Construct State with Numbers
Numbers in Biblical Hebrew often appear in construct form when modifying a noun. This is especially noticeable with two, thousands, and tens of thousands.
Examples:
- שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים – “two men”
(שְׁנֵי is the construct form of שְׁנַיִם) - שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים – “two women”
(שְׁתֵּי is the construct form of שְׁתַּיִם) - אַרְבַּעַת אֲלָפִים – “four thousand”
(אַרְבַּעַת is the construct form of אַרְבַּעָה) - עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים – “ten thousand”
(עֲשֶׂרֶת is the construct form of עֲשָׂרָה)
These forms express quantity in relation to a noun and follow the same construct pattern.
Construct State with the Definite Article
In Biblical Hebrew, only the absolute noun (the second noun in the pair) can take the definite article (ה־, “the”). The construct noun never takes the article, even if the whole phrase is definite.
Example:
- סֵפֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ – “the book of the king”
סֵפֶר is in construct form, and הַמֶּלֶךְ carries the definite article.
This rule helps distinguish between definite and indefinite phrases:
- סֵפֶר מֶלֶךְ – “a king’s book”
- סֵפֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ – “the king’s book”
Chains of Construct (Construct Chains)
Biblical Hebrew allows construct chains, where multiple nouns are linked together in a sequence. These are common in poetic and legal texts.
Example:
- בֵּית אֱלֹהִים יִשְׂרָאֵל – “the house of the God of Israel”
- בֵּית – construct of “house”
- אֱלֹהִים – “God”
- יִשְׂרָאֵל – “Israel”
Another example:
- דִּבְרֵי יְמֵי מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה – “the chronicles of the days of the kings of Judah”
- דִּבְרֵי – “words/chronicles of”
- יְמֵי – “days of”
- מַלְכֵי – “kings of”
- יְהוּדָה – “Judah”
Each noun is in construct form until the final absolute noun, which anchors the chain.
Why It Matters
Understanding the construct state is crucial for interpreting Biblical Hebrew texts accurately. It reveals relationships between ideas, ownership, and hierarchy. Whether you’re reading Psalms, legal codes, or historical narratives, s’michut is everywhere.