1 Construct Chains When two or more nouns are linked together so that the second or any succeeding noun modifies the noun before it, a construct chain exists that requires the English word of for translation. The first noun is called the construct. The last noun is called the absolute. 2 Construct Chains In English a construct chain would look like this: Construct [of] Absolute temple of God the God of Israel house of prayer land of your fathers 3 Construct Chains The construct state is the form of a noun that is used: To make construct chains When adding pronominal suffixes to a noun to show possession. 4 Construct Chains Nouns in a construct state or nouns that have had pronominal suffixes added to them have undergone vowel shortening. 5 Construct Chains The regular (dictionary, lexical) form of a noun is called the absolute state. 6 Construct Chains No matter how long a construct chain is, the entire chain is a unit which can perform all the same functions as a single noun. A construct chain can be: the subject of a sentence; a direct object; an indirect object; the object of a preposition. 7 Construct Chains Noun Form Singular Plural Dual Absolute -ִ י ם - ִ ים --- Masculine -ִ י ם , -ִ ת י ם - ו ת -ת ,-- , -ִ ה Feminine Construct -ִ י -ִ י --- Masculine -ִ י ם , -ִ ת י ם - ו ת -ִ ת Feminine 8 Construct Chains Noun Form Singular Plural Dual Absolute ס ו ס י ם ס ו ס ים ס ו ס (Masculine (horse ס ו ס ת י ם ס ו ס ו ת ס ו ס ה (Feminine (mare Construct ס ו ס י ס ו ס י ס ו ס (Masculine (horse ס ו ס ת י ם ס ו ס ו ת ס ו ס ת (Feminine (mare 9 Construct Chains When ever the absolute is definite, the construct chain is to be translated as definite. The noun is definite if it: has a definite article is a proper noun (name) has a pronominal suffix (attached possessive pronoun) like my, our, his, her, their, your (singular or plural) 10 Construct Chains אֶרֶ ץ מ צְר י ם Genesis 41:55 the land of Egypt וְר ו ח אֱל ה ים Genesis 1:2 and the Spirit of God וְע ץ ה ד ע ת ט ו ב ו רע Genesis 2:9 and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil 11 Construct Chains ש ם ה ע יר Genesis 4:17 the name of the city ל ב פ רְ ע ה Exodus 9:7 the heart of Pharaoh ְ ד ב ר יְהו ה Exodus 9:20 the word of Yehovah 12 Construct Chain ב ְנ י י ְש רא ל Exodus 9:35 the children (sons) of Israel ל עֲד ת ב ְנ י י ְש רא ל Numbers 19:9 of the children of Israel (ע דה) for the congregation ע ל ג ְב ו ל אֶרֶ ץ אֱד ו ם Numbers 20:23 by the coast of the land of Edom 13 Construct Chains מ י מְר יב ה Number 20:13 of Meribah (מ י ם ) the water לְע ינ י כ ל ה ע דה Numbers 20:27 in the sight (eyes) of all the congregation ז קְנ י מ דְ י ן Numbers 22:4 the elders of Midian 14 Construct Chains ע ל ה נ ה ר אֶרֶ ץ ב ְנ י ע מ ו Numbers 22:5 by the river of the land of the children of his people 15 Construct Chains Biblical Hebrew A Compact Guide, Miles Van Pelt, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 2012. Biblical Hebrew An Introductory Grammar, Page H. Kelly, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 1992. Learning Biblical Hebrew A New Approach Using Discourse Analysis, B.M. Rocine, Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc., Macon, Georgia, copyright 2000. 16 Hebrew lessons compiled by: Beth C. Mehaffey https://holyhiway.wordpress.com Contact: betmeh2 at gmail.com 17.