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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] yhwh pronunciation

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: "Read, James C" <K0434995 AT kingston.ac.uk>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] yhwh pronunciation
  • Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2005 23:44:29 +0100

On 20/07/2005 23:11, Read, James C wrote:

After hearing all the evidences in favour of a bisyllabic Yaho/Yahu pronunciation my curiosity has been much aroused.
Does anyone know of any examples of a final long o/u vowel with a terminating vocal he?
Is the pronunciation Yahoh/Yahuh possible?
Is it possible that the waw only ever stood for a long vowel of type o/u?
If so, why do names comprising Yaho/Yahu emit the final he?


A word final vocal he (i.e. he with mappiq) follows the same rule as for het and ayin, that it must be preceded by an "a" vowel. So, if there is originally another vowel, a "furtive patah" is inserted giving a short "a" sound. Thus for example there is the rare word for "God" ELOAH, with a furtive patah before the vocal he - and its more common plural form ELOHIM, where the furtive patah has disappeared because this is no longer the final syllable.

Also Yahoh and Yahuh are impossible because an "a" vowel in that position would be shortened to sheva.

So we might expect, rather than Yahoh or Yahuh, Yehoah or Yehuah - where "e" represents sheva, and the final "h" is pronounced. These are indeed possible pronunciations of YHWH - and, yes, they are trisyllabic.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/



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