SYNTAX OF THE NOUN
GENDER OF THE NOUN
§ 12. Of the two genders, mas. and fem., the mas. is the prevailing one, and by a natural inaccuracy the writer often falls into it even when speaking of a fem. subject, especially in using suffixes. § 1, R. 3. The distinctive fem. termination a, i.e. at (Gr. § 16, R. b) is generally used in adj. and ptcp. referring to a fem. subject.
In the case of living creatures, distinction of gender is indicated —
(a) By the fem. termination, as אַיָּל a hart, fem. אַיֶּלֶת, עֶלֶם a youth, fem. עַלְמָה, עֵגֶל a calf, fem. עֶגְלָה.
(b) By different words, as אָב father, אֵם mother, חֲמוֹר he-ass, אָתוֹן she-ass, אַיִל ram, רָחֵל ewe, עֶבֶד servant, אָמָה maid.
(c) Or the same word may be used for both genders, and differentiated only in construction, as Hos. 13:8 דֹּב שַׁכּוּל a bear robbed of her whelps, 2 K. 2:24 שְׁתַּיִם דֻּבִּים two bears. So גְּמַלִּים camels, mas. Gen. 24:63, fem. 32:16; אלהים goddess? 1 K. 11:5. The grammatical difference, however, does not seem always meant to express a real difference of gend., cf. Jer. 2:24. Anciently נַעַר appears to have been of common gend.
(d) Or a word of one gend. may be used as name of the class or genus, without distinction of individuals, as כֶּלֶב dog, זְאֵב wolf, mas.; אַרְנֶבֶת hare, יוֹנָה dove, fem.
§ 13. Of inanimate things the following classes are usually fem. (Gr. § 16): —
