Biblical Hebrew Forum

[mjoseph <mjoseph AT terminal.cz>]

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