State Construct

Висновок

The contruct state is a modified form of a word (noun, adjective, participle, or infinitive) in contrast to the standard form called the absolute state. The construct state is used when a word takes a suffix or is connected to another term in a construct chain.

Визначення

Nouns, adjectives, participles and infinitives can appear in either the absolute state or the construct state. The construct state ending is shorter than the absolute state ending and can take an attached suffix. Nouns, adjectives and participles can appear in either the absolute state or the construct state for both чоловічий and жіночий terms in both однина and множина forms. Because infinitives do not change form for either gender or number, there is usually only one infinitive construct form and one infinitive absolute form of a verb in Biblical Hebrew.

Примітка

Many чоловічий однина nouns appear exactly alike in both the absolute state and the construct state.

The construct state serves a unique function in Biblical Hebrew to grammatically link a word to the following word(s),making a single grammatical unit called a construct chain. Words in a construct chain are often translated into English with the word «of» between them. Construct chains can consist of two words (for example, «the king of Israel») or more than two words (for example, «the son of the king of Israel»).

Форма

For most nouns, the чоловічий однина form is identical to the absolute state. The чоловічий множина construct ending drops the final ם and changes the final hireq to a segol (i-sound to e-sound).

Usually, the жіночий однина construct ending changes from a final ה to a final ת. The жіночий множина construct ending is identical to the absolute state.

Paradigm

Construct State Examples

Синтаксичний аналіз

Іврит

Транслітерація

Переклад

Noun, чоловічий однина construct

סוּס

sus

stallion of

Noun, чоловічий множина construct

סוּסֵי

suse

stallions of

Noun, жіночий однина construct

סוּסַת

susat

mare of

Noun, жіночий множина construct

סוּסוֹת

susoth

mares of

Функція

Appearing with a suffix

Приклад: 2SA 17:23

וַיָּ֜קָם וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ֙ אֶל־עִיר֔וֹ

wayyaqom wayyelekh „el-betho „el-„iro

And-he-stood-up and-went to_his-house to_his-city

He went home to his own city

Forming a construct chain

Two or more terms that are gramatically linked together to form a construct chain can express a wide range of meanings. The initial term(s) in a construct chain always appears in the construct state and is called the «construct noun(s).» The final term in a construct chain always appears in the absolute state and is called the «absolute noun». The absolute noun always determines whether a construct chain is definite or indefinite.

Possessive

A construct noun can indicate a person/thing possessed by the absolute noun.

Приклад: 1KI 9:10

בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

beth hammelekh

house-of the-king

the king„s palace

Relational

A construct noun can indicate a kind of personal relationship with reference to the absolute noun.

EXAMPLE

Material

An absolute noun can indicate the substance or material of the construct noun.

Приклад: 1KI 10:25

כְּלֵ֣י כֶסֶף֩

kele khesef

vessels-of silver

vessels of silver

Attributive

An absolute noun can describe the construct noun, similar to an attributive adjective.

Приклад: ISA 6:13

זֶ֥רַע קֹ֖דֶשׁ

zera“ qodesh

seed-of holiness

a holy seed

Indicative

An absolute noun can indicate the specific item described by the construct noun.

Приклад: EXO 7:19

אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם

„erets mitsrayim

land-of Egypt

the land of Egypt

Purpose/Result

An absolute noun can indicate an intended purpose/result for the construct noun.

Приклад: PSA 44:22 (PSA 44:23 in Hebrew)

כְּצֹ֣אן טִבְחָֽה

ketson tivhah

like-sheep-of slaughter

as sheep for the slaughter

Agent/Instrument

An absolute noun can indicate the person/thing by which the construct noun is performed.

Приклад: ISA 53:4

מֻכֵּ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים

mukkeh „elohim

struck-of God

struck by God

Subject/object of an action

An absolute noun can indicate the person/thing that either performs or receives the action described by the construct noun.

Приклад: EXO 3:8

אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָ֑שׁ

„erets zavath halav udevash

land flowing-with milk and-honey

a land flowing with milk and honey

Superlative

A construct noun can indicate a unique item among a series described by the absolute noun.

Приклад: SNG 1:1

שִׁ֥יר הַשִּׁירִ֖ים

shir hashirim

Song-of the-songs

The greatest song