Grammar:Number/0

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Number

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Nonconformity Between Number and Verb

In Biblical Hebrew there is not always conformity between number and verb, with a plural sometimes taking a single form and vice versa.  Some commentators attribute this to "דרך המקרא", the way of the text,1 and do not attempt to explain the various cases, while others try to explain the nonconformity in each case.

  • The phenomenon is especially prevalent with regards to the root "היה" when it precedes a subject.  This is noted by many commentators including Ibn Ezra, Radak,2 Shadal and R. D"Z Hoffmann.
    • Ibn Ezra explains that the lack of conformity might stem from the word's prevalence,3 while Shadal compares it to the Italian "impersonale" construction, often used to express a non specific subject ("one", "they" etc) which similarly does not always conform to number.
    • Cf. Rashbam who agrees that the nonconformity is simply "the way of the text" but adds that if one nonetheless wanted to look for conformity, one might suggest that in all such cases there is an assumed subject which is implied by the text: "מעשה".  Thus, such verses would read as if written: "and [an event] happened, that..."
    • Examples include: Bereshit 1:14 ("יְהִי מְאֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם"),‎4  Shemot 17:12 ( וַיְהִי יָדָיו אֱמוּנָה)5 Bemidbar 9:6 ( וַיְהִי אֲנָשִׁים), Devarim 22:23 (כִּי יִהְיֶה נַעֲרָ בְתוּלָה),6 7
  • Elsewhere, too, number and verb might not match:
    • Bereshit 4:10
    • Shemot 17:2  – "וַיָּרֶב הָעָם עִם מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמְרוּ תְּנוּ לָנוּ מַיִם".  Though the verse implies that the nation is speaking only with Moshe, they nonetheless address him in the plural, saying, "תְּנוּ ". This leads Ibn Ezra and Radak to suggest that the nation must have been speaking to Aharon as well, even though he is not mentioned.
    • Devarim 30:10 – מִצְוֺתָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו הַכְּתוּבָה. See Chizkuni and R. D"Z Hoffmann.
    • Shemuel I 2:4

Unexpected Plurals

  • Sometimes a plural is used when a verse really means "one of ---" .  For example
    • Bereshit 8:4 - See Shadal and R. D"Z Hoffmann who both explain "עַל הָרֵי אֲרָרָט" to mean "on one of the mountains of Ararat"
    • Shofetim 12:7 – וַיִּקָּבֵר בְּעָרֵי גִלְעָד
    • Shemuel I 1:1.  See Radak that יְהִי אִישׁ אֶחָד מִן הָרָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים might mean "there was a man from one of the Ramot"
    • Shemuel I 18:21 - "בִּשְׁתַּיִם תִּתְחַתֵּן בִּי הַיּוֹם" – see Radak on Shemuel I 1:1