Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jason A. Hare" <language_lover64801 AT yahoo.com>]

So, I understand the significance of the formation.  ;-)

I need now only to document it.  I have received a resoundingly wonderful
response to my question.  Thanks to all who responded!

Shalom,
Jason

> These noun forms are closely analogous to the common Arabic MAQTAL
> pattern which is also used for places; the change of the first consonant
> from A to I is a regular (and quite late, post-LXX) shift in Hebrew. So
> any derivation from MIY or MIN- must be very ancient, back in
> proto-Semitic times or earlier, which really takes us into the realm of
> pointless speculation. As the M- preformative is regularly used for
> participles in other conjugations in both Arabic and Hebrew, it seems
> more likely that this form was originally a participle whose meaning
> became frozen.
> 
> Peter Kirk