9.6

Noun Phrase with Construct

๐ŸŽง

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Overview

Judean: Two nouns placed together - no "of" between them.

English: "X of Y" uses "of" as a separate word between nouns.

READING GOAL:
To recognize when two nouns are connected without "of" between them.

The Rule

English: Noun + of + Noun (king of Israel) = 3 separate words

Judean: Noun + Noun (ืžืœืš ยท ื™ืฉืจืืœ) = 2 words, no "of"

The word "of" is removed. The nouns are placed next to each other.

Examples

EXAMPLE 1
king of Israel
ืžืœืš ยท ื™ืฉืจืืœ
Israel ื™ืฉืจืืœ ยท king ืžืœืš
EXAMPLE 2
house of David
ื‘ื™ืช ยท ื“ื•ื“
David ื“ื•ื“ ยท house ื‘ื™ืช
EXAMPLE 3
word of God
ื“ื‘ืจ ยท ืืœื”ื™ื
God ืืœื”ื™ื ยท word ื“ื‘ืจ
EXAMPLE 4
son of man
ื‘ืŸ ยท ืื“ื
man ืื“ื ยท son ื‘ืŸ
EXAMPLE 5
tribe of Judah
ืฉื‘ื˜ ยท ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”
Judah ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ยท tribe ืฉื‘ื˜
EXAMPLE 6
children of Israel
ื‘ื ื™ ยท ื™ืฉืจืืœ
Israel ื™ืฉืจืืœ ยท children ื‘ื ื™

Plural Nouns in Construct Form

Why ื‘ื ื™ and not ื‘ื ื™ื?

When a PLURAL noun is in construct form (connected to another noun), the ending changes!

Type Standalone โ†’ Construct Example
Masculine Plural ื™ื โ†’ ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื โ†’ ื‘ื ื™
Feminine Plural ื•ืช โ†’ ื•ืช ื‘ื ื•ืช โ†’ ื‘ื ื•ืช (no change)
EXAMPLE - CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
STANDALONE (children)
ื‘ื ื™ื
sons/children
CONSTRUCT (children of...)
ื‘ื ื™ ยท ื™ืฉืจืืœ
children of Israel
EXAMPLE - WORDS OF GOD
STANDALONE (words)
ื“ื‘ืจื™ื
words
CONSTRUCT (words of...)
ื“ื‘ืจื™ ยท ืืœื”ื™ื
words of God

The Article ื” in Construct

The article ื” is DROPPED from construct nouns!

When a noun "leans on" another noun, it loses its ื” (the).

English โŒ Wrong โœ“ Correct
the king of Israel ื”ืžืœืš ยท ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืœืš ยท ื™ืฉืจืืœ
the house of David ื”ื‘ื™ืช ยท ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื™ืช ยท ื“ื•ื“
the children of Israel ื”ื‘ื ื™ ยท ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื ื™ ยท ื™ืฉืจืืœ

Why? The construct noun gets its definiteness from the second noun. If the second noun is definite (like a proper name), the whole phrase is definite - no need for ื”!

Key Points

  • "Of" is removed completely
  • Nouns are placed next to each other
  • First noun "leans on" second noun
  • Literal Translation: "king Israel" not "king of Israel"
  • Masculine plural ending changes: ื™ื โ†’ ื™
  • Feminine plural stays the same: ื•ืช โ†’ ื•ืช
  • Article ื” is dropped from the construct noun
๐ŸŽฎ

Practice This Rule

Test your understanding

Play Game โ†’ Use Translator โ†’

*Rule discovered and documented through direct textual analysis by Itharey Daughter of the Diaspora and it is implemented into the Judean Translator.

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