In Biblical Hebrew, adjectives (shemot to’ar) do more than describe – they reflect deep grammatical relationships and poetic rhythm. Understanding how adjectives work in the Bible helps learners grasp nuance, emphasis, and beauty in the text.
Here’s how gender, number, and word order shape adjectives in Biblical Hebrew:
Gender and Number Agreement
Hebrew adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in both gender and number.
Masculine Singular
- אִישׁ טוֹב – “a good man”
- מֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל – “a great king”
Feminine Singular
- אִשָּׁה טוֹבָה – “a good woman”
- מַלְכָּה חֲכָמָה – “a wise queen”
Masculine Plural
- אֲנָשִׁים רְעוּעִים – “weak men”
- מְלָכִים גְּדוֹלִים – “great kings”
Feminine Plural
- נָשִׁים טוֹבוֹת – “good women”
- מְלָכוֹת חֲכָמוֹת – “wise queens”
Adjective endings change to match the noun:
- Feminine singular: often ends in -ה (-ah)
- Masculine plural: -ים (-im)
- Feminine plural: -ות (-ot)
Word Order: After the Noun
Unlike English, where adjectives usually come before the noun, Biblical Hebrew places the adjective after the noun.
- עֶבֶד נֶאֱמָן – “a faithful servant”
- הַמֶּלֶךְ הַצַּדִּיק – “the righteous king”
This structure creates a natural rhythm and allows for emphasis through repetition or parallelism.
Definiteness and Article Agreement
When the noun is definite (marked by ה־), the adjective must also be definite.
- הַנַּעַר הַטּוֹב – “the good boy”
- הָאִשָּׁה הַחֲכָמָה – “the wise woman”
Both noun and adjective receive the definite article ה־, and the adjective follows the noun.
Why It Matters
Understanding adjectives in Biblical Hebrew helps learners:
- Read biblical descriptions with precision
- Recognize poetic and rhetorical patterns
- Translate with greater accuracy and sensitivity
In the Bible, adjectives are not just decorative – they’re structural. They reveal character, contrast, and divine qualities, all while following elegant grammatical rules.