Grammar:Number/0

Number

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Plural - Singular Noncomformity

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 expalin the noncomformity in each case.

• The phenomenon is especially prevalent with regards to the root ""היה
• Bereshit 1:14 – "יְהִי מְאֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם".  Though the word "מְאֹרֹת" is plural, the verb "" is singular.
• Bemidbar 9:6
• Devarim 22:23
• 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 "תְּנוּ ". This leads Ibn Ezra and Radak to suggest that they must have been speaking to Aharon as well, even though he is not mentioned.

¹ See Rashbam on Bereshit 1:14, "דרך המקראות לומר לשון יחיד אצל לשון רבים". Cf. Ibn Ezra and Radak (and Shadal and R. D"Z Hoffmann) who suggest that specifically with the root "היה", Tanakh does not necessarily conform either number or gender, perhaps because of its prevalence. Radak writes, "לשון הויה אינו שומר בהרבה מקומות יחיד ורבים זכר ונקבה," and Ibn Ezra (Dikduk) explains "בעבור שידברו במלה הזאת הרבה".