הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (Gen 1:1 WTT)

הַ particle article   אֶרֶץ noun common feminine singular absolute   
BDB 863  אֶ֫רֶץ  [864] (Hebrew) (page 75) (Strong 776)
אֶ֫רֶץ:2407 n.f.:Gn 10:11 & (seld.) m.:Gn 13:16 earth, land (Ph. MI ארץ, As. irsÌitu COT:Gloss, Ar. ÀardÍum, Sab. ארץ̅ e.g. Os:9 DHM:ZMG 1875, 594, 614; Sem. Sprachf. 12, cf. Prä:BAS i. 374 n., Aram. אֲרַע, ÀarÁoÀ)—א׳ abs. Gn 1:24 +; cstr. 2:11 +; אָ֑רֶץ 1:10 +; c. art. always הָאָ֫רֶץ 1:11 +; c. ךָה loc. אַ֫רְצָה 11:31 +, (this form also poet. = אֶרֶץ Jb 34:13 +); sf. אַרְצִי 20:15 +; אַרְצְךָ (אַרְצֶ֑ךָ) 12:1 +, etc.; pl. אֲרָצוֹת Je 28:8 + 65 t.; cstr. אַרְצוֹת Ez 39:27 + 6 t.; sf. אַרְצֹתָם Gn 10:5 + 2 t.;—
1. a. earth, whole earth (opp. to a part) Gn 18:18, 18:25, 22:18 (= הָאֲדָמָה 12:3) Je 25:26, 25:29, 25:30, 26:6, Is 37:16, 37:20 = 2 K 19:15, 19:19, Zc 4:10, 4:14 +. b. earth, opp. to heaven, sky Gn 1:2, Ex 20:4, Dt 5:8, 30:19, Ju 5:4, La 2:1, Is 37:16 = 2 K 19:15, Psalm 146:6, 1 Ch 21:16, 29:11, 2 Ch 2:11 +; as permanent Ec 1:4; built on foundations, or pillars 1 S 2:8, Psalm 104:5, Jb 38:4, Is 48:13, 51:13, 51:16 cf. also Is 24:18, Psalm 82:5; firm, so that its shaking is something terrible, & token of terrible power 1 S 14:4, 2 S 22:8 = Psalm 18:8, Jb 9:6 cf. Psalm 46:2 & v:6; so also Am 8:8, Is 2:19, 2:21, 24:18, 24:19, 24:20, Psalm 60:4, 77:19, 99:1, 114:7; as hung on nothing Jb 26:7; with waters under it Ex 20:4 = Dt 5:8 cf. Gn 7:11; personified, esp. as addressed, called to witness, etc. Dt 32:1, Je 6:19, 22:29, Is 1:2, Mi 1:2, Jb 16:18. c. earth = inhabitants of earth Gn 6:11, 1 K 2:2, 10:24, Psalm 33:8, 66:4 + cf. תֵּבֵל א׳ Pr 8:31, Jb 37:12. 2. land = a. country, territory, א׳ שִׁנְעָר Gn 10:10, א׳ מִצְרַיִם 21:21; cf. also 10:11, 11:28, 11:31, 13:10, 47:6, 47:27, 50:8, Is 7:18, 23:1, 23:13, 27:13, Psalm 78:12, Je 25:20, 1 Ch 1:43; personif. Is 62:4, Ec 10:16, 10:17. b. district, region Gn 19:28, 22:2, Jos 11:3, Psalm 42:7. c. tribal territory Dt 34:2, Ju 21:21, 1 S 9:4, 9:16, 13:7, 1 K 15:20, Is 8:23; and still smaller territories 1 S 9:4, 9:5. d. piece of ground Gn 23:15. e. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel Gn 11:31, 12:1, 12:5, 12:6, 12:7, 31:3, Ex 14:34, Dt 17:14, 18:9, 2 K 5:2, 5:4 +; esp. obj. of יָרַשׁ possess Dt 3:20 + oft. Dt Psalm al.; so after נָחַל Jos 19:49 +; נָתַן Dt 1:21 +. f. = inhabitants land Lv 19:29, Ez 14:13 + cf. Dt 24:4, Zc 12:12 etc. g. used even of She’oël Jb 10:21, 10:22 (cf. As. irsÌit la târat, land without return, in Descent of Ishtar, v. Jr:10. 65); v. also Psalm 139:15, Is 44:23. >3. a. ground, surface of ground = אֲדָמָה q.v. Gn 1:26, 1:30, 18:2, 33:3, 38:9, Ex 4:3, 16:4, Ru 2:10, 1 S 5:4 + very oft. in S. b. soil, as productive = אֲדָמָה Gn 1:11, 1:12, Lv 19:9, 25:9, 26:4 cf. Nu 14:7, 14:8, Is 36:7 = 2 K 18:32, Psalm 72:6, 72:16, 107:34, 107:35, Ezr 9:12, Ne 9:35. 4. אֶרֶץ in phrases: a. people of the land עַם־הָא׳ of non-Israelites Gn 23:7, 23:12, 23:13 (P) Nu 14:9 (JE); as well as Isr. Lv 20:4 (H) 2 K 15:5, 16:15, 21:24, 21:24; esp. common people, opp. officials, princes Lv 4:27 (P) Ez 7:27, 2 K 11:18, 11:19. † b. in measurements of distance, הָא׳ כִּבְרַת the space or distance of country (v. כּברה) Gn 35:16, so כִּבְרַת א׳ some distance Gn 48:7, 2 K 5:19. c. אֶרֶץ הַמִּישׁוֹר the country of the plain, level or plain country Dt 4:33, Je 48:21; א׳ מִישׁוֹר fig. Psalm 143:10 (but rd. אֹרַח SyrVer Bi Gr Che, cf. Psalm 27:11). d. א׳ חַיִּים land of the living Psalm 27:13; א׳ הַחַיִּים Psalm 142:6. e. קְצֵה הָא׳ end(s) of the earth Is 42:10, 43:6 (||רָחוֹק) Psalm 135:7, Pr 17:24, so אַפְסֵי א׳ Pr 30:4 +; קְצוֹת הָא׳ Is 40:28, 41:5, 41:9. 5. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late, Je 16:15 + 6 t. Je; 23 t. Ez; Is 36:20, 37:11 = 2 K 18:35, 19:11 (Is 37:18 rd. הַגּוֹיִם v. Che Di & cf. 2 K 19:17); 22 t. Chr; Dn 9:7, 11:40, 11:42; Psalm 105:44, 106:27, 107:3, 116:9; besides these only P Gn 10:5, 10:20, 10:31, Lv 26:36, 26:39, exc. Gn 26:3, 26:4 (J:R) 41:54 (JE); it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc., v. esp. abs. Ez 20:32, 22:4; = the various petty divisions of Canaan afterward united under Israel's control Gn 26:3, 26:4, cf. 1 Ch 13:2 אַרְצוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, 2 Ch 11:23 אַרְצוֹת יְהוּדָה.3. a. ground, surface of ground = אֲדָמָה q.v. Gn 1:26, 1:30, 18:2, 33:3, 38:9, Ex 4:3, 16:4, Ru 2:10, 1 S 5:4 + very oft. in S. b. soil, as productive = אֲדָמָה Gn 1:11, 1:12, Lv 19:9, 25:9, 26:4 cf. Nu 14:7, 14:8, Is 36:7 = 2 K 18:32, Psalm 72:6, 72:16, 107:34, 107:35, Ezr 9:12, Ne 9:35. 4. אֶרֶץ in phrases: a. people of the land עַם־הָא׳ of non-Israelites Gn 23:7, 23:12, 23:13 (P) Nu 14:9 (JE); as well as Isr. Lv 20:4 (H) 2 K 15:5, 16:15, 21:24, 21:24; esp. common people, opp. officials, princes Lv 4:27 (P) Ez 7:27, 2 K 11:18, 11:19. † b. in measurements of distance, כִּבְרַת הָא׳ the space or distance of country (v. כּברה) Gn 35:16, so כִּבְרַת א׳ some distance Gn 48:7, 2 K 5:19. c. הַמִּישׁוֹר אֶרֶץ the country of the plain, level or plain country Dt 4:33, Je 48:21; א׳ מִישׁוֹר fig. Psalm 143:10 (but rd. אֹרַח SyrVer Bi Gr Che, cf. Psalm 27:11). d. א׳ חַיִּים land of the living Psalm 27:13; א׳ הַחַיִּים Psalm 142:6. e. קְצֵה הָא׳ end(s) of the earth Is 42:10, 43:6 (||רָחוֹק) Psalm 135:7, Pr 17:24, so א׳ אַפְסֵי Pr 30:4 +; קְצוֹת הָא׳ Is 40:28, 41:5, 41:9. 5. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late, Je 16:15 + 6 t. Je; 23 t. Ez; Is 36:20, 37:11 = 2 K 18:35, 19:11 (Is 37:18 rd. הַגּוֹיִם v. Che Di & cf. 2 K 19:17); 22 t. Chr; Dn 9:7, 11:40, 11:42; Psalm 105:44, 106:27, 107:3, 116:9; besides these only P Gn 10:5, 10:20, 10:31, Lv 26:36, 26:39, exc. Gn 26:3, 26:4 (J:R) 41:54 (JE); it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc., v. esp. abs. Ez 20:32, 22:4; = the various petty divisions of Canaan afterward united under Israel's control Gn 26:3, 26:4, cf. 1 Ch 13:2 אַרְצוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, 2 Ch 11:23 אַרְצוֹת יְהוּדָה.
BDB 2243  הַ  [2244] (Hebrew) (page 206)
•הַ, הַ, הָ, הֶ (on the use of these different forms, see the Grammars: e.g. Ges:§ 35), definite article, the (so Moab. Ph. (Schröd:§ 62-4), LihÌyan (NW. Arabia) ha (DHM:Epigr. Denkm. 4. 13. 58 ff.); not As. Aram. or Eth.: Arab. Àal, of which, before dentals, sibilants, and liquids, the l is written but not pronounced, thus Àalš4amsu pron. ’ash-shamsu = Heb. הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ)—in gen. the use of the art. in Heb. is analogous to its use in Greek or German: but naturally there are applications peculiar to Hebrew (comp. with what follows Ges:§ 126 Ew:§ 277):—1. joined with substantives: a. to mark a definite concrete object, as Gn 1:1 the heavens and the earth, הַמֶּלֶח the king, etc. Never, however (as in Greek e.g. ὁ Πλάτων), before true proper names, though it is used with certain terms, chiefly geographical, of which the orig. appellative sense has not been lost, as הַבַּעַל ‘Baal,’ lit. ‘ the lord,’ in pl. הַבְּעָלִים i.e. the various local Baals, הַשָּׂטָן the Adversary Jb 1:6 ff. (as a pr. n. שָׂטָן, ‘Satan,’ only 1 Ch 21:1); הַלְּבָנוֹן (but not הַחֶרְמוֹן), הַיַּרְדֵּן (but not הָאַרְנֹן), הַכַּרְמֶל, הַשָּׁרוֹן the Sharon, הַשְּׁפֵלָה the (Judaean) lowland, הַכִּכָּר, הַמִּישׁוֹר the (Moabite) table-land, הָעֲרָבָה, הָעַי ‘ïAi,’ הַגִּבְעָה ‘Gibeah,’ Ju 20:5 ff., הַגָּלִיל ‘Galilee,’ הַגִּלְגָּל, הַגִּלְבֹּעַ, הַבָּשָׁן, הַגִּלְעָד (oft.), הַשִּׁטִּים, הַמִּצְפָּה, הָרָמָה, הַיְשִׁימוֹן, הָעֹפֶל, הַפִּסְגָּה. b. with an adjective to denote one who exhibits a quality κατ ἐξοχήν, i.e. to express the compar. or superl. degree: so oft., as Gn 1:16 המאור הגדל the greater light, הקטן המאור the lesser light, 27:1 בנו הגדול = his elder son, 48:14 הצעיר the younger, 42:13 הַקָּטֹן the little one, i.e. the youngest, (of Joseph's brethren), Lv 21:10 הַגָּדוֹל מֵאֶחָיו the chiefest of his brethren, Nu 35:25 + הכהן הגדול the chief priest, הצעיר ב׳ the least among Ju 6:15, הצעירה מן the least of 1S 9:21, הַיָּפָה ב׳ the fairest among Ct 1:8, 2 K 10:3, Pr 30:30, cf. Job 14:15. c. with nouns which are not definite in themselves, but acquire their definition from the context, or from the manner in which they are introduced: thus (α) in the standing phrases הַיּוֹם to-day, Gn 4:14, 21:26 + oft.; הַלַּיְלָה to-night, Gn 19:5, 30:15 +, once 1 S 15:16 last night; so הַשָּׁנָה this year, 2 K 19:29, Jer 28:16; הַפַּעַם this time, Gn 18:32 +. (β) הַנָּהָר the river (κατ ἐξοχήν), i.e. the Euphrates; Ex 2:15 the well, the well viz. of the district, Jos 8:11 the valley, 1 S 17:3; 1 S 19:10 the wall, v:13 the bed, 20:21 הַנַּעַר the lad (whom Jonathan would naturally take with him), v:34 the table. Hence occas. where a suffix would define the noun more precisely, as הַחֲמוֹר 2 S 19:27 + = my ass, Ju 3:20, 1 S 1:9 הַכִּסֵּא = his seat, Ju 4:15, 1 K 22:35, 2 K 10:15 + הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, 1 S 18:10, 20:33 הַחֲנִית. d. it is a peculiarity of Hebrew thought to conceive an object as defined by its being taken for a particular purpose, and thus by a kind of prolepsis to prefix the art. to the noun denoting it: 1 S 10:1 and Samuel took אֶת־פַּח הַשֶּׁמֶן lit. the cruse of oil, not, however, a cruse which had been defined previously, but one rendered definite by being now taken; in English idiom ‘ a cruse of oil,’ v:25 בַּסֵּפֶר lit. in the scroll or book, the one, viz. taken for the purpose, i.e. in a scroll (so Ex 17:14, Nu 5:23, Jb 19:23), 21:10 בַּשִּׂמְלָה, Ju 4:18 וַתְּכַסֵּהוּ בַּשְּׂמִיכָה, v:19, 7:13 הָאֹהֶל a tent, 8:25, 9:48 אֶת־הַקַּרְדֻּמֹּת hatchets, 20:16 every one able to sling בָּאֶבֶן אֶל־הַשַּׂעֲרָה with a stone at a hair, 1 S 6:8 בָּאַרְגָּז (unless indeed the אַרְגָּז was an understood appendage in every cart), Nu 11:27 הַנַּעַר, a young man, 13:23 בַּמּוֹט on a pole, Jos 2:15 בַּחֶבֶל with a cord, 2 S 17:17 השׁפחה a girl (cf. Dr:1 S 1:4, 19:13). Sts. it is uncertain whether an art. is to be referred to c or d: e.g. 1 S 2:13 his prong or a prong, 2 S 18:9 his mule or a mule, etc. e. with nouns that denote objects or classes of objects that are known to all, as הַצּאֹן, הַזָּהָב, הַמַּיִם; Gn 13:2 Abram was very rich בַּמִּקְנֶה בַּכֶּסֶף וּבַזָּהָב, Ex 31:4 לַעֲשׂוֹת בַּזָּהָב וּבַכֶּסֶף, Dt 14:26 and thou shalt lay out the money וּבַצּאֹן וּבַיַּיִן וּבַשֵּׁכָר בַּבָּקָר, 2 K 9:30 וַתָּשֶׂם בַּפּוּח עֵינֶיהָ, in French ‘elle mit du fard a ses yeux.’ It is, however, remarkable that this usage depends mostly on the punctuation, הַכֶּסֶף, הַיַּיִן, הַלֶּחֶם etc. (except as applied to denote definite quantities of gold, wine, etc., as Jos 6:24) being far less common than כֶּסֶף, יַיִן etc., but בַּכֶּסֶף, לַכֶּסֶף etc. being much more freq. than בְּכֶסֶף, לְכֶסֶף etc.: for instances in which the art. forms part of the consonantal text, see Gn 6:20, 7:8 + העוף and הבהמה, Dt 8:3 הַלָּחֶם, 1 K 5:8, 5:13, Is 28:7 הַיַּיִן and הַשֵּׁכָר, 60:17, Ez 15:4, 15:7 הָאֵשׁ, Hb 2:5, Pr 20:1, Psalm 65:14 הַצּאֹן, Ct 1:11, Ec 7:12. Cf. below, h. f. in comparisons, the object compared being, as a rule, not an individual as such, but one exhibiting the characteristics of a class: Is 1:18 כַּשָּׁנִים, כַּתּוֹלָע like scarlet, like crimson (both meant generally), 5:24 כַּמַּק יִהְיֶה, v:28 כַּצַּר and כַּסּוּפָה, 10:14 כַּקֵּן, 13:8 כַּיּוֹלֵדָה (as always with this word, e.g. 42:14, Psalm 48:7), 11:7 כַּבָּקָר; + oft. (The usage is not, however, quite uniform, at least acc. to the punctuation: there occurs e.g. כְּקַשׁ Jb 41:21, Is 47:14; כְּאַרְיֵה Psalm 7:3 al.: and we find both כַּלָּבִיא) Is 5:29 and כְּלָבִיא Ho 13:8; כָּאֲרִי Is 38:13 and כַּאֲרִי Nu 24:9; כַּגִּבּוֹר Is 42:13 and כְּגבור Jb 16:14; etc.) Similarly Gn 19:28 כְּקִיטֹר הַכִּבְשָׁן as the smoke of a furnace, Nu 11:8, 11:12 יִשָּׂא הָאֹמֵן אֶת־הַיֹּנֵק כַּאֲשֶׁר, Dt 28:29 (הָעִוֵּר), Ju 8:18 b הַמֶּלֶח כְּתֹאַר בְּנֵי, 14:6 הַגְּדִי כְּשַׁסַּע like (a lion's) rending a kid, 16:9, 1 K 14:15, Zc 12:10 כְּמִסְפֵּד עַל הַיָּחִיד as mourning over an only child, 13:9 +. Where, however, the standard of comparison is not the class in general, but only a particular part of it, defined by a special epithet (whether adj. or verb), the art. is naturally omitted: thus כַּמֹּץ like chaff (in general) Is 41:15, but כְּמֹץ עֹבֵר like chaff passing away 29:5; כַּצֵּל Jb 14:2, but כְּצֵל נָטוּי Psalm 102:12; כַּקַּשׁ Is 40:24, but כְּקַשׁ נִדָּף 41:2; כָּאַיָּל Is 35:6, but, כְּאַיָּל תַּעֲרֹג על וג׳ like a hind (that) longeth for streams of water Psalm 42:2; כָּאֵשׁ Is 9:17, but כְּאֵשׁ תבער יער like fire (that) kindleth a wood Psalm 83:15; כֶעָשָׁן Is 51:6, but כְּעָשָׁן מֵאֲרֻבָּה like smoke from a chimney Ho 13:3: so Is 62:1 b, Jb 9:26, 11:16 כְּמַיִם עָֽבְרוּ like waters (that) have passed by, etc.; Dt 32:2 a כַּמָּטָר, כַּטַּל, but v:2 b עֲלֵי־דֶשֶׁא כִּשְׂעִירִים, עֲלֵי־עֵשֶׂב כִּרְבִיבִים. Where the art. is found, although a rel. clause follows (as Psalm 1:4, 49:13, Is 61:10), this is prob. to be regarded not as limiting the class of object compared, but as describing it. g. prefixed to generic nouns (in the singular) it designates the class, i.e. it imparts to the noun a collective force, as Ex 1:22 כָּל־הַבֵּן all (lit. the whole of) the sons, כָּל־הַבַּת all the daughters, Lv 17:8, 17:10 מִן־הַגֵּר of the strangers, who sojourn in their midst, Nu 21:7 הַגנָּחָשׁ the serpents; Gn 14:13, Ez 24:26, 33:21 הַפָּלִיט those who escaped; Jos 6:7 + הֶחָלוּץ, v 9:13 הַמְאַסֵּף; 8:19 הָאוֹרֵב; 1 S 13:17 הַמַּשְׁחִית; Mi 2:13, Is 6:4 הַקּוֹרֵא the choir of criers; 1 S 24:14 הַקַּדְמֹנִי the ancients; Ec 7:26 אֶת־הַאִשָּׁה woman, and oft. with gentile names, as הַיְבוּסִי the Jebusites, הַכְּרֵתִי וְהַפְּלֵתִי 2 S 8:18 al., הַדָּנִי Ju 18:1 etc., הַלֵּוִי the Levites, Nu 3:20, 18:23, Mal 2:8, Psalm 135:20 +. h. with nouns denoting abstract ideas, esp. the names of moral qualities (cf. Gk. ἡ δίκη, Fr. la justice), chiefly in two cases—(α) where the art. is recognizable in the consonantal text, exceptionally, when some emphasis or definiteness is intended, as Dt 7:9 שׁומר הברית והחסד; החסד הזה 2 S 2:5, 1 K 3:6; את החסד והרחמים Je 16:5 (contr. Zc 7:9); הצדק † Is 1:26, 61:3, Ec 3:16; הַצְּדָקָה † Is 32:17, 32:17 (contrast v:16) Dn 9:7 (emph.); הַדַּעַת Ho 4:6; הָאֱמֶת Gn 32:11 (sq. אֲשֶׁר), Is 59:15 (contrast v:14) Zc 8:3, 8:19; הָאֱמוּנָה † Is 11:5 b (contr. v:a) Je 7:28; הַחָכְמָה Jb 28:12, 28:20; הַחַיִּים Gn 2:9 +; הָאַהֲבָה † Ct 2:7, 3:5, 8:4, 8:7; הַשֶּׁקֶר † Je 7:4, 7:8, 23:26; הַמָּוֶת Is 25:8, Ru 1:17 +; הָרֶשַׁע † Psalm 125:3, Ec 3:16; הָרִשְׁעָה † Zc 5:8; הַחשֶׁח Is 60:2, Ec 2:13; see also Dt 30:15, 30:19 (Je 21:8), 1 K 7:14, Je 32:19, Mal 2:5 החיים והשׁלום, Psalm 123:4, 130:4, Dn 9:9, 1 Ch 29:11, 2 Ch 1:12, Pr 31:30, Ec 2:18, 2:17, 7:12, 7:19, 10:6, 11:10: but in all such cases חֶסֶד, צֶדֶק, אֱמֶת, etc. are far more common. (β) where the art. depends on the punctuation, after preps., esp. בְּ, but with much irregularity, as בַּחֶסֶד Is 16:5, Pr 20:28 (but בְּח׳ Ho 2:21, Pr 16:6), בַּצֶּדֶק Pr 25:5 (elsewhere always בְּצ׳: בִּצְדָקָה also always); בֶּאֱמֶת and בֶּאֱמוּנָה always; בַּשֶּׁקֶר † Is 28:15 (but ||כָּזָב, not הַכָּזָב) Je 5:31, 13:25, 20:6 23:14 (בְּשֶׁקֶר † Je 3:10, 29:9); בַּשָּׁלוֹם † Psalm 29:11, Jb 15:21 (elsewhere בְּשָׁלוֹם); Zc 12:4 to smite בַּשִּׁגָּעוֹן וּבַעִוָּרוֹן (but Dt 28:28 בְּשׁגעון וּבְעורון), cf. Gn 19:11, Dt 28:22; to enter with one בַּמִּשְׁפָּט Jb 9:32, 22:4 (but בְּמשׁפט Psalm 143:2), contrast also Pr 18:5 with 24:23; לַמִּשְׁפָּט Is 59:11, Psalm 9:8 (but לְמ׳ Is 5:7, Psalm 122:5); Pr 2:2, 7:4 לַחָכְמָה, (but never הַחכמה in Pr 1-9, or indeed in the whole book); Pr 2:3, 7:4 לַבִּינָה, Jb 39:17 בַּבִּינָה (but never הַבִּינָה); Pr 2:2, 2:3 לַתְּבוּנָה (but הַתְּבוּנָה only 1 K 7:14 emph.); to perish בַּצָּמָא Ju 15:18 +; Is 29:21 בַּתֹּהוּ, 32:19 תִּשְׁפַּל הָעִיר בַּשִּׁפְּלָה Germ. in die Niedrigkeit sinkt die Stadt, 45:16 together they go בַכְּלִמָּה (in die Schmach), 46:2 בַּשְּׁבִי into captivity, 47:5 בֹּאִי בַחשֶׁח (so always: never בְחשׁך). The living language may have used the art. more readily after a prep., where it did not lengthen the word by an entire syll.; still the disparity of usage between α and β makes it not improb. that the art. in β is in many cases not original but due to the punctuators. i. to mark the vocative: 1 S 17:55 חֵי־נפשׁך הַמֶּלֶח as thy soul liveth, O king, I do not know, v:58 מי אתה הַנַּעַר בן Whose son art thou, lad ? 2 S 14:4 Help, O king ! 1 K 18:26 הַבַּעַל עֲנֵנוּ, 2 K 9:5 אֵלֶיךָ הַשָּׂר, Is 42:18 הַחֵֽרְשִׁים שְׁמָ֑עוּ, Je 2:31 הַדּ̅וֹר אַתֶּם רְאוּ וג׳, Ez 37:4 הָעֲצָמוֹת הַיְּבֵשׁוֹת O dry bones, Mal 3:9 הַגּוֹי כֻּלּוֹ (Dr:§ 198 Obs. 2).

N. B. In poetry, the article is frequently dispensed with before words which would naturally take it in prose: thus Psalm 2:2, 2:8, 2:10 & oft. אֶרֶץ; 8:9, 18:10, 33:6 + שָׁמַיִם; (rarely in prose, Gn 1:8, 2:4, 1 K 8:35); 21:2, 45:14, 45:16, 61:7 al. מֶלֶךְ; 66:6, 72:8 + יָם; 59:7, 59:15 עִיר; Ju 5:2, Psalm 18:44 עָם etc.; Psalm 9:6, 9:17 & oft. רָשָׁע; Is 1:2, 1:6, 1:21, 3:10, 3:11, 11:6, 11:7, 11:8.

2. With adjectives, participles, and demonstrative pronouns (הוא, היא, המה, הם, זה, זאת, אלה): viz. a. (so regularly) when the subst. qualified by these words is defined by it likewise, as המלך הגדול = ὁ βασιλεὺς ὁ μέγας, Gn 2:12 הארץ ההוא, 20:1 הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, Jos 2:3 אליך האנשׁים הבאים = οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ ἐλθόντες πρὸς σέ, Gn 13:5, 16:13, 24:65, 32:21, Ju 6:28, Is 65:3, 65:4, 65:5, 66:24, Psalm 31:9. So also with adjj. & ptcpp., if the subst. be defined by a sf. (as Dt 4:37 בְּכֹחוֹ הַגָּדֹל, 1 S 8:14 זֵיתֵיכֶם הַטֹּבוֹת); and with a pron., if it be defined by a gen. (as Dt 29:20, 1 S 14:29, 15:14, 2 K 6:32 בֶן־הַמְּרַצֵּחַ הַזֶּה this son of a murderer), but not if it be defined by a sf., as Ex 10:1 אֹתֹתַי אֵלֶּה (not אתתי הָאֵלָּה), Jos 2:14 דְבָרֵנוּ זֶה this our word (not ד׳ הַזֶּה): v. Dr:§ 209 Obs. Similarly when the art. with the ptcp. has a resumptive force, Psalm 33:15 (v:14, he looketh forth from the place, &c.), יַחַד לִבָּם הַיֹּצֵר he that formeth, etc., 19:11 הַנֶּחֱמָדִים מִזָּהָב which (v:10 b) are more desirable than gold, 49:7. (:6 b the iniquity of my aggressors surroundeth me), הַבֹּטְחִים who trust in their riches, etc., Gn 49:21, Is 46:6, 51:20, Jb 6:16 + (v. Dr:§ 135. 7). b. (rare) when the subst. qualified by the adj. or ptcp. was felt to be sufficiently definite for its own art. to be dispensed with, as sts. with the word day Gn 1:31 יום השׁשׁי, 2:3 יום השׁביעי, Ex 12:15, 12:18, 20:10 (= Dt 5:14) Lv 19:6, 22:27: so with מָנוֹא entrance Je 38:14, שַׁעַר Zc 14:10; חָצֵר court 1 K 7:8, 7:12, Ez 40:28 al.; also in certain phrases (peculiar to P) where the subst. is defined by כל, as Gn 1:21 הַחַיָּה כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ all living souls, v:28 כָּל־חַיָּה הָרֹמֶשֶׂת all living things that creep, etc., 7:21, 9:10, Lv 11:10, 11:46; further in isolated cases, hardly reducible to rule, Lv 24:10, 1 S 12:23 דֶּרֶךְ הַטּוֹבָה, 16:23 רוּחַ הָרָעָה, 2 S 12:4 לְאישׁ העשׁיר Je 6:20, 17:2, Zc 4:7, Psalm 104:18, Ezr 10:9 הַתְּשִׁיעִי חֹדֶשׁ (quite exceptional in OT). (With prons. this use is so rare that, where it occurs, it is dub. if the text be sound: 1 S 17:12, 17:17, Je 40:3, Kt Mi 7:11). And with the ptcp.: 1 S 25:10 רַבִּים עֲבָדִים הַמִּתְפָּֽרְצִים many are the slaves who break away etc., Is 7:20, Je 27:3, 46:16 = 50:16 הַיּוֹנָה חֶרֶב the oppressing sword, Ez 2:3 (but LXX Co om. הגוים), 14:22, 32:22, 32:24, Psalm 62:4, Pr 26:18, Ju 21:19 (very anomal., rd. prob. לַמְּסִלָּה). This usage is somewhat more freq. in the later parts of OT; and in postB. Heb. it is very general (e.g. יֵצֶד הָרַע the evil inclination): v. further Dr:§ 209. c. with the ptcp., where the ptcp. with the art. forms really the subject: Gn 2:11 הַסּוֹבֵב הוּא not ‘ it was encompassing, ’ but ‘ it is that which encompassed, ’ 45:12 פִּי הַמְדַבֵּר my mouth is that which speaketh, Dt 3:21 עֵינֶיךָ הָראֹוֹת thine eyes were those which saw, 4:3, 8:18 ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ διδοὺς σοί, Is 14:27, 66:9 (v. Dr:§ 135. 7).

3. The article is prefixed exceptionally—mostly in the latest Hebrew—with the force of a relative to the verb: † Jos 10:24 הֶהָֽלְכוּא אִתּוֹ that went with him, Ez 26:17, הָעִיר הַהֻ֫לָּלָה, 1 Ch 26:28 הַהִקְדִּישׁ שְׁמוּאֵל וְכֹל and all that Samuel had dedicated, 29:8, 29:17, 2 Ch 1:4 בַּֽהֵכִין in (the place) that he had prepared, 29:36, Ezr 8:25, 10:14, 10:17. Acc. to the punctuation, it occurs similarly elsewhere, as Gn 18:21 הַשָבּאָה (so 46:27, Jb 2:11), 21:3 הַנּוֹלַד־לוֹ, 1 K 11:9 & Dn 8:1 הַנִּרְאָה, Is 51:10 הַשָּׂ֙מָה֙, 56:3 הַנִּלְוָה, Ru 1:22, 2:6, 4:3 (all הַשָּׁ֫בָה): but in all these passages, the change of a point, or even sts. of an accent, would restore the normal participial construction (as הַבָּשָאה, הַנּוֹלָד לוֹ cf. Gn 48:5, הַנִּרְאֶה), which is, no doubt, what was intended by the orig. writers, and is recognised elsewhere by the Massorah, e.g. Gn 12:7, 35:1 הַנִּרְאֶה, 46:26 & Ru 4:11 הַבָּאָ֣ה (cf. Ew:§ 331 b Ges:138, 3 b). Once, still more anomalously, before a prep. 1 S 9:24 וְהֶעָלֶיהָ (as though καὶ τὸ ἐπ αὐτῆς): but rd. prob. וְהָאַלְיָה and the fat tail, v. Dr. (In Arab. Àal also occurs, though very rarely, as a relative: W:AG i. § CG 117).—On the anomalous use of the art. with a word in the st. c., v. Gramm., as Ew:§ 290 d, Ges:§ 127 R. 4, also Dr:§ 190-1.