Construct state סְמִיכוּת semikhut
Hebrew has no separate word for “of.” Instead it sets two nouns side by side and changes the shape of the first. That changed shape is the construct state. חַיָּה (beast) becomes חַיַּת in חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ (the beast of the earth). This page shows how construct forms change and when the whole phrase is definite, in words actually used in the Bible.
“leaning, support” — the first word leans on the next. The construct word is נִסְמָךְ (nismakh, the leaning one); the following word is סוֹמֵךְ (somekh, the supporting one)
Colour key blue = added at the front · orange = added at the end · purple = a mark inside (dot · doubled letter · changed vowel) · underline = the word this page is about
1What the construct state is
To say “A of B,” Hebrew puts A (the thing possessed) first and B (the possessor) second. The first noun is in the construct state; the second keeps its ordinary form, the absolute state.
רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים (1:2) is word for word “spirit · God,” meaning “the Spirit of God.” English “of” goes between them.
The construct is very common. Counted from the OSHB morphology there are 32,660 construct nouns (without suffixes) in the Old Testament, 81 of them in Genesis 1–2 alone (all listed at the end of this page).
2Where the name comes from — סְמִיכוּת semikhut
“Construct” comes from Latin constructus, “built together, bound”: two words built into one unit.
The Hebrew name סְמִיכוּת (semikhut) comes from the root ס-מ-ך (lean, support). The first word cannot stand alone; it leans on the next. So the first word is called נִסְמָךְ (nismakh, the leaning one) and the second סוֹמֵךְ (somekh, the supporting one).
Why “leaning”? A construct word loses its own stress and is pronounced together with the next word. So its vowels shrink, and sometimes it is even joined to the next word with a maqqef (־).
3At a glance — how to recognize a construct
- PositionIt stands directly before another noun (or a name or infinitive) — רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים (Gen 1:2).
- Masculine plural and dual ִים ַיִם → ֵיפָּנִים → פְּנֵי (Gen 1:2), עֵינַיִם → עֵינֵי (Gen 3:7).
- Feminine singular ָה → תחַיָּה → חַיַּת (Gen 1:25).
- Reduced vowelsThe stress moves to the next word, so earlier vowels shorten or become sheva — דָּבָר → דְּבַר (Gen 12:17), בַּיִת → בֵּית (Gen 12:15).
- No articleThe construct word never takes the article; the article goes on the last word — חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ.
4Paradigm — absolute and construct
The model nouns סוּס (horse) and סוּסָה (mare) have unchanging vowels, so they show the endings clearly. The dual is עֵינַיִם (a pair of eyes).
| Form | Absolute | Construct | Reading | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| masculine singular | סוּס | סוּס | sus → sus | no ending (known by position) |
| masculine plural | סוּסִים | סוּסֵי | susim → suse | ִים → ֵי |
| feminine singular | סוּסָה | סוּסַת | susah → susat | ָה → ַת |
| feminine plural | סוּסוֹת | סוּסוֹת | susot → susot | ending unchanged |
| dual | עֵינַיִם | עֵינֵי | ‘enayim → ‘ene | ַיִם → ֵי |
Remember two things: ִים and ַיִם become ֵי, and ָה becomes ַת. The masculine singular and feminine plural keep their endings, so position tells you.
5Construct forms in Bible words — when the vowels change too
Many nouns shorten their vowels as well as their endings. All these pairs occur in Genesis (checked with the tool).
| Absolute | Construct | Reading | Meaning | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| דָּבָר (18:14) | דְּבַר (12:17) | davar → devar | word, matter | first ָ → sheva, second ָ → ַ |
| בָּנִים (5:4) | בְּנֵי (6:4) | banim → bene | sons | first ָ → sheva, ִים → ֵי |
| יָמִים (4:3) | יְמֵי (3:14) | yamim → yeme | days | first ָ → sheva, ִים → ֵי |
| פָּנִים (32:31) | פְּנֵי (1:2) | panim → pene | face | first ָ → sheva, ִים → ֵי |
| בַּיִת (17:12) | בֵּית (12:15) | bayit → beit | house | two syllables become one |
| אֶרֶץ (1:10) | אֶרֶץ (2:11) | ’erets → ’erets | land | unchanged (segolate) |
Why the vowels shrink is explained below in “Why the construct shortens.”
6Constructs with a changed ending — real examples from the Bible
Look for the final ֵי (masculine plural, dual) and ת (feminine singular).
pene — the face of
The construct of פָּנִים (face; the absolute is in Gen 32:31). The masculine plural ending ִים (-im) becomes ֵי (-e), and the first vowel ָ shrinks to a sheva. פְּנֵי תְהוֹם “the face of the deep” and פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם “the face of the waters” — twice in one verse.
YLVAnd the earth was formlessness and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit (ruach) of God was hovering upon the face of the waters.
vene — the sons of
The construct of בָּנִים (sons, Gen 5:4). ִים becomes ֵי and the first ָ shrinks to a sheva: בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים “the sons of God.”
YLVthe sons of God saw the daughters of man (adam), that they were good; and they took for themselves women (ishah) of all whom they chose.
ḥayyat — the beast of
The construct of חַיָּה (beast, Gen 9:5). The feminine singular ending ָה (-ah) becomes ת (-at): חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ “the beast of the earth.” The ה of a feminine noun turning into ת is the easiest construct sign to see.
YLVAnd God made the living thing (chai) of the earth after its kind, and the beast after its kind, and every creeping thing of the ground (adamah) after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
vidgat — over the fish of
בִ (the preposition בְּ, “rule over”) + דְגַת (fish of). In דָּגָה (fish) the ָה becomes ת and the first vowel shrinks: בִדְגַת הַיָּם “over the fish of the sea.”
YLVAnd God said, "Let us make man (adam) in our image, after our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the beast, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
lememshelet — to rule (for the rule of)
לְ (for) + מֶמְשֶׁלֶת (rule of). The absolute is מֶמְשָׁלָה (memshalah); in the construct the end becomes ֶלֶת (-elet): לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַיּוֹם “to rule the day.”
YLVAnd God made the two great lights — the great light for the rule of the day, and the small light for the rule of the night — and the stars.
ulemiqveh — and the gathering of
וּ (and) + לְ (to) + מִקְוֵה (gathering of): וּלְמִקְוֵה הַמַּיִם “and the gathering of the waters.” The final vowel of the absolute מִקְוֶה is ֶ (segol); in the construct it becomes ֵ (tsere). Masculine nouns ending in ֶה take ֵה in the construct.
YLVAnd God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering of the waters he called Seas; and God saw that it was good.
7Why the construct shortens
- 1. Two words as oneA construct and the next word are pronounced as one unit. The unit has only one main stress, on the last word.
- 2. The first word loses its stressדָּבָר (da-var) has the stress on its last syllable when alone; in the construct, that stress passes to the next word.
- 3. Unstressed long vowels shrinkLong vowels far from the stress shorten or become sheva: דָּבָר → דְּבַר (devar).
- 4. The endings shorten tooִים loses its ם and only ֵי remains; ָה shows the old feminine ת again and becomes ַת.
8Constructs with reduced vowels — real examples from the Bible
devar — the matter of
The construct of דָּבָר (word, matter; Gen 18:14). No ending is added, but the stress moves to the next word, so the first ָ shrinks to a sheva ְ and the second ָ shortens to ַ: עַל־דְּבַר שָׂרַי “because of the matter of Sarai.”
YLVAnd YHWH plagued Pharaoh with great plagues, and his house, because of the matter of Sarai, Abram's wife (ishah).
yeme — the days of
The construct of יָמִים (days, Gen 4:3). ִים becomes ֵי and the first ָ becomes a sheva ְ: כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ “all the days of your life” — a chain of three words.
YLVAnd YHWH God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the cattle and above every living thing (chai) of the field; upon your belly you shall go, and dust (aphar) you shall eat all the days of your life (chai).
beit — the house of
The construct of בַּיִת (bayit, house; Gen 17:12). The two syllables ba-yit contract to one, בֵּית (beit): בֵּית פַּרְעֹה “the house of Pharaoh.”
YLVAnd the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and they praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman (ishah) was taken to the house of Pharaoh.
me — the waters of
The construct of מַיִם (water). ַיִם (-ayim) contracts to ֵי (-e), leaving only two letters, מֵי: מֵי הַמַּבּוּל “the waters of the flood.”
YLVAnd Noah went in, and his sons and his woman (ishah) and the women (ishah) of his sons with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
‘ene — the eyes of
The construct of the dual עֵינַיִם (a pair of eyes). The dual ending ַיִם becomes ֵי, the same as the masculine plural in the construct: עֵינֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם “the eyes of them both.”
YLVAnd the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves and made for themselves girdles.
kol — all of, every
The construct of כֹּל (all). The long ֹ becomes a short ָ (qamets ḥatuf, a short “o”). It looks like “ka” but is read “kol.” It is usually joined to the next word with a maqqef (־): כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ “every living being.”
YLVAnd God created the great sea-creatures (tannin), and every living soul (nephesh) that creeps, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
9When the whole chain is definite
The construct word never takes the article. “The beast of the earth” is חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ, not הַחַיַּת הָאָרֶץ.
If the last word is definite, the whole chain is definite. חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ is “the beast of the earth,” not “a beast of the earth.” The last word is definite in three cases: (1) it has the article (הָאָרֶץ); (2) it is a name (רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים the Spirit of God, בֵּית פַּרְעֹה the house of Pharaoh); (3) it has a pronoun suffix (יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ the days of your life).
If the last word is indefinite, the chain is indefinite. עֵץ פְּרִי (1:11) is “a fruit tree.”
So definiteness is always decided by the last word of the chain.
10Constructs that do not change — known by position
These words look the same in the absolute. Their position, directly joined to a following noun as “… of …”, shows that they are construct.
‘ets — tree of
עֵץ פְּרִי “a tree of fruit” (a fruit tree). עֵץ is the same in the absolute and the construct. Then you know it by its position: directly before another noun, joined as “… of …”.
YLVAnd God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, herb yielding seed, fruit tree making fruit after its kind, in which is its seed, upon the earth"; and it was so.
veruaḥ — and the spirit of
וְ (and) + רוּחַ (spirit): וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים “and the Spirit of God.” רוּחַ does not change shape either; its position before אֱלֹהִים shows it is construct.
YLVAnd the earth was formlessness and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit (ruach) of God was hovering upon the face of the waters.
toledot — the generations of
The feminine plural תּוֹלְדוֹת keeps its ending וֹת in the construct: תוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ “the generations of the heavens and the earth.” Feminine plurals look the same, so position tells you.
YLVThese are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that YHWH God made earth and heavens.
’erets — the land of
כָּל־אֶרֶץ הַחֲוִילָה “the whole land of Havilah.” The segolate noun אֶרֶץ has the same shape in the construct (as the absolute אֶרֶץ in 1:10). כָּל + אֶרֶץ + הַחֲוִילָה — a chain of three.
YLVThe name of the first is Pishon; it is the one surrounding all the land of Havilah, where there is gold.
11Chains of three or more
Constructs can be strung together. Only the last word is absolute; every word before it is construct.
וּלְכָל־חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ (1:30) — כָּל (all, construct) + חַיַּת (beast, construct) + הָאָרֶץ (the earth): “all of the beasts of the earth,” every beast of the earth.
כָּל־אֶרֶץ הַחֲוִילָה (2:11) — “the whole land of Havilah.” כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ (3:14) — “all the days of your life.”
Nothing comes between the links of a chain. An adjective comes after the whole chain.
12What the construct does — the many senses of “of”
(1) Possession — בֵּית פַּרְעֹה (12:15) “the house of Pharaoh.”
(2) Kind or quality — עֵץ פְּרִי (1:11) “a tree of fruit,” a fruit-bearing tree.
(3) Part and whole — כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ (1:21) “every living being,” פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם (1:2) “the face (surface) of the waters.”
(4) Time or event — בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת (2:4) “in the day of making” — an infinitive after the construct makes “the day when ….”
(5) Relationship — בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים (6:2) “the sons of God.”
Which sense is meant is decided by the words and the context. Grammar only says that the two words are bound.
13Special constructs — real examples from the Bible
beyom — in the day of
בְּ (in) + יוֹם (day, construct): בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים “in the day YHWH God made.” A construct can be followed by an infinitive (עֲשׂוֹת making), not only by a noun. Unlike בַּיּוֹם (on the day) in 2:2, it has no article.
YLVThese are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that YHWH God made earth and heavens.
veḥayto — and the beast of
וְ (and) + חַיְתוֹ: וְחַיְתוֹ־אֶרֶץ “and the beast of the earth.” The usual construct is חַיַּת (1:25); this is a rare form with an old construct ending וֹ. It looks like the suffix “his,” but אֶרֶץ follows with a maqqef, so it is construct (OSHB also parses it so).
YLVAnd God said, "Let the earth bring forth a living soul (nephesh) after its kind, beast and creeping thing and living thing (chai) of the earth after its kind"; and it was so.
14Easy to confuse
ֵי can be construct, or “my …s” — ֵי is the masculine plural construct ending. But “my …s” is ַי (-ai): מֵעֲצָמַי (2:23, “from my bones”). One vowel, ֵ (e) or ַ (a), decides it.
Feminine nouns ending in ת — a final ת is not always construct. Some nouns already end in ת in the absolute, such as דַּעַת (knowledge). Check whether a noun follows directly.
When an adjective seems to interrupt — in עֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע (2:9), טוֹב וָרָע is not a link of the chain but the content of הַדַּעַת: knowledge “of good and evil.” The chain is עֵץ הַדַּעַת (the tree of the knowledge).
The form before a suffix — the OSHB morphology marks nouns with suffixes (זַרְעוֹ his seed) as construct (c), because the suffixed form is built on the construct. The Genesis 1–2 list on this page gathers only constructs without suffixes (for suffixes, see “Pronominal suffixes”).
15Where this appears in Genesis 1–2
All 81 places, found from the OSHB morphology. Tap one to go to that word’s notes.