SimHebrew and learning its uses

As many will have seen, I am learning and experimenting with SimHebrew, a way of looking at the square right to left text with a left to right mapping of Latin letters.

I rolled my own version of this some 10 years ago when I was learning how to manage the Biblical text in a database. My mapping is different of course, but it is possible to map my mapping to SimHebrew. There are only a half-dozen differences. SimHebrew also differs from the mapping for the Hebrew keyboard I have (Tyndale).

Aleppo codex, Jeremiah 32:13

But the problem I have been working on is mapping the voweled text of the Leningrad codex to what is called a malé (full) consonantal text of Hebrew. (You can get a copy from mechon-mamre here http://mechon-mamre.org/dlk.htm). Don't click this if you don't want it. It is an immediate download  (but safe).

Information is lost in this mapping alone, but some ease is gained. The mapping is suitable for readable URL's for instance. And I recently used it to search the Aleppo Codex for confirmation of a missing maqaf in Jeremiah 32:13. It is hard for me to read a manuscript. So what I did was read some of the ms, transcribe to SimHebrew in my head, and then look up the text in a text file of the chapter to see where I was on the ms page. That way, I could decide where the text I wanted to find was relative to what I was reading. So I could see where on the page to look for it. (There are no verse numbers in the ms.)

But the most value will be in studying the consonantal text and observing differences in word usage. I am already able to do this with just a few chapters of test data. It is a learning experience.

We lose most of the vowels. There are plenty of i's and o's, but /a/ is aleph, not what we think of as 'a'. The real info that is lost is the prosody. Hebrew speakers take this for granted. But the music and stress in the accents is not in a malé text. I could revise my algorithms for converting the text to music, and incorporate the malé text in the left to right libretto. Maybe someday I will do this. That music XML conversion routine exposes the transcription of the Hebrew syllable by syllable. It is reasonably robust. My initial algorithm for the mapping of Leningrad to malé is based on pattern recognition. This may prove more difficult than syllable by syllable.

The guts of my fragile first algorithm for converting Leningrad to a text without niqud or accent has some techniques that will evolve as the routine sees more data:

• a list of stems that allow or prevent a double yod in the result.
• a list of stems that use a qamats-qatan 'o' for a qamats. These are typically if not always in the first syllable of a strong stem.
• a list of stems that convert a tsere, or patah, or even a qamats to hireq. My rules here may need some more conditions on their application.
• exceptions for various prefixes like yod or nun, i.e, binyan dependencies.

That's a touch of rules that might seem complex. I don't have a fully decomposed analysis of the prefixes and suffixes for every word, but I do have the stem (aka root). I remember asking if anyone had a definitive table of Hebrew roots 10 years ago. Someone gave me a spreadsheet as a bootstrap. May he be blessed. Eventually I put it all together by hand over the past 10 years. It proves useful in this exercise. It remains essential for the translation project.

One thing this old programmer gets from this work is an escape from news and the current pandemic. One only hopes that human intelligence can hold. My code may be fragile, but so are we all.

To my fundamentalist siblings

Siblings? No - none of my immediate family are intended by this address. The ones who are intended will call me 'liberal' and dismiss my words.

It has been noted that even when we meet with what we think are the best of intentions, we may not be meeting according to the Word Of God. Just think, You may be wrong. Saying you are right when you are wrong is not showing faith or belief or faithfulness. It is showing your stupidity.

I see Christian pastors citing Psalm 91. (See this article). The logic is flawed. The faith is flawed. You should read the whole Psalm. It does not allow you to test God by connecting verse 1 to verse 10. It is one of the devil's well-known tricks to lead you astray with this Psalm. Jesus does not fall for it, but you do.

When the contagion approaches within your tent, you will find that you can still live in the secret of the Most High and in the shadow of the significant, but you will be ill, and you will have become a vector for the illness of others whom you do not know. You will be responsible for the deaths of many, and these are not redemptive deaths, but pure destruction inflicted on others because of your fear in your so-called place of power.

You would do well to realize that you don't know what you are doing.

That's enough - the other fallacies claimed as truth by so-called religious leaders cited in the article can also be answered by truth,... but I doubt anyone of them is listening to truth anyway. They believe in Nonsense instead. Nonsense is not a hidden name of God. It is a local idol about to fall flat on its face at the door of its own temple.

On a more positive note, Psalm 91 is a direct response to Psalm 90. Comparing Psalms 90-91, there are some suggestive accidents and deliberate repetitions of sound. The habitation is repeated from Psalm 90, and the similarity of feathers to fury deserves a note: from your fury (בְעֶבְרָתֶךָ) with his feathers (בְּאֶבְרָתוֹ). Just vary the guttural slightly. But don't think you can get away with tempting the Most High.

Love your neighbour and don't make them sick.

Psalms 91		Fn		Min	Max	Syll	Avg S/N
יֹ֭שֵׁב בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן בְּצֵ֥ל שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יִתְלוֹנָֽן	1	g	One sitting in the secret of the Most High, in the shadow of the Sufficient will bide.	3e	4B	7 7	2.8
אֹמַ֗ר לַֽ֭יהוָה מַחְסִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֑י אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אֶבְטַח־בּֽוֹ	2		I will say to Yahweh, My refuge and my fortress, my God, I will trust in him.	3e	4B	10 6	3.2
כִּ֤י ה֣וּא יַ֭צִּֽילְךָ מִפַּ֥ח יָק֗וּשׁ מִדֶּ֥בֶר הַוּֽוֹת	3	C	For he himself will deliver you from a trapper's snare, from a pestilence of calamities.	3e	4C	14	2.33
בְּאֶבְרָת֨וֹ ׀ יָ֣סֶךְ לָ֭ךְ וְתַֽחַת־כְּנָפָ֣יו תֶּחְסֶ֑ה צִנָּ֖ה וְֽסֹחֵרָ֣ה אֲמִתּֽוֹ	4		With his feathers he will overshadow you, and under his wings you will take refuge, grappling hook and carapace his truth.	3e	4B	15 9	2.4
לֹא־תִ֭ירָא מִפַּ֣חַד לָ֑יְלָה מֵ֝חֵ֗ץ יָע֥וּף יוֹמָֽם	5		You will not fear from dread by night, from an arrow that flies by day,	3e	4B	7 6	2.17
מִ֭דֶּבֶר בָּאֹ֣פֶל יַהֲלֹ֑ךְ מִ֝קֶּ֗טֶב יָשׁ֥וּד צָהֳרָֽיִם	6	g	from pestilence that walks in gloom, from canker that devastates at noon.	3e	4B	9 9	3.6
יִפֹּ֤ל מִצִּדְּךָ֨ ׀ אֶ֗לֶף וּרְבָבָ֥ה מִימִינֶ֑ךָ אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א יִגָּֽשׁ	7		A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, to you it will make no overture.	3e	4C	14 6	3.33
רַ֭ק בְּעֵינֶ֣יךָ תַבִּ֑יט וְשִׁלֻּמַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה	8	g	Certainly with your eyes you will take note, and payment for the wicked you will see.	3e	4B	7 9	2.67
כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֣ה מַחְסִ֑י עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן שַׂ֣מְתָּ מְעוֹנֶֽךָ	9		For you Yahweh are my refuge. The Most High you have set up as your habitation.	3e	4B	6 8	2.8
לֹֽא־תְאֻנֶּ֣ה אֵלֶ֣יךָ רָעָ֑ה וְ֝נֶ֗גַע לֹא־יִקְרַ֥ב בְּאָהֳלֶֽךָ	10		Evil will not opportune you, and contagion will not approach within your tent.	3e	4B	9 11	4
כִּ֣י מַ֭לְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּ֑ךְ לִ֝שְׁמָרְךָ֗ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶֽיךָ	11	B	For his messengers he will command about you, to keep you in all your ways.	3e	4B	8 9	4.25
עַל־כַּפַּ֥יִם יִשָּׂא֑וּנְךָ פֶּן־תִּגֹּ֖ף בָּאֶ֣בֶן רַגְלֶֽךָ	12		In their palms they will lift you up, lest you stub your foot with a stone.	3e	4B	7 9	2.67
עַל־שַׁ֣חַל וָפֶ֣תֶן תִּדְרֹ֑ךְ תִּרְמֹ֖ס כְּפִ֣יר וְתַנִּֽין	13		Over fierce lion and adder you will make your way. You will trample young lion and dragon.	3e	4B	8 7	2.5
כִּ֤י בִ֣י חָ֭שַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵ֑הוּ אֲ֝שַׂגְּבֵ֗הוּ כִּֽי־יָדַ֥ע שְׁמִֽי	14	C	Because he attached himself to me, so I will secure him. I will set him on high, for he has known my name.	3e	4C	9 8	2.43
יִקְרָאֵ֨נִי ׀ וְֽאֶעֱנֵ֗הוּ עִמּֽוֹ־אָנֹכִ֥י בְצָרָ֑ה אֲ֝חַלְּצֵ֗הוּ וַֽאֲכַבְּדֵֽהוּ	15		He will call me and I will answer him. I am with him in trouble. I will rescue him and I will glorify him.	3e	4A	16 9	6.25
אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֭מִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝אַרְאֵ֗הוּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתִֽי	16	B	With length of days I will satisfy him, and I will show him my salvation.	3e	4B	8 8	4

Jeremiah 32 - exploring the differences in usage of yod and vav

This is a long learning process in jots and tittles. The first line is sim Hebrew created from the Leningrad codex. The second is my translation. The third is the Hebrew itself to examine closely the usage of yod and vav with and without dagesh and to compare with the full text of the Hebrew (a consonantal text I do not have in my database). I will point out the differences below between the verses and highlight the information possibilities in the Leningrad codex.

Sim Hebrew is not a fully vocalized text. various vowels are ignored. Partly because they are part of a set of canonical patterns in the language, so everyone just 'knows' them. This is a work-in-process with too much detail for the average Hebrew bear.

Comparing two versions of sim Hebrew for Jeremiah 32

Expand the image to show a view of differences for verses 1-10.

a hdbr awr-hih al-irmihu mat ihvh bwnh hywrit lxdqihu mlç ihudh.
hia hwnh wmonh-ywrh wnh lnbucdraxr.
[1 The word that happened to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the tenth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah.
This was the eighteenth year of Nebukadretsar.]
הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֤ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה בַּשָּׁנָה֙ הָעֲשִׂרִ֔ית לְצִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה
הִ֧יא הַשָּׁנָ֛ה שְׁמֹנֶֽה־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה לִנְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּֽר
-- no differences with my current algorithm

b vaz kil mlç bbl xrim yl-iruwlim,
virmihu hnbia hih clua bkxr hm'trh awr bit-mlç ihudh.
[2 By then the force of the king of Babel was besieging Jerusalem,
and Jeremiah the prophet was under restraint in the court of the cell that was the house of king of Judah.]
וְאָ֗ז חֵ֚יל מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל צָרִ֖ים עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
וְיִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֗יא הָיָ֤ה כָלוּא֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בֵּֽית־מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה
-- no differences

g awr clao xdqihu mlç-ihudh lamor,
mduy ath nba lamor ch amr ihvh hnni notn at-hyir hzat bid mlç-bbl ulcdh?
[3 Zedekiah king of Judah had been happy to restrain him, saying,
For what purpose are you to prophesy, saying, Thus says Yahweh, Note me well giving this city into the hand of the king of Babel, and he will conquer it?]
אֲשֶׁ֣ר כְּלָא֔וֹ צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר
מַדּוּעַ֩ אַתָּ֨ה נִבָּ֜א לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֨י נֹתֵ֜ן אֶת־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֛את בְּיַ֥ד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל וּלְכָדָֽהּ
My algorithm does not interpret the hireq unless the consonant is yod with a dagesh. Such a yod is unambiguously acting as a consonant. But not all yods are consonants, nor are other consonants marked consistently as requiring the hireq to be realized. I did have the hireq interpreted if the following 'consonant' is not a y, but the full text must be inconsistent in doing this, because I got a lot of i's in the result, some of which even I thought were excessive. Possibly, there are a limited number of exceptions to whatever rule is applied, but finding them will take some ingenuity. So this is problem 1. (The hireq is almost a schwa in sound anyway.)

d vxdqihu mlç ihudh la iiml't mid hcwdim?
ci hntn iintn bid mlç-bbl vdbr-piv ym-piv vyiniv at-yiniv trainh?
[4 And Zedekiah king of Judah, he will not escape from the hand of the Chaldeans?
For he will be given into the hand of the king of Babel, and will speak, its mouth with its mouth, and its eyes with its eyes, will see?]
וְצִדְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה לֹ֥א יִמָּלֵ֖ט מִיַּ֣ד הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים
כִּ֣י הִנָּתֹ֤ן יִנָּתֵן֙ בְּיַ֣ד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל וְדִבֶּר־פִּ֣יו עִם־פִּ֔יו וְעֵינָ֖יו אֶת־עֵינָ֥יו תִּרְאֶֽינָה
I have vxdqihu, and 'they' have vxdqiihu. Very odd for vocalization because the vowel under the yod dagesh is a qamats. But this would mean that after a qof-hireq, the yod-dagesh is doubled, or it could mean that every yod dagesh is doubled, or perhaps every reference to the divine name in a human name has a doubled yod. This is problem 2, perhaps related to the common suffix in names indicating an allusion to the divine name, and you just know to pronounce it ya. But that conflicts in this very chapter between Zedekiah and Jeremiah.

Also I have in this verse hntn, and they have hinton. This disobeys my thought about vowel patterns. This is a niphal infinitive. So why put the vowel pattern under it? The vocalization is actually hinaton not hinton. And the accent is on the ton. Call this problem 3.

A third difference in this word is vdbr vs vdibr. I see no reason for putting in the hireq. No accent on this word, delayed by the hyphen to the next word. Similar to problem 3?

h ubbl iolç at-xdqihu vwm iihih yd-pqdi ato nam-ihvh?
ci tlkmu at-hcwdim la txliku?
[5 And to Babel will be ushered Zedekiah? and there he will be until I visit him? an oracle of Yahweh?
for you fight the Chaldeans? You will not prosper?]
וּבָבֶ֞ל יוֹלִ֤ךְ אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְשָׁ֣ם יִֽהְיֶ֔ה עַד־פָּקְדִ֥י אֹת֖וֹ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה
כִּ֧י תִֽלָּחֲמ֛וּ אֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֖ים לֹ֥א תַצְלִֽיחוּ
Four differences in this verse. It is easy enough to add the qubuts for the missing u in nam for naum. (done) It may result in further changes elsewhere which may or may not agree with the unknown algorithm. Adding the yod in yolic and tilkmu is similar to problem 3. I can try it but I expect this will result in ramifications elsewhere where the hireq is not interpreted.

v vioamr iirmihu,
hih dbr-ihvh ali lamor,
[6 And Jeremiah said,
It happened that Yahweh spoke to me, saying,]
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ
הָיָ֥ה דְּבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר
viomar is #1493 #1463 #1497 #1468 #1465 #1488 #1502 #1462 #1512 // the o looks like it is over the aleph but it is part of the yod following the dagesh (in bold).

My rule that yod at the beginning of a word is a consonant is inconsistent with the same word having a normal prefix like v or al- - should be changed - will cause other issues. (done)
ali on the other hand does not require a double yod - not sure why it is different in the malé text - also repeats below in verse 8(k)

z hnh knmal bn-wlm dodç ba aliç lamor,
qnh lç at-wdi awr byntot ci lç mwp't hgalh lqnot.
[7 Behold Hanmel child of Shallum, your uncle, will come to you to say,
Buy for yourself my field that is in Anathoth, for yours is the judgment of redemption to buy.]
הִנֵּ֣ה חֲנַמְאֵ֗ל בֶּן־שַׁלֻּם֙ דֹּֽדְךָ֔ בָּ֥א אֵלֶ֖יךָ לֵאמֹ֑ר
קְנֵ֣ה לְךָ֗ אֶת־שָׂדִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָת֔וֹת כִּ֥י לְךָ֛ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַגְּאֻלָּ֖ה לִקְנֽוֹת

k viboa ali knmal bn-dodi cdbr ihvh al-kxr hm'trh vioamr ali qnh na at-wdi awr-byntot awr | barx bnimin ci-lç mwp't hirwh ulç hgalh qnh-lç.
vady ci dbr-ihvh hua.
[8 And Hanmel child of my uncle came to me according to the word of Yahweh, to the court of the cell and said to me, You buy please a field that is in Anathoth, that is in the land of Benjamin, for yours is the judgment of possession, and yours the redemption. You buy for yourself.
And I knew that it is the word of Yahweh.]
וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵ֠לַי חֲנַמְאֵ֨ל בֶּן־דֹּדִ֜י כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָה֮ אֶל־חֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָה֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֡י קְנֵ֣ה נָ֠א אֶת־שָׂדִ֨י אֲשֶׁר־בַּעֲנָת֜וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֗ין כִּֽי־לְךָ֞ מִשְׁפַּ֧ט הַיְרֻשָּׁ֛ה וּלְךָ֥ הַגְּאֻלָּ֖ה קְנֵה־לָ֑ךְ
וָאֵדַ֕ע כִּ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה הֽוּא

One difference here is ulc, unambiguous to me, given as vlk in the malé conversion. Another qubuts to note - perhaps this is a general issue, not just for aleph.

't vaqnh at-hwdh mat knmal bn-dodi awr byntot,
vawqlh-lo at-hcsf wbyh wqlim vywrh hcsf.
[9 And I bought the field from Hanmel child of my uncle that is in Anathoth,
and I weighed for him the silver, seventeen shekels of the silver.]
וָֽאֶקְנֶה֙ אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה מֵאֵ֛ת חֲנַמְאֵ֥ל בֶּן־דֹּדִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָת֑וֹת
וָֽאֶשְׁקֲלָה־לּוֹ֙ אֶת־הַכֶּ֔סֶף שִׁבְעָ֥ה שְׁקָלִ֖ים וַעֲשָׂרָ֥ה הַכָּֽסֶף

i vactb bspr vaktm vayd ydim,
vawql hcsf bmoaznim.
[10 And I wrote in the record and sealed it, and I had it witnessed by witnesses,
and I weighed the silver in the balances.]
וָאֶכְתֹּ֤ב בַּסֵּ֙פֶר֙ וָֽאֶחְתֹּ֔ם וָאָעֵ֖ד עֵדִ֑ים
וָאֶשְׁקֹ֥ל הַכֶּ֖סֶף בְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם

ia vaqk at-spr hmqnh,
at-hktum hmxvh vhkqim vat-hglui.
[11 And I took the record of the purchase,
what was sealed by the commandment and the statutes, and what was uncovered.]
וָאֶקַּ֖ח אֶת־סֵ֣פֶר הַמִּקְנָ֑ה
אֶת־הֶֽחָת֛וּם הַמִּצְוָ֥ה וְהַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַגָּלֽוּי

ib vatn at-hspr hmqnh al-bruç bn-nrih bn-mksih lyini knmal dodi ulyini hydim hctbim bspr hmqnh,
lyini cl-hihudim hiowbim bkxr hm'trh.
[12 And I consigned the record of the purchase to Baruch, child of Neriah, child of Mechasyah, in the sight of Hanmel, my uncle's, and in the sight of the witnesses that wrote in the record of the purchase,
in the sight of all the Judeans sitting in the court of the cell.]
וָאֶתֵּ֞ן אֶת־הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַמִּקְנָ֗ה אֶל־בָּר֣וּךְ בֶּן־נֵרִיָּה֮ בֶּן־מַחְסֵיָה֒ לְעֵינֵי֙ חֲנַמְאֵ֣ל דֹּדִ֔י וּלְעֵינֵי֙ הָֽעֵדִ֔ים הַכֹּתְבִ֖ים בְּסֵ֣פֶר הַמִּקְנָ֑ה
לְעֵינֵי֙ כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה

ig vaxvh at bruç lyinihm lamor,
[13 And I commanded Baruch in their sight, saying,]
וָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת בָּר֔וּךְ לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר

id ch-amr ihvh xbaot alhi iiwral lqok at-hsprim halh at spr hmqnh hzh vat hktum vat spr hglui hzh unttm bcli-krw,
lmyn iymdu imim rbim.
[14 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, take these records, the record of this purchase and what is sealed, and this uncovered record, and consign it in the earthenware vessel,
so that they will stand many days.]
כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ יְהוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לָק֣וֹחַ אֶת־הַסְּפָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֡לֶּה אֵ֣ת סֵפֶר֩ הַמִּקְנָ֨ה הַזֶּ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת הֶחָת֗וּם וְאֵ֨ת סֵ֤פֶר הַגָּלוּי֙ הַזֶּ֔ה וּנְתַתָּ֖ם בִּכְלִי־חָ֑רֶשׂ
לְמַ֥עַן יַעַמְד֖וּ יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים

'tv ci ch amr ihvh xbaot alhi iiwral,
yod iiqnu btim vwdot ucrmim barx hzat.
[15 Because thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel,
They will continue to be purchased, houses and fields and vineyards, in this land.]
כִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
ע֣וֹד יִקָּנ֥וּ בָתִּ֛ים וְשָׂד֥וֹת וּכְרָמִ֖ים בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת

'tz vatpll al-ihvh,
akri tti at-spr hmqnh al-bruç bn-nrih lamor,
[16 And I prayed to Yahweh,
after I had consigned the record of the purchase to Baruch child of Neriah, saying,]
וָאֶתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה אַחֲרֵ֤י תִתִּי֙ אֶת־סֵ֣פֶר הַמִּקְנָ֔ה אֶל־בָּר֥וּךְ בֶּן־נֵרִיָּ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר

iz ahh adoni ihvh hnh | ath ywit at-hwmim vat-harx bckç hgdol ubzryç hn'tuih.
la-ipla mmç cl-dbr.
[17 Aye yai yai, my Lord Yahweh, behold yourself, you have made the heavens and the earth in your great power and with your arm stretched out.
Nothing is too wonderful for you.]
אֲהָהּ֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ אַתָּ֣ה עָשִׂ֗יתָ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְאֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ בְּכֹֽחֲךָ֙ הַגָּד֔וֹל וּבִֽזְרֹעֲךָ֖ הַנְּטוּיָ֑ה
לֹֽא־יִפָּלֵ֥א מִמְּךָ֖ כָּל־דָּבָֽר

ik ywh ksd lalpim umwlm yon abot al-kiq bnihm akrihm,
hal hgdol hgbor ihvh xbaot wmo.
[18 You undertake mercy for thousands, and repay the iniquity of parents into the embrace of their children after them,
the One, the Great, the Valiant, Yahweh of hosts is his name.]
עֹ֤שֶׂה חֶ֙סֶד֙ לַֽאֲלָפִ֔ים וּמְשַׁלֵּם֙ עֲוֺ֣ן אָב֔וֹת אֶל־חֵ֥יק בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם
הָאֵ֤ל הַגָּדוֹל֙ הַגִּבּ֔וֹר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ

i't gdol hyxh vrb hylilih,
awr-yiniç pqkot yl-cl-drci bni adm ltt laiw cdrciv vcpri mylliv.
[19 Great the counsel and abundant the practices,
as your eyes are given sight over all the ways of the children of humanity, to give to each according to its ways and according to the fruit of its practices.]
גְּדֹל֙ הָֽעֵצָ֔ה וְרַ֖ב הָעֲלִֽילִיָּ֑ה
אֲשֶׁר־עֵינֶ֣יךָ פְקֻח֗וֹת עַל־כָּל־דַּרְכֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם לָתֵ֤ת לְאִישׁ֙ כִּדְרָכָ֔יו וְכִפְרִ֖י מַעֲלָלָֽיו

c awr-wmt atot umoptim barx-mxrim yd-hiom hzh ubiwral ubadm,
vtywh-lç wm ciom hzh.
[20 You who have set up signs and portents in the land of Egypt to this day, and in Israel and among humanity,
and have made for yourself a name as on this day.]
אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֠מְתָּ אֹת֨וֹת וּמֹפְתִ֤ים בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ עַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וּבָֽאָדָ֑ם
וַתַּעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ֥ שֵׁ֖ם כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה

ca vtxa at-ymç at-iwral marx mxrim,
batot ubmoptim ubid kzqh ubazroy n'tuih ubmora gdol.
[21 And have brought forth your people Israel from the land of Egypt,
with signs and with portents, and by a courageous hand and by an arm stretched out and with great fear.]
וַתֹּצֵ֛א אֶת־עַמְּךָ֥ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם
בְּאֹת֣וֹת וּבְמוֹפְתִ֗ים וּבְיָ֤ד חֲזָקָה֙ וּבְאֶזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֔ה וּבְמוֹרָ֖א גָּדֽוֹל

cb vttn lhm at-harx hzat awr-nwbyt labotm ltt lhm,
arx zbt klb udbw.
[22 And you gave them this land that you swore to their ancestors to give them,
a land gushing with milk and honey.]
וַתִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתָ֖ם לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם
אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָֽשׁ

cg viboau viirwu ath vla-wmyu bqolç ubtortç la-hlcu at cl-awr xvith lhm lywot la ywu,
vtqra atm at cl-hryh hzat.
[23 And they came and they possessed it, and they did not hear with your voice, and in your instruction they did not walk. All that you commanded them to do, they have not done,
so you have had them encounter all evil this.]
וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ וַיִּֽרְשׁ֣וּ אֹתָ֗הּ וְלֹֽא־שָׁמְע֤וּ בְקוֹלֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ֣ לֹא־הָלָ֔כוּ אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוִּ֧יתָה לָהֶ֛ם לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת לֹ֣א עָשׂ֑וּ
וַתַּקְרֵ֣א אֹתָ֔ם אֵ֥ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת

cd hnh hsllot bau hyir llcdh vhyir ntnh bid hcwdim hnlkmim ylih mpni hkrb vhryb vhdbr.
vawr dibrt hih vhnç rah.
[24 Behold the ramps. They enter the city to conquer it, and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans that fight against it, in the face of the sword and the famine and the pestilence.
And what you have spoken has happened. Here you are, seeing.]
הִנֵּ֣ה הַסֹּלְל֗וֹת בָּ֣אוּ הָעִיר֮ לְלָכְדָהּ֒ וְהָעִ֣יר נִתְּנָ֗ה בְּיַ֤ד הַכַּשְׂדִּים֙ הַנִּלְחָמִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יהָ מִפְּנֵ֛י הַחֶ֥רֶב וְהָרָעָ֖ב וְהַדָּ֑בֶר
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֛רְתָּ הָיָ֖ה וְהִנְּךָ֥ רֹאֶֽה

ch vath amrt ali adoni ihvh qnh-lç hwdh bcsf vhyd ydim,
vhyir ntnh bid hcwdim.
[25 But you, you said to me, O Lord Yahweh, You buy for yourself the field with silver and have it witnessed by witnesses,
and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.]
וְאַתָּ֞ה אָמַ֤רְתָּ אֵלַי֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה קְנֵֽה־לְךָ֧ הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה בַּכֶּ֖סֶף וְהָעֵ֣ד עֵדִ֑ים
וְהָעִ֥יר נִתְּנָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד הַכַּשְׂדִּֽים

cv vihi dbr-ihvh al-irmihu lamor,
[26 And the word of Yahweh happened to Jeremiah, saying,]
וַיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר

cz hnh ani ihvh alhi cl-bwr.
hmmni iipla cl-dbr?
[27 Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh.
For me is any thing too wonderful?]
הִנֵּה֙ אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֱלֹהֵ֖י כָּל־בָּשָׂ֑ר
הֲ‍ֽמִמֶּ֔נִּי יִפָּלֵ֖א כָּל־דָּבָֽר

ck lcn ch amr ihvh,
hnni notn at-hyir hzat bid hcwdim ubid nbucdraxr mlç-bbl ulcdh.
[28 Therefore thus says Yahweh, Note me well, giving this city into the hand of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebukadretsar, king of Babel,
and he will conquer it.]
לָכֵ֕ן כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה
הִנְנִ֣י נֹתֵן֩ אֶת־הָעִ֨יר הַזֹּ֜את בְּיַ֣ד הַכַּשְׂדִּ֗ים וּבְיַ֛ד נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל וּלְכָדָֽהּ

c't ubau hcwdim hnlkmim yl-hyir hzat vhxitu at-hyir hzat baw uwrpuh,
vat hbtim awr q'tru yl-ggotihm lbyl vhscu nscim lalhim akrim lmyn hcysni.
[29 And the Chaldeans will come that fight this city, and they will char this city in the fire and incinerate it,
and the houses where they have burnt incense on their housetops to Baal, and spilled out libations to other gods so that they may grieve me.]
וּבָ֣אוּ הַכַּשְׂדִּ֗ים הַנִּלְחָמִים֙ עַל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְהִצִּ֜יתוּ אֶת־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֛את בָּאֵ֖שׁ וּשְׂרָפ֑וּהָ
וְאֵ֣ת הַבָּתִּ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ קִטְּר֨וּ עַל־גַּגּֽוֹתֵיהֶ֜ם לַבַּ֗עַל וְהִסִּ֤כוּ נְסָכִים֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים לְמַ֖עַן הַכְעִסֵֽנִי

l ci-hiu bni-iwral ubni ihudh aç ywim hry byini mnyrtihm,
ci bni-iwral aç mcysim ati bmywh idihm nam-ihvh.
[30 Because the children of Israel and the children of Judah were surely doing evil in my eyes from their youth,
for the children of Israel surely grieve me with the deed of their hands. An oracle of Yahweh.]
כִּֽי־הָי֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וּבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה אַ֣ךְ עֹשִׂ֥ים הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינַ֖י מִנְּעֻרֹֽתֵיהֶ֑ם
כִּ֣י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אַ֣ךְ מַכְעִסִ֥ים אֹתִ֛י בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה

la ci yl-api vyl-kmti hith li hyir hzat lmn-hiom awr bnu aoth vyd hiom hzh.
lhsirh myl pni,
[31 For concerning my anger, and concerning my heat, this city has become for me, from the day that they built it and till this day...
that I should put it aside from my presence,]
כִּ֧י עַל־אַפִּ֣י וְעַל־חֲמָתִ֗י הָ֤יְתָה לִּי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את לְמִן־הַיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּנ֣וּ אוֹתָ֔הּ וְעַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה
לַהֲסִירָ֖הּ מֵעַ֥ל פָּנָֽי

lb yl cl-ryt bni-iwral ubni ihudh awr ywu lhcysni hmh mlcihm wrihm chnihm unbiaihm,
vaiw ihudh viowbi iruwlim.
[32 Over all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah that they did to grieve me, they, their kings, their nobility, their priests, and their prophets,
and each of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.]
עַל֩ כָּל־רָעַ֨ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וּבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ לְהַכְעִסֵ֔נִי הֵ֤מָּה מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ שָֽׂרֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם וּנְבִֽיאֵיהֶ֑ם
וְאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

lg viipnu ali yrf vla pnim,
vlmd atm hwcm vlmd vainm wmyim lqkt musr.
[33 And they faced to me, nape and not faces,
and I taught them, rising early, and teaching, and there is none of them hearing, to lay hold of my chastening.]
וַיִּפְנ֥וּ אֵלַ֛י עֹ֖רֶף וְלֹ֣א פָנִ֑ים
וְלַמֵּ֤ד אֹתָם֙ הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם וְלַמֵּ֔ד וְאֵינָ֥ם שֹׁמְעִ֖ים לָקַ֥חַת מוּסָֽר

ld viwimu wquxihm bbit awr-nqra-wmi yliv l'tmao.
[34 But they set up their detestable things in the house that is called, My Name Is On It, to defile it.]
וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּ שִׁקּֽוּצֵיהֶ֗ם בַּבַּ֛יִת אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָֽא־שְׁמִ֥י עָלָ֖יו לְטַמְּאֽוֹ

lh viibnu at-bmot hbyl awr | bgia bn-hnom lhybir at-bnihm vat-bnotihm lmolç awr la-xvitim vla ylth yl-lbi lywot htoybh hzat,
lmyn hk'tia at-ihudh.
[35 And they built the high places of the Baal that are in the gorge of the child of Hinnom, to transfer their sons and their daughters to Moloch, that I did not command them, nor did such come up in my heart to do this abomination,
so as to make Judah sin.]
וַיִּבְנוּ֩ אֶת־בָּמ֨וֹת הַבַּ֜עַל אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ בְּגֵ֣יא בֶן־הִנֹּ֗ם לְ֠הַעֲבִיר אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֣ם וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶם֮ לַמֹּלֶךְ֒ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־צִוִּיתִ֗ים וְלֹ֤א עָֽלְתָה֙ עַל־לִבִּ֔י לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת הַתּוֹעֵבָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את
לְמַ֖עַן הַחֲטִ֥יא אֶת־יְהוּדָֽה

lv vyth lcn ch-amr ihvh alhi iiwral,
al-hyir hzat awr | atm amrim ntnh bid mlç-bbl bkrb ubryb ubdbr.
[36 And now therefore, thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel,
against this city which you are saying is given into the hand of the king of Babel by the sword and by famine and by pestilence.]
וְעַתָּ֕ה לָכֵ֛ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
אֶל־הָעִ֨יר הַזֹּ֜את אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹמְרִ֗ים נִתְּנָה֙ בְּיַ֣ד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב וּבָרָעָ֥ב וּבַדָּֽבֶר

lz hnni mqbxm mcl-harxot awr hdktim wm bapi ubkmti ubqxf gdol,
vhwbotim al-hmqom hzh vhowbtim lb'tk.
[37 Note me well, collecting them from all the lands where I banished them in my anger and in my heat and great rage,
and I will return them again to this place, and I will settle them in trust.]
הִנְנִ֤י מְקַבְּצָם֙ מִכָּל־הָ֣אֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִדַּחְתִּ֥ים שָׁ֛ם בְּאַפִּ֥י וּבַחֲמָתִ֖י וּבְקֶ֣צֶף גָּד֑וֹל
וַהֲשִֽׁבֹתִים֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וְהֹשַׁבְתִּ֖ים לָבֶֽטַח

lk vhiu li lym,
vani ahih lhm lalhim.
[38 And they will be my people,
and myself, I will become their God.]
וְהָ֥יוּ לִ֖י לְעָ֑ם
וַאֲנִ֕י אֶהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים

l't vntti lhm lb akd vdrç akd lirah aoti cl-himim,
l'tob lhm vlbnihm akrihm.
[39 And I will give them one heart and one way to fear me every day,
for good for them, and their children after them.]
וְנָתַתִּ֨י לָהֶ֜ם לֵ֤ב אֶחָד֙ וְדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶחָ֔ד לְיִרְאָ֥ה אוֹתִ֖י כָּל־הַיָּמִ֑ים
לְט֣וֹב לָהֶ֔ם וְלִבְנֵיהֶ֖ם אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם

m vcrti lhm brit yolm awr la-awub makrihm lhi'tibi aotm.
vat-irati atn blbbm lblti sur myli.
[40 And I will cut for them a covenant forever, that I will not turn away from them, that I may do them good.
And my fear I will give in their heart, that they not turn aside from me.]
וְכָרַתִּ֤י לָהֶם֙ בְּרִ֣ית עוֹלָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־אָשׁוּב֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵיהֶ֔ם לְהֵיטִיבִ֖י אוֹתָ֑ם
וְאֶת־יִרְאָתִי֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן בִּלְבָבָ֔ם לְבִלְתִּ֖י ס֥וּר מֵעָלָֽי

ma vwwti ylihm lh'tib aotm,
un'tytim barx hzat bamt bcl-lbi ubcl-npwi.
[41 And I will joy over them to do good to them,
and I will plant them in this land in truth, with all my heart and with all my being.]
וְשַׂשְׂתִּ֥י עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְהֵטִ֣יב אוֹתָ֑ם
וּנְטַעְתִּ֞ים בָּאָ֤רֶץ הַזֹּאת֙ בֶּאֱמֶ֔ת בְּכָל־לִבִּ֖י וּבְכָל־נַפְשִֽׁי

mb ci-ch amr ihvh cawr hbati al-hym hzh at cl-hryh hgdolh hzat,
cn anoci mbia ylihm at-cl-h'tobh awr anoci dobr ylihm.
[42 Because thus says Yahweh, As I have brought to this people all this great evil,
so I will bring upon them all the good that I was speaking concerning them.]
כִּֽי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר הֵבֵ֙אתִי֙ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֵ֛ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֥ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
כֵּ֣ן אָנֹכִ֞י מֵבִ֤יא עֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר עֲלֵיהֶֽם

mg vnqnh hwdh barx hzat,
awr | atm amrim wmmh hia main adm ubhmh ntnh bid hcwdim.
[43 And the field will be purchased in this land,
that you are saying, It is desolate, without human or beast, given into the hand of the Chaldeans.]
וְנִקְנָ֥ה הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את
אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹמְרִ֗ים שְׁמָמָ֥ה הִיא֙ מֵאֵ֤ין אָדָם֙ וּבְהֵמָ֔ה נִתְּנָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד הַכַּשְׂדִּֽים

md wdot bcsf iiqnu vctob bspr | vktom vhyd ydim barx bnimn ubsbibi iruwlm ubyri ihudh ubyri hhr ubyri hwplh ubyri hngb,
ci-awib at-wbutm nam-ihvh.
[44 Fields with silver they will buy, and write in the record, and seal them, and will have witnesses witness in the land of Benjamin, and in the places surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the hill, and in the cities of the lowly places, and in the cities of the Negev,
for I will reverse their captivity. An oracle of Yahweh.]
שָׂד֞וֹת בַּכֶּ֣סֶף יִקְנ֗וּ וְכָת֨וֹב בַּסֵּ֥פֶר ׀ וְחָתוֹם֮ וְהָעֵ֣ד עֵדִים֒ בְּאֶ֨רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֜ן וּבִסְבִיבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם וּבְעָרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְעָרֵ֣י הָהָ֔ר וּבְעָרֵ֥י הַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה וּבְעָרֵ֣י הַנֶּ֑גֶב
כִּֽי־אָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־שְׁבוּתָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה

Variations in death rate

A study from Ireland - who knows whether to believe it or not - says that countries with vaccines against tuberculosis have a significantly lower death rate from the corona virus infections.

BCG vaccinations according to WHO estimates are here by country. North American does not show up in this table.

The death rates are remarkably different in different countries. It would be interesting to compare - but time consuming, with the WHO tables. E.g. Algeria is not faring well compared to the claim in the Irish press.

Covid-19 Death rate for countries
with > 1000 cases 2020.04.09

What is the significance of holam haser compared to holam malé?

This is a complex question requiring manuscript investigation. A related old post (2004) by Peter Kirby is here and responded to here.

Peter explains that the holam haser (weak) and the holam malé (full) are slight differences in the placement of the dots over a Hebrew letter signifying the vowel 'o'. The problem occurs when one has such a dot over a vav. Here is one of his images.

Codex Leningradensis (1006-7)

Peter claims that "The combination of VAV with Holam Haser is known as Vav Haluma, and is pronounced VO".

Though he says this, I don't think it is true. I tested this in SimHebrew with Psalm 119 and got v's where I would not pronounce them in Hebrew - like עֵדְוֺתֶ֥יךָ ydvotiç which I think should be ydotiç.

Holam malé is Unicode 1465. Holam haser is 1466. There is an official search at Tanach.us but the following stats are based on my own data.

The counts by verse are enough to see the more common usage:

• vav with holam haser occurs in 376 verses
• vav with dagesh and holam haser occurs in 15 verses.
• vav with dagesh and holam male occurs in 0 verses.
• vav with holam male occurs in 16,717 verses.

Psalm 119:6-8, 9-16

Psalms 119 has 29 verses with a holam haser on a vav. All of them occur on two recurring words with some variation in the form of the words, מִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ and עֵדְוֺתֶ֥יךָ.  One of these is a vav that is pronounced, the other has one that isn't pronounced. Neither has a dagesh. So much for the thesis the way the data are coded in the Leningrad Codex. It does not hold.

I suggest that the difference in the two holams is not significant with respect to pronunciation. So what is the rationale for observing these slight differences in placement?

Psalms 119 verses 6 and 14

v az la-abow,

bhbi'ti al-cl-mxvotiç. מִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ

[6 And then I would not be ashamed,

to take note of all your commandments.]

id bdrç ydotiç עֵדְוֺתֶ֥יךָ wwti cyl cl-hon.

[14 By the way of your testimonies I joy as above all value.]

COVID-19 A snapshot for April 5

I separated the cases and deaths from the % of population tested and infected. Much easier to assess what country status is. Data selected when populated c 10:30 pacific time April 5. From the usual place.

COVID-19 cases and increase by country

Above note that some death rates are much higher than other.
Below, the beginning of seeing who is really able to test.
On the chart, USA about 0.5% of its population tested, Canada about 0.8%)
(Off the chart) Iceland has tested 7.5% of its population, The Faroe Islands 10%.

COVID-19 tests and cases by population size

The Binyanim

I am reading a PDF on the psychology of reading Hebrew.

READING HEBREW

The Language and the Psychology of Reading It

by Joseph Shimron

It seems highly theoretical, and besides the very awkward subtitle, it is very readable so far. It is unusual, isn't it, to have a subtitle with a pronoun whose antecedent is in the title.

This morning I was wondering if I could take up the book again where I left off a few days ago in the middle of a discussion of the psychology of geminate stems. Then I came across has this lovely and precise note about how the names of the verb forms are related. No one has explained this to me in any other book on Hebrew I have read.

The names of the binyanim are named in the same pattern as the things they name.

They are individually named by the forms they assume for the root P-’-L, expressed as a verb in 3rd person masculine singular, past tense, which carries the core meaning of acting: Pa’aL, niF’aL, Pi’eL, Pu’aL, hitPa’eL, hiF’iL, and huF’aL.

The verb form represents the action of work. My dominant gloss for פעל, P`L is work. It is first used in the Bible in Exodus 15:17. It it used of drawing an arrow in a bow in Psalms 7:14. How straightforward.

פעל with vowels a a, prefix + schwa a, i e, u a, prefix + a e, prefix + schwa + i, prefix + schwa a.

These names are just like any other verb being conformed to its pattern of what we would call a conjugation in Latin. The names all come from the same three-consonant root forming its form with a vowel patterns that fit between the consonants of the root. English is full of irregularities but we have a similar pattern in sing, sang, sung. From wiktionary, I see the name binyanim is derived from בנה, to build.

The book has helpful tables and images. So much easier than trying to memorize paradigms.

The author hasn't made the point (yet?), but 3 and 7 are fundamental to our human thinking processes. And mathematically related, of course 7 = 2**3 -1. I had always explained to my design classes that this represented the number of bits in our short-term memory register.

The memory of a human is three bits. If we are really lucky, it may be 4 bits. (Psalm 90!).

You can download this book here.