Understanding the Noun Construct (Smikhut)

Understanding the Noun Construct (Smikhut)

Basic Definition

• In Biblical Hebrew, noun construct is named as ‘Smikhut.’
• It is used to denote a relationship of ‘of’ or ‘belonging to’ – almost equivalent to the English possessive form of ‘s.
• The construct state is a syntactic relationship between two or more nouns indicating possession or a similar semantic relation.

Formation of Smikhut

• The Smikhut state is formed by placing two (or more) nouns side by side.
• The first noun in the pair is the possessor while the second noun is the possessed.
• The words in Smikhut are always definite. If the second noun has the article (ה), the whole compound is considered definite.

Grammatical Changes in Smikhut

• Nouns may undergo certain changes when they are part of a construct state.
• Generally, nouns in the construct state lose their final vowel sound.
• Nouns take suffixes to denote the possessive form– these suffixes differ from those used for verb endings or pronoun objects.
• Plural endings of masculine nouns change from ים (-im) to י (-ei) in construct state.

Usage of Smikhut

• The Smikhut form is used in both prose and poetry.
• It is an important way to express possession.
• Compound words or phrases often use the Smikhut form, creating a stronger link than simple adjective-noun combinations.
• Used in creating construct chains, multiple construct pairs are linked together to form different nuances for possession.

Exceptions and Variations

• Not all nouns form their construct state in the same way – exceptions are common.
• There is considerable variation in the forms of some nouns, especially those with weak consonants.

Revise these points and ensure you can confidently identify and use the Smikhut in Biblical Hebrew text. Always check the dictionary for the construct state as some forms may not follow the general rules.