In Biblical Hebrew, demonstrative pronouns are used to point to specific people, objects, or ideas – either near or far, physical or abstract. They help clarify what is being spoken about, distinguish between entities, and add emphasis or poetic rhythm.
These pronouns appear frequently in narrative, law, prophecy, and poetry, often carrying more weight than their simple function suggests.
What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns are words like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” In Biblical Hebrew, they reflect:
- Gender: masculine or feminine
- Number: singular or plural
- Distance: near (this) or far (that)
They agree with the noun they refer to and often appear before or after it.
Core Forms in Biblical Hebrew
| Meaning | Masculine | Feminine | Plural (Both Genders) |
|---|---|---|---|
| This / These | זֶה | זֹאת | אֵלֶּה |
| That / Those | הוּא | הִיא | הֵם / הֵנָּה |
Note: הוּא and הִיא can function both as personal pronouns (“he,” “she”) and demonstratives (“that one”), depending on context.
Examples from the Bible
- זֶה – “this (masculine)”
זֶה הַסֵּפֶר – “this is the book” - זֹאת – “this (feminine)”
זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה – “this is the Torah” - אֵלֶּה – “these”
אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת נֹחַ – “These are the generations of Noa - הוּא / הִיא – “that one”
הוּא הַאִישׁ – “that is the man”
הִיא הָעִיר – “that is the city” - הֵם / הֵנָּה – “those”
הֵם הָאֲנָשִׁים – “those are the men”
הֵנָּה הַנָּשִׁים – “those are the women”
Word Order and Syntax
Demonstrative pronouns can appear:
- Before the noun: זֶה הַדָּבָר – “this thing”
- After the noun: הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה – “this thing” (more formal/emphatic)
The second form is especially common in Biblical Hebrew and often used for emphasis or poetic effect.
Why It Matters
Understanding demonstrative pronouns in Biblical Hebrew helps learners:
- Identify and distinguish subjects in complex sentences
- Follow narrative flow and prophetic declarations
- Translate with precision and awareness of tone
In the Bible, pointing isn’t just physical – it’s theological, poetic, and rhetorical. Demonstrative pronouns guide the reader’s attention, highlight divine truths, and shape the rhythm of revelation.