Etnachta
Encyclopedia
Etnachta is one of the most common cantillation
marks in the Torah
and Haftarah
. It is the anchor for the Etnachta group, which in full consists of four different trope sounds, not all of which are always present. These are Mercha
, Tipcha
, Munach
, and its namesake Etnachta
.
The Etnachta group marks the end of the first segment of a verse. Therefore, it never occurs more than once in a single verse.
A colon (:) is used to mark the Etnachta. This is a sign that represents a completed action. An example is in the very first verse of the Book of Genesis, the statement that G-d created is marked with an Etnachta, showing the completion of G-d’s creation.
The Hebrew word אֶתְנַחְתָּא translates into English as pause. This name is given because of its central location within a verse.
In other words, the Tipcha can occur without a Mercha, but not vice versa. The Etnachta can occur without Munach, but not vice versa. And the Etnachta can occur without a Tipcha, but not vice versa.
The Munach is normally included when the word bearing the Munach is closely related to the word bearing the Etnachta.
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
marks in the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
and Haftarah
Haftarah
The haftarah or haftoroh is a series of selections from the books of Nevi'im of the Hebrew Bible that is publicly read in synagogue as part of Jewish religious practice...
. It is the anchor for the Etnachta group, which in full consists of four different trope sounds, not all of which are always present. These are Mercha
Mercha
Mercha is a cantillation mark commonly found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books that are chanted.The mercha is found in several trope groups, though the melody varies from one use to the next...
, Tipcha
Tipcha
Tipcha is a cantillation mark commonly found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books that are chanted.The Tipcha is found in both the Etnachta group as the second member of that group, and in the Sof passuk group, though the melody varies slightly in each...
, Munach
Munach
The Munach , translating to English as "to rest," is a common cantillation sound. It is marked with a right angle below the corresponding word....
, and its namesake Etnachta
Etnachta
Etnachta is one of the most common cantillation marks in the Torah and Haftarah. It is the anchor for the Etnachta group, which in full consists of four different trope sounds, not all of which are always present...
.
The Etnachta group marks the end of the first segment of a verse. Therefore, it never occurs more than once in a single verse.
A colon (:) is used to mark the Etnachta. This is a sign that represents a completed action. An example is in the very first verse of the Book of Genesis, the statement that G-d created is marked with an Etnachta, showing the completion of G-d’s creation.
The Hebrew word אֶתְנַחְתָּא translates into English as pause. This name is given because of its central location within a verse.
The Etnachta group
The following variations of the Etnachta group can occur:- Mercha, Tipcha, Munach, Etnachta
- Mercha, Tipcha, Etnachta
- Tipcha, Munach, Etnachta
- Tipcha, Etnachta
- Munach, Etnachta
- Etnachta
In other words, the Tipcha can occur without a Mercha, but not vice versa. The Etnachta can occur without Munach, but not vice versa. And the Etnachta can occur without a Tipcha, but not vice versa.
The Munach is normally included when the word bearing the Munach is closely related to the word bearing the Etnachta.
Total occurrences
| Book | Number of appearances |
|---|---|
| Torah Torah Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five... |
5483 |
| Genesis | 1466 |
| Exodus | 1145 |
| Leviticus | 813 |
| Numbers Book of Numbers The Book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible, and the fourth of five books of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch.... |
1151 |
| Deuteronomy | 908 |
| Nevi'im Nevi'im Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:... |
4796 |
| Ketuvim Ketuvim Ketuvim or Kəṯûḇîm in actual Biblical Hebrew is the third and final section of the Tanak , after Torah and Nevi'im . In English translations of the Hebrew Bible, this section is usually entitled "Writings" or "Hagiographa"... |
2933 |