Suffix Directional He

Summary

The directional (he) suffix at the end of a term expresses the concept of movement (either in space or in time) toward the word (usually a person or thing) that takes the suffix.

Article

This suffix should not be confused with the third person feminine singular pronominal suffix, although it looks very similar. The directional ה (he) suffix is never accented, nor does it affect the vowel pattern of a word in any way. This is in contrast to the third person feminine singular pronominal suffix, which can take the accent and affects the vocalization of the word to which it is attached.

Form

This suffix consists of a ה (he) consonant preceded by a qamets vowel.

Function

Expresses spatial movement

Example: GEN 15:5

הַבֶּט־נָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה

habbet-na hashamaymah

Look_now to-the-heavens

Look toward heaven

Expresses temporal movement

Example: EXO 13:10

מִיָּמִ֖ים יָמִֽימָה׃

miyyamim yamimah

from-day to-day

from day to day