Function of אֶת־ (ʾet)

[Diamond72]

• אֶת־ is a Hebrew particle used to mark the definite direct object of a transitive verb.

Does this make any sense to anyone? This word is used 7034 times in the Hebrew but is never translated into English.

This is what Bing has to say about it.

1. Function of אֶת־ (ʾet):
   • אֶת־ is a Hebrew particle used to mark the definite direct object of a transitive verb.
   • It serves as a grammatical marker, indicating that the following noun is the specific object of the action described by the verb.
   • For example, in Genesis 1:1, ʾet explicitly indicates that both “the heavens” and “the earth” are the direct objects of the verb “create.”
2. Untranslatable:
   • Despite its importance, ʾet remains untranslatable in English.
   • It doesn’t have a direct equivalent, but it functions similarly to the English preposition “of” in phrases like “kind of blue.”
   • In other words, it helps structure the relationship between the verb and its direct object without carrying an independent meaning.
3. Maqqēph (Dash):
   • Sometimes, you’ll see a dash or maqqēph before ʾet.
   • The maqqēph indicates that two closely joined words (such as “the heavens” and “the earth”) should be treated as a single unit.
   • This affects their accentuation and pronunciation.

In summary, ʾet is a crucial grammatical marker in biblical Hebrew, but its significance lies in its function rather than any mystical meaning

 

[SavedByGrace3]

It sounds the same as English when we use "the."
"I like deer." > Like deer in general.
"I like the deer." > Like a specific deer.