[Mesorah] a puzzling kleinigkeit

[Mandel, Seth]

Now about another kleinigkeit where I am asking for the contributions of the esteemed denizens of this groupץ

Everyone knows the root s-b-b.  Forms of the verb are found 162 times in the T’NaKh, the adverb and adjective/noun saviv is found over 330 times, the noun sibbah once, and the noun mesav/m’sibb- thrice.  The verb appears in the Qal, Pi‘‘el, Hif‘il and Huf‘al (as well as in Po‘el, e.g. y’sov’veni Yonah 2:4, a conjugation pattern used in Biblical Hebrew very often for Geminate or Hollow verbs, even though it is not talked about as a separate binyan in Modern Hebrew grammars).

In the Bible, the Hif‘il form means “to turn [something/someone] around.”  The Huf‘al  (two forms: musabbot and yussav)means “turned around” and similar meanings.

In L’shon Chazal, the Hif‘il is used commonly in the meaning of reclining at a meal.  The meaning is clear; it is only the connotation that has changed.  Forms like יסב and היסב are found in the Mishnah, and these and other forms (such as מיסב and הסיבה) are found n the Tosefta and G’moro often.

So far, so good.

But then in the plural we find the form מסובין.  It does not appear in the oldest mss. of the Mishnah, but appears in several places in the G’moro and also as one of the 4 Questions recited nowadays.

What sort of cockamamie form is this?  The plural of מיסב would be מיסבין.  I cannot think of a reason that one would used the Huf‘al, but even if there were one, the form would be מוסבין.  A passive of the Pi‘‘el would have a different meaning, and would be מסובבין. (Jastrow claims it is a Pu‘‘al, but this clearly reflects ignorance of the conjugation of Geminate nouns).  If this form would only occur once or twice, I would suggest that it is a misprint.  But it occurs too many times for me to feel comfortable just waving it away as impossible.

But in grammar as we know it, it is an impossible form.

This form has been bothering me for about 55 years, and every year I wonder anew.  Perhaps any of the esteemed habitues of this group have suggestions.


Rabbi Dr. Seth Mandel
Rabbinic Coordinator
The Orthodox Union

Voice and Fax (212) 613-8330        e-mail mandels at ou.org


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