Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Chris,

> Subject:  EZEKIEL  20:7 AND 18  HITPAEL STEM.
>
> Why, in place of the expected 'sheva' under the 'mem' in the verb: "defile
> yourselves", am I dissappointed to see an irritating little 'qames'??

HH: There is an aphaeresis (dropping) of the tav because of its 
similarity in sound to the teth. The dagesh in the teth allows the 
first syllable to close with the "t" sound that the tav usually 
provides, and the dagesh  gives a doubling of the teth that allows 
the next syllable to start.

                                        Yours,
                                        Harold Holmyard