Various uses of pointing in Biblical Hebrew

Conveying pronunciation: The primary function of pointing in Biblical Hebrew is to indicate the correct pronunciation of a word. Pointings or vowels (dots and lines) are added above, below, or inside the consonants.
Determining Meaning: Pointing can impact the meaning of the word. For example, the word ‘David’ without vowels could be misread as ‘dvd’, which could mean love, when intended to reference the biblical figure David.
Indicating Special Forms: Certain forms of words, like the Qal passive or Pual, Hophal verb forms, can be distinguished mainly by different pointing.
Reading Tradition: Pointing in Biblical Hebrew reflects the reading tradition or the accepted pronunciation of the text preserved by generations of Jewish scholars and readers.

Verb Form Recognition: Pointing can help differentiate between the seven main verb forms (binyanim) in Hebrew. For instance, the Piel form is often signified by a long vowel under the first root consonant, and the Hiphil form by a vowel under the first letter of the root.
Identifying Gender and Number: In nouns, pointing can help differentiate between masculine, feminine, singular, pluaral and dual. For example, the plural of a masculine noun typically ends in “-im” and a feminine in “-ot”.
Mood Indication: Hebrew verbs use pointing to indicate mood. For example, the jussive mood (expressing command or wish) uses particular pointing.
Tense Indication: In some cases, vowel shifts aided by pointing can help differentiate between verb tenses. For example, doubling of the middle letter of the root in past tense for Piel and Pual verb form.

Punctuation and Emphasis: Accent marks can serve as a form of punctuation, indicating where to pause in the sentence and what syllables to emphasise during recitation.
Syntax Indicator: Relevant particularly in poetry, these marks can provide implications on the syntax of the verse, showing what words belong together.
Melodical Notation: In liturgical context, the accent marks double as musical notes for chanting the Hebrew Bible. They guide the tone, pitch, and rhythm for proper recitation of the biblical text.

Masoretic Text: The most common text of the Hebrew bible, the Masoretic Text, contains a distinct system of pointing. However, there can still be variations in pointing between different versions of the Masoretic Text.
Texts Without Pointing: Many ancient texts and inscriptions come without pointing and require an understanding of context and grammar to decipher the intended pronunciation and meaning.
Pointing Errors: Sometimes scribes may have made errors in pointing, which can lead to different interpretations of the text.
Printing Mistakes: In modern times, misprints can occur, adding extra points or omitting necessary ones. Special attention to the context can help identify such issues.