Adapted, by permission, from Israel Yeivin, Introduction to the Tiberian Masorah, translated and edited by E. J. Revell. Copyright © 1980 by the Society of Biblical Literature.

Phonetic Gaʿya

345

Some gaʿya s are not affected by syllable structure or accent. They have a phonetic rather than a musical function. They have several purposes, among them the following:

It is not always clear what particular fault in pronunciation phonetic gaʿya was intended to remedy. However, the effect of phonetic gaʿya is the same as that of musical gaʿya: the slowing down of the reading.

Gaʿya Marking a Shewa that Follows as Vocal

346

This gaʿya is marked in various situations:

• before a letter which has lost its historical doubling,
• before a sibilant letter,
• before a group of similar-sounding letters,
• etc.

In some cases this gaʿya is used even though a ḥaṭef shewa follows it rather than a simple shewa (#391). In such cases this gaʿya resolves no ambiguity, because there is no ambiguity to be resolved. But this use of ḥaṭef is not done consistently either with words of the same structure, or with the same words in different manuscripts. Some manuscripts (notably μA) mark the ḥaṭef often. Others mark it rarely. The quality of this ḥaṭef is determined by the Tiberian rules for the pronunciation of vocal shewa (#336, #387):

(Such a ḥaṭef is unlikely to occur in cases not covered by the table above. I.e. it is unlikely to occur before a guttural pointed with other vowels, or before yod.)

Gaʿya on a Short Vowel

347

This section and the next few will cover the following classes of phonetic gaʿya on a short vowel:

1. Gaʿya on initial he with pataḥ before mem
2. Gaʿya on conjunctive waw pointed as shureq
3. Gaʿya on other short vowels

(i) Gaʿya on initial he with pataḥ before mem. Gaʿya is often marked in this situation, where that he represents either the definite article or he “interrogative.” Gaʿya is generally not marked if the he starts the syllable right before the stress syllable, as הַמְעַ֤ט, and similarly it is not marked if the he starts the third syllable before the stress syllable, as הַמְקֻשָּׁרוֹת֒. However, if the syllable in question is the second before the stress syllable, gaʿya generally is marked. E.g.:

In all of the examples above that are preserved in μA (which is all but the last), μA has ḥaṭef pataḥ on the mem.

Consider the cases where only simple shewa is used on the mem, and the word in question would have regular structure if we assume that the shewa is silent. E.g.:

In such cases, it is uncertain whether the gaʿya is a phonetic gaʿya, in which case the shewa that follows is vocal, or a musical gaʿya, in which case the shewa that follows is silent. However, where ḥaṭef pataḥ is used on the mem, as in μA in הַֽמֲשַׁלְּחִ֤ים , it is certain that the gaʿya is phonetic.

There are a number of exceptions to this rule, in which gaʿya is not marked before mem. Examples include לַמְנַצֵּ֖חַ and all of its accent-variants. In some other words gaʿya is not marked and the mem has dagesh (and so the shewa is vocal) as הַמְּתֹאָ֖ר and הַמְּלֵאָ֑ה.

Biblical references in this section: הַמְעַ֤ט Is 7:13, הַמְקֻשָּׁרוֹת֒ Gen 30:41, הַֽמְכַבֵּ֨ד 2S 10:3, הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ן Is 40:20, הַֽמְנַשֶּׁה֙ 1C 27:21, הַֽמְחַכִּ֣ים Job 3:21, בַּֽמְסִלָּ֣ה Nu 20:19, הַֽמְבַשְּׁלִ֔ים Ez 46:24, הַֽמְשַׁלְּחִ֤ים 2C 32:31, לַמְנַצֵּ֖חַ Hab 3:19, הַמְּתֹאָ֖ר Jos 19:13, הַמְּלֵאָ֑ה Qoh 11:5.

348

Gaʿya is occasionally marked on initial he with pataḥ before letters other than mem. E.g.:

Biblical references in this section: הַֽנְקַלָּ֤ה 1S 18:23, הַֽבְרָכָ֨ה Gen 27:38, וְהַֽשְׁפַתַּ֗יִם Ez 40:43, לַֽשְׁפַנִּֽים׃ Ps 104:18, בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה 2K 2:1 and 2K 2:11, הַֽנְשַׁמּ֗וֹת Jer 33:10, הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃ Ex 7:29 and elsewhere, וְהַֽסְפַרְוִ֗ים 2K 17:31.

349

(ii) Gaʿya on conjunctive waw pointed as shureq. Gaʿya in this situation is especially common before sibilants but also comes before other letters. Thus, in the syllable right before the stress,

In the second syllable before the stress syllable:

Footnote for this section:

Biblical references in this section: וּֽשְׁבֵ֥ה Jud 5:12, וּֽשְׁמָ֔ע 2K 19:16 and elsewhere, וּֽשְׁתֵ֥ה Qoh 9:7, וּֽשְׂדֵ֛ה Lev 25:34, וּֽסְגֹ֥ר Is 26:20, וּֽסְעָ֑דָה 1K 13:7, וּֽזְהַ֛ב Gen 2:12, וּֽזְעָ֑קוּ Jer 48:20, וּֽצְעָ֔קִי Jer 22:20, וּֽקְרָ֔אוּ Is 34:16, וּֽסְחַר־כּוּשׁ֮ Is 45:14, וּֽסְאָה־סֹ֙לֶת֙ 2K 7:18, וּֽתְבֻקְשִׁ֗י Ez 26:21, וּֽתְכַסֵּ֘נוּ֮ Jer 3:25, וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל Gen 1:18 and Lev 10:10.

350

(iii) Gaʿya on other short vowels. 1) Before a letter which has lost its historical doubling:

2) Before a syllable starting with a guttural:

3) Before a syllable starting with a begad-kefat letter which is rafe:

4) Other situations:

Footnotes for this section:

Biblical references in this section: כִּֽנְר֖וֹת Jos 11:2, מִֽמְתִ֬ים Ps 17:14, וַיִּתְיַֽלְד֥וּ Nu 1:18, וַתְּאַֽלְצֵ֑הוּ Jud 16:16, וְחַֽיְתוֹ־אֶ֖רֶץ Gen 1:24, לֻֽקְחָה־זֹּֽאת׃ Gen 2:23, מְקַֽדְֿשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ Ez 7:24, שַֽׁוְעַ֥ת 1S 5:12, סַֽלְעִ֥י 2S 22:2, הַֽשְׁחִ֥ית Is 65:8, שִֽׁבְעַ֨ת Job 1:3, יִֽצְחַק־לִֽי׃ Gen 21:6, לִֽקְחִי־נָ֥א 1K 17:11, דַּֽרְכֵ֨י Jer 12:16, כַּֽלְכֵֿ֖ל Jer 20:9, כַּֽדְכֹֿד֙ Is 54:12, בִֽשְׁתִי֙ Lev 13:48, סַֽרְג֖וֹן Is 20:1, רֻֽטְפַ֣שׁ Job 33:25, בְּשִֽׁקְת֣וֹת Gen 30:38, הַֽקְשִׁ֥יבָה Dan 9:19, חַֽשְׁרַת־מַ֖יִם 2S 22:12, מִֽמְתִ֥ים Ps 17:14.

Gaʿya before the First of an Identical Pair of Letters

351

Gaʿya is usually marked in this situation whether the first of the pair was historically doubled (and has lost this doubling) or not. Thus, historically doubled:

With no historical doubling:

In most such cases μA marks a ḥaṭef shewa on the first of the pair.

In a few cases of this situation, gaʿya is not marked, as הִנְנִי (always), and אַלְלַ֬י . In some similar cases, the first of the pair has dagesh, and no gaʿya is marked. E.g.:

Biblical references in this section: וְהִֽלְל֖וּ Is 62:9, הִֽלְל֙וּךָ֙ Is 64:10, מְחַֽצְצִ֗ים Jud 5:11, בְּקַֽלְל֑וֹ 2S 16:7, וּפִֽלְל֣וֹ 1S 2:25, קִֽנְנוּ֙ Ez 31:6, בְּגֶֽלְלֵי֙ Ez 4:12, בְּחַֽצְצ֣וֹן 2C 20:2, קִֽלְלַ֖ת Jud 9:57, בְּרִֽבְב֖וֹת Mic 6:7, יִֽלְלַ֣ת Zech 11:3, אַלְלַ֬י Job 10:15, מְחַלְּלִ֣ים 1K 1:40, קִנְּנָ֤ה Is 34:15, נְרַנְּנָ֣ה Ps 95:1.

Gaʿya on a Long Vowel

352

Generally, when a word has gaʿya on a syllable with a long vowel before simple shewa, that gaʿya is musical (#326). However, sometimes such a word appears in other manuscripts with a ḥaṭef shewa. This makes it likely that the gaʿya in the manuscript with simple shewa is phonetic rather than musical. Some examples before resh are:

and so often in forms from the roots ברך, גרשׁ, and ירד (#379). (φ2)

Before letters other than resh:

and so also in certain circumstances in forms from the roots אכל, הלך, and others (#380).

Footnotes for this section:

Biblical references in this section: אֲקָֽרְבֶֽנּוּ׃ Job 31:37, כׇּל־הָרְכֽוּשׁ׃ Nu 16:32, הֽוּטְלוּ֙ Jer 22:28, וְנֵֽאשְׁאַ֖ר Ez 9:8, רִֽצְפַ֥ת Est 1:6.

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Even where a long vowel precedes shewa on an identical pair of letters, the long vowel is often marked with gaʿya, and the shewa is a ḥaṭef. E.g.:

(We consider nonfinal and final forms of the same letter to be identical.)

This usage of shewa and ḥaṭef is not consistent, however. Each of the four possible cases occur, at times:

Different methods are used in different manuscripts, and there is no agreement between them. It appears that the general rule was as follows:

• simple shewa after a long vowel was silent,
• unless this shewa was on the first of an identical pair of letters, in which case it was vocal. This latter fact could be marked by a ḥaṭef shewa and/or by a gaʿya, so
  • either one may be used alone,
  • but sometimes both are used, and
  • sometimes no indication is given.

(See #385).

Biblical references in this section: וּבָֽזְזוּ֙ Ez 26:12 and Ez 39:10, מִתּֽוֹכְךָ֙ Is 58:9, סֹֽלְלָ֑ה Jer 6:6.

Gaʿya on a Short Vowel before a Guttural

354

This section and the next will cover the following classes of phonetic gaʿya on a short vowel before a guttural:

1. Gaʿya on a Guttural-closed Syllable
2. Gaʿya in Forms of היה and חיה

(i) Gaʿya on a Guttural-closed Syllable. Gaʿya is sometimes marked on a syllable closed by a guttural. The guttural may close the syllable in either of the following two ways:

• Within a word, i.e. with a silent shewa.
• At the end of a word with maqqef — especially if the next starts with lamed or nun.

For example,

This gaʿya is consistently used with the following numbers:

• אַרְבַּֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֗ה
• תְּשַֽׁע־עֶשְׂרֵ֗ה
• שְׁבַֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֗ה

(Above, revia is used as a generic accent.)

Gaʿya is sometimes similarly used at the end of a word even if that word is not joined to the next by maqqef. In such words, the guttural-closed syllable follows the stress, which is penultimate. The vowel sound before the guttural sound may be notated as a furtive pataḥ. E.g.:

Biblical references in this section: שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה 1C 5:4, יְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּ Is 1:1, וּפְתַֽחְיָ֨ה Neh 11:24, יִשָּׁבַֽע־לִ֤י 1K 1:51, קַֽח־לִ֔י Jud 14:3, שְׁמַֽע־נָ֤א 1S 28:22, הֵ֥רַֽע לִֽי׃ Rut 1:21, וָאֶשָּׁ֨בַֽע ל֤וֹ 1K 2:8, וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ ל֖וֹ Ez 1:4 and Ez 1:27, לִשְׁמֹ֣עַֽ ל֔וֹ Jud 19:25, סְלֹ֣חַֽ לוֹ֒ Dt 29:19.

355

(ii) Gaʿya in Forms of היה and חיה. Gaʿya is used in many forms from these roots to prevent the slurring over of the he or ḥet. It occurs in two classes of forms:

1. Before he or ḥet with shewa. E.g.:

and so on (and in the corresponding forms from חיה).

2. Before the yod of the pronomial prefix where it has shewa, as in

This gaʿya is mostly used where the word has a disjunctive accent, but may also occur with conjunctives. The tendency to mark it differs in different forms, and it is not consistent in individual manuscripts, nor is its use uniform in any group of manuscripts, and it is not in the lists of ḥillufim. This gaʿya is, however, as a rule, marked consistently when the word in question is joined by maqqef to an initially-stressed word as

Biblical references in this section: יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֥וֹ Ez 45:8, תִּֽהְיוּ־לִ֣י Jer 7:23, וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר Gen 1:5.

The System of Preference for Phonetic Gaʿya

356

In #339 we noted that only one musical gaʿya was normally marked on a word, even where more than one could be marked. This is not, however, the case where a phonetic gaʿya is involved. In this case two gaʿya s are marked on the same word even in manuscripts like μA and μL, where this is otherwise very rare. Examples of different combinations of gaʿya s are given below:

1) Musical gaʿya on a closed syllable with regular structure AFR4 (#322) and phonetic gaʿya before an identical pair of letters.

2) Musical gaʿya on an open syllable, and phonetic gaʿya on forms from היה and חיה.

3) Phonetic gaʿya on he with pataḥ before mem, and phonetic gaʿya before an identical pair of letters.

4) Musical gaʿya on an open syllable (#326) and phonetic gaʿya on a guttural-closed syllable.

5) Musical gaʿya on a closed syllable (#323) and phonetic gaʿya on a guttural-closed syllable.

6) Musical gaʿya with shewa (#333) and phonetic gaʿya on a guttural-closed syllable.

This system of marking the two gaʿya s on one word is not common to all the early manuscripts. In some only one gaʿya is marked, either the musical or the phonetic.

Biblical references in this section: בְּהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֖וֹ Job 42:10, וְיִֽתְפַּֽלְלוּ֙ 2C 7:14, לֹֽא־יִֽהְי֗וּ Ez 13:9, לִֽהְיֽוֹתְכֶ֤ם Ez 36:3, הַֽמְלַֽקְקִים֙ Jud 7:7, הֽוּנַֽח־לָֽנוּ׃ Lam 5:5, יִֽזְרַֽחְיָ֑ה 1C 7:3, אֶֽל־יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖הוּ Is 38:4, וַנִּֽשְׂבַּֽע־לֶ֙חֶם֙ Jer 44:17, הַֽנַּֽח־לֽוֹ׃ Hos 4:17, וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ל֤וֹ 1C 2:19 and 2C 11:18, וּֽשְׁלַֽח־לִי֩ 2C 2:7, שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה Neh 6:10, שְֽׁמַֽע־נָ֖א 1S 22:12 and Jer 37:20, שְֽׁלַֽח־לִ֣י 2C 2:6.

Maqqef after Gaʿya after a Conjunctive

357

In some manuscripts maqqef is marked — sometimes consistently, sometimes sporadically — after a gaʿya after a conjunctive stress. This occurs in the following contexts:

(It may not be clear at first glance that לִשְׂבֹּ֥עַֽ־ matches the pattern. But this is just an artifact of the notation for furtive pataḥ. The word’s sequence of sounds matches the pattern. )

The purpose of this maqqef is to indicate that, even though gaʿya is marked after the stress, so that the reading of that syllable must be slowed down, the word must be joined to the next word, and no break should be made between them. That is, gaʿya sometimes indicates a pause of some sort. The maqqef is used to show that no pause should be made in these cases. As is said in Nutt, 1870, text p. 129 (ascribed to Ḥayyuj) “Gaʿya is the opposite of maqqef, because maqqef joins words while gaʿya separates them.”

Biblical references in this section: בּ֤וֹשָֽׁה־חֲמָת֙ Jer 49:23, לְבָ֣עֵֽר־קָ֑יִן Nu 24:22, וַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁע־לוֹ֙ Is 59:16, לִשְׂבֹּ֥עַֽ־לָֽחֶם׃ Lam 5:6.