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  • From: mjoseph <mjoseph AT terminal.cz>
  • To: "b-Hebrew Digest" <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: The pronominal suffix -MOW
  • Date: Mon, 15 Mar 99 15:56:09 -0000


The following is intended to be a list (from the WTS database) of all the
forms ending in -MOW in the Hebrew Bible, excluding cases of nouns and
verbs ending in -M with the -OW 3rd person singular suffix.

In studying the suffix, I reordered the list, putting each reference on
its own line (even if the Hebrew forms were identical), and placing them
in canonical order (rather than alphabetical). In the "Stem" column, "N"
is "noun," "V" is "verb," "P" is "preposition," and ")" represents the
word )AYIN. In the "-MOW)" column, "P" is "plural" and "S" is "singular."

If you use a monospaced font this chart should be clear:

WTS Parsing Transcription Reference Stem -MOW
@PpX3ms LFMOW GEN 9:26 P S
@PpX3ms LFMOW GEN 9:27 P S
@vqi3msX3mp YO)K:L"MOW EXO 15:7 V P
@vhi3fsX3mp T.OWRIY$"MOW EXO 15:9 V P
@vqi3fsX3mp T.IM:LF)"MOW EXO 15:9 V P
@vpp3msX3mp K.IS.FMOW EXO 15:10 V P
@vqi3fsX3mp T.IB:LF("MOW EXO 15:12 V P
@vqi3msX3mp YO)X:AZ"MOW EXO 15:15 V P
@vhi2msX3mp T.:BI)"MOW EXO 15:17 V P
@vqi2msX3mp T.I+.F("MOW EXO 15:17 V P
@vpp2msX3mp{2} G."RA$:T.FMOW EXO 23:31 V P
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW DEU 32:23 P P
@ncmpcX3mp CFR"YMOW DEU 32:27 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW DEU 32:32 P P
@ncmpcX3mp (:ANFB"MOW DEU 32:32 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW DEU 32:35 P P
@ncmpcX3mp ):ELOH"YMOW DEU 32:37 N P
@ncmpcX3mp Z:BFX"YMOW DEU 32:38 N P
@ncfpcX3mp B.FMOWT"YMOW DEU 33:29 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW DEU 33:2 P P[1]
@PpX3ms LFMOW DEU 33:2 P P[2]
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 16:4 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 23:1 P P[3]
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 26:14 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 26:16 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 30:5 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 35:8 P P[4]
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 43:8 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 44:7 P P[5]
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 44:15 P S
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 48:21 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW ISA 53:8 P S
@PpX3ms LFMOW HAB 2:7 P P
@ncbpcX3mp (:ABOT"YMOW PSA 2:3 N P
@ncfpcX3mp MOWS:ROWT"YMOW PSA 2:3 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 2:4 P P
@PpX3mp )"L"YMOW PSA 2:5 P P
@vpi3msX3mp Y:BAH:AL"MOW PSA 2:5 V P
@vhvmsX3mp HAD.IYX"MOW PSA 5:11 V P
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW PSA 5:12 P P
@ncbpcX3mp P.FN"YMOW PSA 11:7 N S[6]
@ncmscX3mp XEL:B.FMOW PSA 17:10 N P
@ncmscX3mp P.IYMOW PSA 17:10 N P
@vqi2msX3mp T.:$IYT"MOW PSA 21:10 V P
@ncmscX3mp P.IR:YFMOW PSA 21:11 N P
@vqi2msX3mp T.:$IYT"MOW PSA 21:13 V P
@vpw2msX3mp T.:PAL.:+"MOW PSA 22:5 V P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 28:8 P P[7]
@ncbdcX3mp $IN."YMOW PSA 35:16 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 44:4 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 44:11 P P[8]
@vqi2msX3mp T.:$IYT"MOW PSA 45:17 V P
@ncmpcX3mp B.FT."YMOW PSA 49:12 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 49:14 P P
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW PSA 55:16 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 55:20 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 56:8 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 58:5 P P
@ncmscX3mp P.IYMOW PSA 58:7 N P
@ncbdcX3mp $IN."YMOW PSA 58:7 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 58:8 P P[9]
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 59:9 P P
@vhvmsX3mp H:ANIY("MOW PSA 59:12 V P
@vhvmsX3mp HOWRIYD"MOW PSA 59:12 V P
@ncmscX3mp P.IYMOW PSA 59:13 N P
@ncfdcX3mp &:PFT"YMOW PSA 59:13 N P
@PdX3mp )"YN"MOW PSA 59:14 ) P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 64:6 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 64:6 P P
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW PSA 64:9 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 66:7 P ?[10]
@PdX3mp )"YN"MOW PSA 73:5 ) P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 73:6 P P
@vqp3fsX3mp (:ANFQAT:MOW PSA 73:6 V P
@ncfscX3mp ("YN"MOW PSA 73:7 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 73:10 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 73:18 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 78:24 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 78:66 P P
@vhw2msX3mp T.A$:Q"MOW PSA 80:6 V P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 80:7 P P[11]
@vqvmsX3mp $IYT"MOW PSA 83:12 V P[12]
@ampcX3mp N:DIYB"MOW PSA 83:12 N P
@ncmpcX3mp N:SIYK"MOW PSA 83:12 N P
@vqvmsX3mp $IYT"MOW PSA 83:14 V P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 88:9 P P
@ncmscX3mp (UZ.FMOW PSA 89:18 N P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 99:7 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PSA 119:165 P P
@ncfdcX3mp &:PFT"YMOW PSA 140:4 N P
@ncfdcX3mp &:PFT"YMOW PSA 140:10 N P
@vpi3msX3mp{1}Jm Y:KAS."MOW PSA 140:10(Q) V P
@vpi3mpX3mp{1}Jm Y:KAS.W.MOW PSA 140:10(K)
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 3:14 P P
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW JOB 6:16 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 6:19 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 14:21 P P[13]
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 15:28 P P
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW JOB 20:23 P S
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW JOB 21:17 P P
@PpX3ms (FL"YMOW JOB 22:2 P S
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 22:17 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 22:19 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 24:16 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 24:17 P P
@ncfdcX3mp K.AP."YMOW JOB 27:23 N S
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW JOB 27:23 P S
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW JOB 29:22 P P
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW JOB 30:2 P P
@PpX3mp (FL"YMOW JOB 30:5 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 30:13 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW JOB 39:4 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW PRO 23:20 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW LAM 1:19 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW LAM 1:22 P P
@PpX3ms LFMOW LAM 4:10 P P
@Pp LFMOW LAM 4:15 P P

@vpi3mpX3mp Y:KAS:YUMW. EXO 15:5 V P

[1] It is not clear that this is a plural suffix, as there is no
antecedent or parallel in the passage. However, the commentators I
consulted (K & D, Driver, Craigie) unanimously call it a plural suffix,
saying it refers to Israel in the following verses. The LXX has hHMIN,
from LFNW. in a Hebrew exemplar.
[2] See [1]. The LXX is completely different. The MET' AUTOU might
indicate that (IM.OW was the last Hebrew word in the verse.
[3] It is not clear that this is a plural suffix. If so, it refers to the
ships, but it could be singular, referring to Tyre.
[4] Technically a singular suffix, referring back to the collective
singular +FM")
[5] Again singular, referring back to the collective singular 'AM
[6] Suffix could conceivably be plural, but "their faces will see the
righteous" is foreign to the context. Translate "His face will see the
righteous" or "The righteous will see his face."
[7] MT, followed by KJV: "their." LXX, followed by NIV: "of his people,"
from L:(AM.OW in a Hebrew exemplar.
[8] MT, followed by LXX, KJV: "for themselves." NIV, following a few
Hebrew manuscripts, the Syriac, and the Targum: "us," from LFNW. in a
Hebrew exemplar.
[9] The plural agreement is clear, but the sense isn't; neither the KJV
nor the NIV translates the preposition.
[10] Very unclear; the number of the preposition depends on the meaning
of the verb RW.M with the preposition lamed, as seen by the differing
translations of the KJV, "exalt themselves," and the NIV "rise up against
him." As no one sent me a list of the occurrences of RW.M L, I was unable
to verify this.
[11] MT, followed by KJV: "among themselves." NIV, following two Hebrew
manuscripts, LXX, Symmachus, and the Syriac: "us," from LFNW. in a Hebrew
exemplar.
[12] The plural suffix is probably to be dropped. It would be
unparalleled to attach it to both a verb and its object (see next word),
and the LXX has QOU, indicating an imperative of $IT without a suffix in
its Hebrew exemplar.
[13] It is not clear that this is a plural suffix. Does he observe "them"
(his sons; KJV) or "it" (the situation; NIV)? There is no parallel in the
first half of the verse, and the LXX does not translate the preposition.

The following are not counted, as they are simply long or poetic forms of
the three common prepositions:

@Pp B.:MOW JOB 9:30(K); 16:4,5; 19:16; 37:8; PSA 11:2; ISA 25:10(Q);
43:2; 44:16,19

@Pp K.:MOW GEN 19:15; EXO 15:5,8; NEH 9:11; JOB 6:15; 10:22,22; 12:3;
14:9; 19:22; 28:5; 31:37; 38:14; 40:17; 41:16; PSA 29:6,6;
58:5,8,8,9,10,10; 61:7; 63:6; 73:15; 78:13,69; 79:5; 88:6; 89:47; 90:9;
92:8; 102:4; 140:4; 141:7; PRO 23:7; SNG 6:10; 7:2; ISA 26:17,18; 30:22;
41:25,25; 51:6; JER 13:21; 15:18; 50:26; LAM 4:6; EZK 16:57; HOS 7:4;
8:12; 13:7; HAB 3:14; ZEC 9:15; 10:2,7,8

@Pp L:MOW JOB 27:14; 29:21; 38:40; 40:4

Statistics:

Total occurrences of -MOW as a pronominal suffix: 117 (104 identified
with certainty)

By number:
Singular 8
Plural 95
Unclear 13 (seven cases in which either it is unclear whether
the
suffix is singular or plural, or the whole phrase is unclear; twice in
which the suffix refers to a collective singular; four passages with
textual problems. Each of these 13 passages is treated in the notes
above. Given a probable resolution of each passage, or, when there is a
textual problem, accepting the reading which conserves the -MOW suffix,
the 13 unclear passages break down: 11 plural, one singular, one still
unclear [Ps. 66:7]. In the following breakdowns, these 13 are included
and counted in this manner).

By book:
Gen 2
Exo 10 (including -MW. in Ex. 15:5)
Deu 10
Isa 11
Hab 1
Psa 59
Job 19
Pro 1
Lam 4 (including Lam. 4:15)

By section:
Law 22 (20 P--2 S)
Prophets 12 (10 P--2 S)
Writings 83 (86 P--5 S--1 ?)

By genre:
Poetry 116
Prose 1 (Ex. 23:31)

By grammatical class of stem:
Noun 24 (22 P--2 S)
Verb 23 (23 P--0 S)
Preposition 68 (60 P--7 S--1 ?)
Word )AYIN 2 (2 P--0 S)

Conclusions:

1) -MOW can have both a singular and a plural meaning, though the ratio
of plural to singular usage is 11 or 12 to 1. Peter Kirk comments:

>But I also still wonder if modern comparative linguistics can help to
>answer whether this suffix can really be both singular and plural, or if
>we have to look for such explanations as "dignified singular."

After considering this for awhile, it occurred to me that I was surprised
by Peter's wondering. After all, we have at least one well-known case of
an ambiguous pronominal suffix in Hebrew, sometimes singular (3rd
masculine), other times plural (first person) in the word MIM.EN.W. It is
easy to show in other languages grammatical structures doing more than
one duty.

2) -MOW apparently never has a singular meaning when attached to a verb,
and occurs only once in prose. Otherwise, the distribution is pretty much
scattered, though it is most commonly used in the Psalms, and attached to
a preposition.

3) WTS is wrong at Lam 4:15; the preposition clearly does have a suffix.
The statistics show a clean distinction in the Masoretic pointing of the
prepositions L, B, and K with the suffix -MOW. Whenever they have a
schwa, they are mere long (poetic) forms of the preposition; whenever
they have a kametz (lamed only), the -MOW is a pronominal suffix.

4) WTS is wrong in parsing the -MOW suffix automatically. As Peter says:

>It is interesting that these forms are all defined as "X3mp" which means
>"with third person plural pronominal suffix", except for the prepositional
>forms B.:MOW, K.:MOW and L:MOW/LFMOW and the one occurrence of (FL"YMOW in
>JOB 22:2. I guess this is because WTS parsed these semi-automatically and
>did not attempt to decide which are plural. Probably this is a case where
>old manual methods are better than modern technology.

I fully agree with the last sentence. Does anyone on this list know if
the keepers of the WTS database want corrections, and if so, to whom they
should be sent?

5) Ps. 11:7c still isn't 100% clear. That's the verse that began this
discussion!

Mark Joseph




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