Inseparable Prepositions - Prepositions attached directly to a noun. For example:

�� (in, with, at) ב

(to, for) ל�

�� (like) כ

in a house/with a house/at a house ב��ב�ית

to a house/for a house ל�ב�ית

��ב�ית like a house כ

Preposition + Definite Article:

in the house/with the house/at the house ב�ב�ית

to the house/for the house לב�ית

�ב�ית like the house כ

If the object begins with a vocal shewa, the vowel of the inseparable preposition is a hireq. For example: ב�יא�ים� �ש��לם� to prophets ל�נ ��ירו in בJerusalemIf the object begins with a khatef qamets , khatef patakh , or khatef segol , the inseparable preposition adopts the short vowel of the object. This usually occurs in guttural first consonants.

For example: הד�ר�יםב� in rooms ה�� �י ��אנ like a ship כ

In rare instances of an object beginning with a khatef segol beneath an א, the vowel beneath the א completely disappears and the vowel of the inseparable preposition is a tsere. For example: ב��אל�ה�ים with God

When combined with the definite article, each of these examples follows the standard rules for prepositions & definite article combination (patakh or qamets vowel, etc.)

The preposition ן .occurs more than 7,500 times in the Hebrew Bible מ�

The preposition ן has two forms: maqqep (from, because of, some of) מ�and inseparable. In the inseparable form, the nun disappears.

For example:� ל�ך �ן־מ � from a king (or) מ� ל�ך �from a king מ�מ�

When the nun disappears, it leaves a dagesh in the first root letter.

Nouns beginning with a guttural consonant (ע ,ח ,ה ,א) or ר:

1. The preposition usually takes the form of the inseparable preposition. 2. The vowel lengthens (compensatory lengthening) from a hireq to a tsere to compensate for the guttural consonant refusing to take the dagesh from the disappearing nun.

For example: מ�ע�יר from a city מ�א�ב from a father

When the definite article is present, the vowel lengthens to a tsere in the inseparable form.

We should expect the vowel to lengthen since the ה of the definite article is a guttural consonant. The vowel does not change in the maqqep form. For example:

� ל�ך �ן־המ� � from the king מ� ל�ך �from the king מ�המ�

� ל�ך �ן המ� מ�

� ל�ך � מ�המ�

� ל�ך � מ�המ�

Since the guttural refuses the dagesh, the vowel lengthens beneath the preceding consonant.

Gutturals refuse to take a dagesh so something else has to give.

When a nun drops, it wants to put a dagesh in the following consonant

� ל�ך �ן מ � מ� מ�מ��ל�ך

Nun Assimilation

In English, we use the word “than” to create comparison. For example: The man is taller than the boy.

Hebrew uses the preposition ן .to create comparison מ�For example:

� ל�ך �ן־המ� ��ב�יא מ� ח�כ�ם הנ

Literal Translation: Wise (is) the prophet from the king.

Comparative translation: The prophet is wiser than the king.

In English we use relative pronouns who, which, and that to introduce a relative clause.

For example: The book that is on the table. “is on the table” explains where the book is relative to the table.

The phrase “on the table” is the relative clause.

In Hebrew, the relative pronoun is ר� and can be translated as אש�who, which, or that depending on context.

Number and gender do not affect ר� .אש�

��ס��א � אש��ר על־הכ ל�ך �the king who is on the throne המ�

ה�ר�ע�ב אש��ר ב��א�ר�ץ the famine which is in the land

��ה�ר אש��ר ב�ש���ד�ה הנ the river that is in the field