be a verb and the second a noun in
D to the third, or if the third qualifies the second,
then the verb takes a TD££ and the first noun a

Example : JH ^3 yjl (Amos iii. 15).

Of two nouns followed by a verb, the first takes a

Example ; JlTlfD PHJI £ (Joel ii. 10).

Of two verbs followed by a noun, the first verb takes
and the second a JYlPlS)

Example : " niHWrtl n-KO (Gen. xxiv. 48).

AT |- «.-.--: |- : v |T \, :• \r V

But if the first verb only serves to qualify the second
and does not attach itself to the noun following, then
the first verb takes a p'DS.ft and the second a
and the noun a

Example: JTp ITJ? TYirn l&^5 (Gen. xxiv. 46).

If the noun takes a JYlfc^, then the verb preceding
takes a p^DSD, and the first verb a greater jTDSD.

Example :

pnK'SN1) nTO'S« \XE*\ ^*l (Num. xiii. 26).
If the second verb be without "YDPin VI, then the

first takes a fTWti, although it only qualifies the
second.

Examples : B pH (Deut. ii. 31).
D ItflJ (Deut. ii. 24).

This rule is not absolute. Examples ;
pWr «5f1: (Ex. xvii. 9); m$ Itflj?) (Gen. xliii. 13).

If the infinitive mood comes before or after another
verb, the first takes a rHB'lb, the second a p'

44.

Personal pronouns, prepositions and conjunctions,
take a JVlB'D if the word following takes a
and ceee versa.

Example: D

If a personal pronoun is redundant, that is to say,
if a pronoun in a separate form is added to the pro-
noun included in the verb, it takes a p*DS/D, whether
another *DSJ& follows or otherwise.

Examples :

(Gen. xiii. 1).

jjn^] ^ nAfij ninn-Sx n^i (Gen. vi. is).

E 2

45.

It will be seen by a reference to paragraphs 20, 21
and 22, that a D1DS or verse may contain one, two or
three DH/btflb or members.

A 1£N£ in its turn may be one self-contained, gram-
matically complete sentence, or it may be composed of
several smaller periods, termed

Example :

few

yt (Gen. vi. 20).

- • : V /

This p^Da contains two D^I^X^, the first one ends
with the words ^in^Jb/ Hp1!^!!, and contains three
smaller periods, or DS1HK.

The same rules apply to the punctuating of a
composed of two, three, or more D*Hltf, as to a
composed of two, three, or more words (see paragraphs
38 to 41), excepting that in the latter case where the
word would take a rn&^D, in the former case the con-
cluding word of the 1SK would take a DlPia p'DSft;
hence in the example cited the first *HX takes a p^D3D

mna (Trn), the second jtpp t)p{, the third mn«.

The same deviation explained in regard to the
punctuating of words akin to each other, applies in the
same way to the DH^X of a *V2Kfo akin to each other.

Example: lrf\ npflTl TH1]
jH (Deut. vii. 19).

The two latter Q^Dtf being more akin to each other

than to the first, the first ^X takes a greater distinc-

% .
tive than the second, the first Ktpfc^S, due to its

position of precedence, being of greater power than
the second.

46.

Every Ifttfft with one *1^X containing the principle
and other D>taOtf containing the details, the former
takes a greater distinctive.

A ^£XD in the midst of a pIDS, which in English
would be in parenthesis, requires a greater distinctive
after it than the distinctive closing the previous

1DKO.

Example :

:n
njja (Deut. iii. 19).

The "Q^ between d20p£^ and. ^-^!! ig in paren-
thesis. This explains the sequence of accents.

47.

The preceding rules for punctuating words, periods,
members, and verses, would be incomplete if the earlier
paragraphs, in which the position of the accents in
regard to the letters to which they are attached for
the object of marking the tone syllable, were not
supplemented by some attempt to set out the principles
which govern this pointing.

48.

Every word excepting those followed by the Hebrew
hyphen. ^)j5^ (")> must have an accent, which is either
attached to the ultimate syllable, and is then called
or to the penultimate, and is then called

49.

The tone cannot fall upon : —

1. The half-syllable KJ^, simple or compound.

2. A short vowel which has taken the place of the
first of a double Nl^ at the beginning of a word
(unless the accent is ^YlPlX ^D3, as ^BTI WV).

3. The short vowel

4. A final syllable containing one of the three letters
'ntf added pleonastically.

Example: HSH ttJK J|H3 ^h ffyfa NflBDK

The additional final *TV is not included in this rule,

e.g., j

5. A final H employed instead of a preceding /, as

6. The antepenult.

50.

In a word of two syllables, one with a long the other
with a short vowel, the long vowel takes precedence
and has the tone, excepting in such cases as are ex-
plained in paragraph 51.

51.

Nouns (and the participles of all conjugations
without pronominal suffixes) take the accent according
to the following regulations : —

If the last syllable has a long vowel (with excep-
tions named in paragraph 49), whether it be an open
or closed syllable, it takes the accent, and the word

If the last syllable has a short vowel, and is a closed

syllable preceded by an open syllable with a long or
short vowel, the accent falls upon the penult syllable,
and the word is WpO, as Bhjj *1M 1VT H^M;

If the short final vowel has been changed from a
long vowel, as in the case when a noun is in the con-
struct state, then the word is Jnp£?, as H^DH JVltfO-

When feminine nouns ending in PI preceded by
j*Dp, and having the accent on the last syllable, are
changed into the construct state, fi taking the place
of H and njlB the place of j^?P> the accent remains

Nouns which are /*J/pP in the absolute by reason
of a long vowel preceding a short syllable, as
become J? J?P in the construct state, as

If the closed short final syllable be preceded by

another closed short syllable, the word is Jnpfi, as 7H3'

Nouns ending in Pi preceded by /I^D, although a

long vowel may go before, are JTjpD, as POD

, but if the final /UD is preceded by a short open

syllable, the word is TJ? p£?, as

The term PINT!} PO means a letter which, although
without a vowel, retains its consonant power, such as
the letters ^ and D in D*l5^-

The term "tf^D? H3 is applied to the letters V'1PI&$
when without a vowel and without any consonant power,
that is to say, when they are completely silent, such

as the K in N3, the PI in PlO, the 1 in 1 7, and the *

• ^
in 7.

52.

Verbs without pronominal suffixes are j
according to the following conditions :

In the past, future, infinitive, and imperative, the
accent falls upon the second letter of the root, e.g.,

In forms with tfllj? under the second letter of the
root, the accent falls upon the third letter, as PHpfe^
^fcfe?; but if -the NJ^ gives place to a vowel when the
verb is in pause, the accent falls upon the second letter,
and the word is Vj/plb, as from rnttt? PHD^, and
inversely, if through the addition of a final syllable, the
second letter of the root loses its vowel and takes KJfc^,
the accent falls upon the third letter, as from

Forms ending in Dft and JH are always y\?tif as
I£n5^> other persons in the past tense with
VI, that is with 1 conversive, throw the accent
forward from the second to the third letter of the root,
as from 'FTtin 'JVlSn1!, and from rPDK tt?3KL

' :•»- • j- : - • :' T : j- T JT : - |T :

Exceptions to this rule are verbs ending in tf or H
(i.e., verbs *pN TW W, and «"n t'tf? ^Hi), which
with 1 conversive retain the accent on the second letter
of the root in the conjugation 7p, as Jltf^D5) H^^ ;
but in conjugations where the second letter takes the
vowel Pl'TX, the accent is thrown forward, as n

conjugations Y'l J"*J? ^H3, as Dip, and the
as ^30, which in conjugation lose the second
letter of the root, the accent falls upon the first letter, as
ftftjp. Pi 3D; but in forms carrying three syllables the
accent falls upon the second root-letter, as fVDD ^HI^P.

Forms of a verb in the future (which have the
accent on the second radical) if preceded by 1 con-
versive become 7*5? jp?? in the following cases : —

The conjugation SjJM in the

In the conjugation 7$)5, of verbs whose second letter
is either of the TyfiPlK, as &W} ;

In the conjugations 7p and Aj®"!, of verbs whose
first letter is N (K"5 TG), as "llbN*l, or whose first letter
is ' ('"£ Ttf), as t)DW 3BJ3, or whose second letter
is 1 (V3 Tli), as 3^*1 U$J5> or whose second and third

letters are the same (D v)£D), as 7^*5 > or whose last
letter is H (TfS ^W), as J^l ||5^. %"

But in other verbs in which a silent fcOtj^ or pJH £'JH
would follow the accent thus thrown back, then the
accent remains upon the ultimate syllable, although
the word is preceded by 1 conversive, as

This is in deference to the rule that an accent thrown
back, ^IHK ^D3, cannot be followed by either frO^ or

pin &FI. T

;
The following are always JHpP by traditional usage,

although with 1 conversive,

Verbs also whose first letter is * (V/S ^)"0) preceded
by the prefixes f'TTtf, with 1 conversive, remain
]l*hti in Sp, as }#»! Spn

The foregoing rules regarding throwing the accent
back one degree do not apply to verbs in the first
person of the future with 1 conversive, in which cases
the accent remains on the ultimate syllable, as ""IpSO
ptf J, excepting in the following words :
y$, nor do they apply where the
word is in pause, as

53.

Nouns and verbs with pronominal suffixes are Jn?D
or A$JpD according to the following conditions:

The word is JTjpD with the suffixes —

JO Dn p DD JT Dr 1 PT, \ \, as-

a D^pfl a^ np? D^T nin na^i
rirra Dn»n3 nps.

|JV " |T JV " |T | JTJ T ;

The word is /^p-P with the following suffixes :

ID jn Dn n JIH ^ ^,as—

Words with the suffix "?[, if preceded by K), are
!J7 1?D, as ^"OT ; if preceded by a vowel, are /

54.

The importance of understanding the laws which
determine the tone syllable, cannot be over-estimated,
for the accents not only indicate the accurate punc-
tuation of the word, but sometimes they are the only
signs by which two words, otherwise precisely alike,

can be distinguished. For example, in TO &&} PHD ^

pyPI (1 Sam. xxx. 6). The word PHJb punctuated
T^JfPp, indicates that it is the preterite feminine of the
root "nib, of the form D vIM ; whereas in the phrase
'PI ^ HK PHp (1 Kings xiii. 26), the word PHD,
punctuated JHp/b indicates that it is the preterite
masculine of the root PHD of the form Pi"/ *Pt3.
PlPlp^l Pl7Pl¥ (Esther viii. 15) punctuated T!?pp is

the preterite feminine; PlPl??b> D^IPI DK (Ps. cxiii. 9)
punctuated JTjpP is the participle feminine.

PQfc? HJ<3 PlSD punctuated T J/plb are the preterite
feminines of the conjugation 7p, but punctuated J?7pP
they are the feminine participles.

^^<HP( r\y% (Ps. v. £) punctuated /^/'P is the im-
perative masculine with euphonic PI, whereas H^5 ^tf
(Prov. viii. 14) punctuated J7 jp'P is a feminine noun.

.... ._ vls. ix. 1) punctuated TJJTp is the feminine
imperative of 7p ; V^p DV7 punctuated ^jp^? (Zeph,
iii. 8) is the infinitive with the suffix.

55.

On account of the difficulty of enunciating two
accented syllables in juxtaposition, an accent cannot
follow another without a vowel or vocal fcOfc^ between
them.

A word may have two accents, one being a H^^fi,

the other a |TD£.!D, provided a vocal fcO!p* or a vowel

• '• .

is between them, as in the words

the first accent having the power of a

In the case of two words in juxtaposition, the former
carrying a rD&fo and being J? jp£p, and the latter
having the accent upon the first syllable, the collision
of the two accents is avoided by the one upon the
last syllable of the first word being thrown back one
degree, and is then called

Examples : The word X*lp being JHpp, and the
word H/v /^pto, when written together they are
punctuated PIT7

An accent which has become *YiPttf IPD3 is subject
to a partial loss of power, and then takes the power
of a 3fi£, for the operation of TUltf 3"iD^ only takes
place in regard to two words connected by a mfc^ft,
and resembles the case of two accents falling upon one

word. The accent thus thrown back frequently falls
upon the third syllable before the accent in the second
word,

(Ps. xix. 8), '113 HJb^nib (idem),

which is the place of the 3fift, therefore the rules
which apply to HH£p likewise apply to an accent

There are seven exceptions to the foregoing rules,
where the sequence of two tone syllables is per-
missible : —

(1.) In the case of two words, the first carrying a
jTDSfc, as nnjj ytiW (Gen. xxiv. 52).

(2.) In the case of two words, both having DTfl&PD,
as rnj Tfjb (Lev. iv. 31).

(3.) In the case of two words, the former having
two syllables, although carrying a rT\Wfo, preceded
by a syllable accented with a J"n&?£) of another word ;
for the object of throwing back the accent on the
preceding syllable would obviously be defeated in this
case, as fcttlj XW tih (Deut. xix. 6).

(4.) In the case of two words, the former a noun
ending with a long vowel and 718*1} !"D (which always

requires an accent), as fcOil 7J1V (Lev. xxv. 10), and
WH TiH^ (Lev. xiii. 17). Should the first word be a
verb, the accent is ^IH^ ^DJ, but as a final long
vowel followed by HK^i J"0 must have the accent,

such long vowel, in the case of a verb, is changed for
a short one, as 17 *)$!£*! (Gen. xxv. 21).

(5.) In the case of two words, the former having a

closed penultimate syllable, as 17 ft/P^I (Lev. xix. 22).
If such closed penultimate syllable be preceded by
an open syllable, authorities differ whether the accent
can be thrown back two degrees upon the antepenult,

or if such should take ^fifc, as D^b ^1$^ (Exod. xv. 8).

(6.) In the case of two words, the former ending
in DFl or jft DD or |D.

(7.) In the case of two words preceded by one

joined with S|pj&, as H^J N^D (Isa. xl. 26). Some
authorities do not include this case as a valid reason
for ignoring the rule of *")intf H*lD3, on account of the
numerous instances which fluctuate between the rule
and the exception.

56.

1. 3H£ is a small vertical line (i) which has half
the power of an accent, and, as its name signifies, is
a check upon the latter, supporting the unaccented
syllable and restraining the accent from monopolising
the whole tone. It resembles pyp, but is readily
recognised, as pyp is always at the end of a verse,
and 3HD is only attached to the third syllable before
the accent, whether it be a long or short syllable, pro-

vided it is not followed by either silent #} or BH,
as 'pJN DSnp ^|Sinn DJfrjj?, or to the second
syllable followed by vocal R)& 'as ")#tf 3 '^H iSStf

- J T : * v -: |- • : i' : r

rn9$ *"n5J (and to certain other syllables specified
in this paragraph).

2. 3HD cannot accompany a short vowel followed by
a silent ' X]W or pTH tflPT.
This rule is not absolute.

Examples of exceptions : (TIT (Gen. xviii. 18),

ITJT (Gen. xvii. 18),
DJP'FI^I (Exod. xii. 19),
DriTill (Exod. xii. 23),

and other similar forms of the verbs JTH and
!"Vn, which have ^Hft attached to a short vowel fol-
lowed by a silent frO^.

3H£p cannot accompany ^)tpn J*?P, even if it be
the third syllable before the accent, and no silent

or pTPl WN follows.
This rule is not absolute.

Examples of exceptions : vHN> (Num. xvi. 26),

Dir^riK (Num. xvi. 27),
y?y£) (Hab. iii. 2).

3. In a word of three syllables, the first and second
being open, and after the second syllable a vocal fcO!^,
then the syllable preceding the vocal #\$ takes pre-
cedence over the third syllable before the accent, and

has the 3ft£ ; and in a word of four syllables the third
syllable before the accent takes precedence over the
fourth, as ttyfif} ^NH.

4. A word of three syllables 7^7^?> *s equivalent
to a word of two syllables JTVp £, and a word of four
syllables y^?£? is equivalent to a word of three syl-
lables Jn?^> f°r ^6 ru^es governing the pointing of
3riD are reckoned from the syllables carrying the
accent.

5. In a word of two syllables, the first being open,
followed by a vocal KM?, takes 3Hb, as DvTlSJ

tfflFfr

6. In a word of three syllables, the first being open,
and the second syllable without a vocal K)fc^ following,
the first takes 3ft£, as *JJK, and if the second be fol-
lowed by vocal KJfcS', the second takes the ^HD, as

If the first syllable be a closed one and the second
is not followed by vocal KM?, the 3HE does not appear
at all, as Ti^H THfO, '

7. In a word of four syllables, the first being open
and the second closed, the first takes 3Jl£, as

If the first syllable be also closed or the accent be
TlTpD, the 3n£ does not appear, as CD'HI^n

own.

8. If the first syllable has vocal NM# after it and
the second is an open syllable, two D^HJb appear, as
DD^nb^, the first on account of the vocal fcflfc?, and

the second because it is the third syllable before the
accent. This does not apply to a word of four syl-
lables of the opposite construction, as QD*5?^??'

9. If the first and second syllables are open and
the third be followed by a vocal X^, two D^DD
appear, as TjnjJ^v, because the third syllable before
a 3n!p has 3n?? in the same manner as the third syl-
lable before the accent.

10. In a word of five syllables, the first being open
and the two following syllables being closed, the first
takes JHE, as filJIftHfinp ; but if the first two syllables
are closed, and the word is TypD, then the second
syllable before the accent, where 3HD would be due,
being a closed syllable, 3HD does not appear, as
^nTp^l. If the first and third are open, two D^HD
appear, as DH^Jlini^^, the first because it is the third
syllable before the next 3H&, and the second because
it is the third syllable before the accent.

11. In a word with two accents, the first a rnt^/b,
the second a p^DM, the former is the substitute for
3HD, and is subject to the same rules which apply to

jna, as f ?n:3£ (Gen- xii- 3)> ^^ (Exod- viii- 17>

DynSehSD (Lev. xxiii. 17).

• t

This rule does not include tjpj tftpt^iSj which is

treated as one accent, though the KD^2 is rendered
musically in the place it is pointed, and not upon the

letter with *]J5T, as IflJ (Ex. xi.), Hl (Lev.

vii. 19).

Two words connected by t]j?£ are considered one
word in respect to 3H£, as KJtfV'3 (Deut. xxi. 10),

'v/h, and if the first word of two connected by
j5/ has two syllables, the first open and the second
closed, the JH^ is attached to the first, as /rVTTnSp
(Gen. xxxv. 20).

12. There are some instances, in which the rules
regarding the position of the accents would result in
the close sequence of two accented syllables ; for
example, when two words follow each other, and the
first ends in a closed syllable containing a long vowel
and one of the letters V/1X, the two words are connected
by ^)|1???, and a 3JT1& is substituted for the accent on
the preceding syllable, as l7"*Vtf$n (Num. xxi. 35).

In such cases, just as an accent has the power of a
when it is employed as its substitute, so has a
the same power as an accent when used as its
substitute.

13. There is a species of %T\fo called K^, which
appears at the right side of frOfc^, at the beginning of
words, there are eighty-four such words in Scripture,
e.g., $P3 (Job xix. 6), ^^pHFl (Ps. cxix. 175).

Its object appears to have been to give emphasis to
the half- syllable, though many authorities ignore this
symbol as unsupported by PHIDft.

14. It is important to know the rules which deter-
mine the position of 3H£, for in many instances its
presence distinguishes one word from another.

Examples : Dj?B*nj ITOT (Lam. i. 7) with Iflti, is
the preterite feminine of the verb *DT.

y'TOt (Neh. xiii. 32), without 3fifc, is the impe-
rative masculine with euphonic H ; moreover, the
vowel f*Jpp is long in the first instance and short
in the second.

1NTI (Josh. iv. 14) with 5nO, is the plural
future third person; preterite with *l conversive, of
the verb K*V, and the vowel p'TH is long, the second
* having been dropped.

nnk ^NTI (Gen. xii. 15) without 3H£p, is the plural
future third person; preterite with 1 conversive, of
the verb flN*!, and the p"^Pl is short.

&T K1? (Prov. iv. 16) with JHfc is from the verb

W\ K7 (Job xxix. 22) without 3H£, is from the
verb' PUB?.

57.

is a horizontal line connecting two or more
words, which serves the purpose of a hyphen, and by
which means words so connected are treated as one
word in regard to placing accents or ^Htt, as ^?" /5?
(Gen. i. 20).

Generally the first word is without an accent. If

the first word has one, it is Klp^§ before Jtpp &)pT; these

two accents are considered as one, as
(Exod. xxi. 11).

It is for the most part monosyllables that are thus
attached to the following word, as

A word connected by &]p£ to the following one,
loses its individuality, and if its final syllable is a
long vowel followed by a 11X13 Pl3 with the accent,
the accent is dropped, and the long vowel changed
into its kindred short one, as

From 3?-N3-3K! (Gen. xliv. 33).
From fifi-^-jnPrn& (Gen. xv. 2).

If the first word ends with a closed syllable con-
taining a long vowel which is essential, this vowel
cannot be shortened, as 1 /VN^H ; nor does the
long vowel change into its kindred short one if
the meaning would be altered, as j^"n£~{5 (Ezek.
xviii. 10).

The student will meet with some passages in
Scripture, the punctuation of which does not obey
the foregoing rules, and for which tradition is re-
sponsible.

The Ten Commandments (Exod. xx. and Deut, v.),
and the following words from Genesis xxxv. 22 —

vi« Btofra nnS

<v T va .• • VT : •

possess two sets of accents, and a knowledge of the
laws of consecution is necessary to enable the reader
to follow the set adopted.

One set — the more ornate — termed pvJ?P! DJftO, is
employed in chanting the Law publicly. The other
set, termed flftHm DJ?t9, is used upon other occasions.
There are likewise a few anomalous instances of single
words being punctuated with two accents, which do not
come within the rules regarding double accents.

Examples : pV ftftl rn KJ (Num. xvii. 23),

« (Gen. L. IT).

Amongst these isolated cases are five words punc-
tuated with m and

Example : M£D£ n(Gen. v. 29).

In chanting the Scriptures it is customary to render
the musical power of both accents set to single words,
and in the five words bearing JT'fi and fc^'")3, the
musical sound of EH3 is given before that of jfD,
although the setting is in the reverse order.

* ,* #### *

1DJ N7 inm 13 11^13 IPT p

tj <»
-§£

University ot Toronto
Library

DO NOT

REMOVE

THE

CARD

FROM

THIS

POCKET

Acme Library Card Pocket

LOWE-MARTIN CO. LIMITED

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "The Hebrew accents of the twenty-one Books of the Bible ([K"A Sefarim]) with a new introduction"

See other formats