Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/328

 3. Several prepositions, especially those which express relations of space and time, are (like the German wegen) properly plural nouns (for the reason, see ), and are, therefore, joined with the pronominal suffixes in the form of the plural, just like other plural nouns. On the other hand, the apparent connexion of, , with plural suffixes is explained from the ground-forms of those prepositions (from stems ) , , (contracted to , , &c.).

Without suffixes these prepositions are—

, more frequently (prop. hinder parts) behind, after.

, poet. [4 times in Job] also (region, direction), towards, to, according to.

(interval) between; the suffixes indicating the singular are added to the singular, thus , , &c. (, the second is, however, marked with a point as critically doubtful; , which occurs three times, is only the Masoretic  for , which is found e.g. in ). On the other hand, the suffixes indicating a plural are attached to the plural forms or.

(circuit) around, as a preposition, always has the plural form, sometimes masc., &c. [10 times], but much more frequently in the few. (surroundings). In  is a corruption of ; [in   also is so contrary to usage, that it must be due to some textual error].

(continuation, duration, from ) as far as, unto, poet. [12 times]. In, with the ā retained in the secondary tone, is abnormal. Also in for  read.

(cf. the rare subst. [see Lexicon], from ), poet. [40 times, and 2 ].

(prop. what is beneath). On, &c.; cf. above, d.