Basics of Hebrew Accents

by Mark Futato

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2020

Overview

Basics of Hebrew Accents provides readers of biblical Hebrew with a comprehensive working knowledge of accentuation. Hebrew accents can be perplexing but knowing them and their functions will help students become better readers of the Hebrew Bible. The book is an ideal tool for beginning students who are learning to read the language as well as for more advanced students who are reading and translating the Hebrew text.

Mark Futato has carefully organized his book to emphasize accessibility while providing:

• Clear explanations of the primary functions of Hebrew accents
• A student-friendly presentation
• Accessibility for independent study
• A practical and handy reference resource for all students of the Hebrew Bible

Key Features

• Provides a tool for beginning students who are learning to read the language
• Helpful for advanced students who are reading and translating the Hebrew text
• Explains the primary functions of Hebrew accents

Contents

Top Highlights

“Whenever zaqeph is repeated in a half verse, the first zaqeph is the one that divides the half in half;²² the second zaqeph divides the second half of the half in half.” (Page 40)

“Zaqeph qaton ֔ is statistically the most common accent used to divide a half verse in half, and unlike segolta, zaqeph is used to divide both the first and the second halves of a verse in half.” (Page 39)

“The accents are indicators of (1) the stressed syllable in words—word stress, (2) the syntactic relationship between words—sense, and (3) the intonation of words for singing—chanting.” (Page 14)

“Pashta ◌◌֙ occurs only in a unit created by zaqeph.” (Page 46)

“Tiphkha ֖ is a bit more multifaceted than the accents studied to this point. First, when tiphkha occurs, it is always the final disjunctive accent before silluq or atnakh. Second, in shorter half verses tiphkha, not zaqeph, divides the half in half, while in longer half verses tiphkha divides the unit following zaqeph in half.” (Page 41)

Product Details

• Title: Basics of Hebrew Accents
• Author: Mark D. Futato
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2020
• Pages: 112
• Resource Type: Introduction
• Topic: Hebrew

About Mark Futato

Dr. Mark D. Futato joined Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in 1999, and serves as the Robert L. Maclellan Professor of Old Testament. He teaches core classes on Hebrew and Old Testament books. Dr. Futato served as academic dean of RTS Orlando from 2004 to 2012.

Dr. Futato’s research interests include biblical Hebrew, the book of Psalms, and the role that elements of creation, such as climate and geography, play in Scripture. Dr. Futato has published multiple books on the Psalms, as well as an /Introduction to Biblical Hebrew/. He is currently finishing a commentary on Jonah.

Dr. Futato also served on the translation team for the book of Psalms in the New Living Translation, contributed study notes for Th e ESV Study Bible and The Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, and contributed to the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis.

Students appreciate Dr. Futato’s passionate emphasis on God’s desire to bless all nations, his engaging communication style, and his practical application of biblical texts to those who struggle, suffer, and doubt. Dr. Futato and his wife, Adele, have four children: William, Evan, Mark Jr., and Annie.