Mahpach
Encyclopedia
Mahpach is a common cantillation
mark found in the Torah
, Haftarah
, and other books of the Hebrew Bible
. It is part of the Katan
group, and it frequently begins the group. The symbol for the Mahpach is< .
Mahpach is always followed by a Pashta
. This is because Mahpach is a conjunctive, showing a connection with the word that follows. When the Mahpach is found, the < is placed under the syllable that is most heavily stressed. The variant Yetiv
trope uses the same < symbol as the Mahpach, but does not have a Pashta that follows.
Mahpach is found in the Torah 3042 times.
The Hebrew word מַהְפַּ֤ך translates into English to reversal. The original symbol looked more like a sideways U than a V (to represent going forward then turning back around), but this got changed because it was easier for printers to print, as modern keyboards have the < symbols.
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...
mark found 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...
, 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...
, and other books of the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
. It is part of the Katan
Zakef katan
The Zakef katan , often referred to simply as "Katan," is a cantillation mark commonly found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books of the Hebrew Bible. The note is the anchor and final one of the Katon group, which also can include the Mapach, Pashta, Munach, or Yetiv. It is one of the most...
group, and it frequently begins the group. The symbol for the Mahpach is
Mahpach is always followed by a Pashta
Pashta
Pashta is a common cantillation mark found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books of the Hebrew Bible. It is part of the Katan group. Its mark symbol is identical to that of the Kadma....
. This is because Mahpach is a conjunctive, showing a connection with the word that follows. When the Mahpach is found, the < is placed under the syllable that is most heavily stressed. The variant Yetiv
Yetiv
Yetiv is a cantillation mark found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books of the Hebrew Bible. It is found in the Katon group in some occurrences in lieu of the more common Mahpach-Pashta clause, generally on one- or two-syllable words....
trope uses the same < symbol as the Mahpach, but does not have a Pashta that follows.
Mahpach is found in the Torah 3042 times.
The Hebrew word מַהְפַּ֤ך translates into English to reversal. The original symbol looked more like a sideways U than a V (to represent going forward then turning back around), but this got changed because it was easier for printers to print, as modern keyboards have the < symbols.
Number of 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... |
3042 |
| Genesis | 798 |
| Exodus | 655 |
| Leviticus | 452 |
| 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.... |
568 |
| Deuteronomy | 569 |
| 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:... |
3449 |
| 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"... |
2096 |