THE MASORETES

HEBREW PUNCTUATION

Biblical Hebrew was the first classical language to be systematically punctuated. In comparison with modern languages the system was very complex. The punctuation marks are applied not only between phrases but to virtually every word of the scriptures, indicating very precisely each word's relationship with others in a phrase as well as dividing each sentence into hierarchically ordered word-groups. This logical structure of the text can be analysed by computer, to apply the results to Bible translation and to translation checking.

MASORETIC HEBREW PUNCTUATION

The Masoretes and the Punctuation of Biblical Hebrew
This paper addresses the historical background of Masoretes and the historical background which gave rise to the distinctly Hebrew system of punctuation, and provides a brief account of the most common elements of the system.
Cite this work: Robinson, D. & Levy, E. Masoretic Hebrew Cantillation and Constituent Structure Analysis 2002

More information about the cantillation system and its analysis can be found here:
Constituent Structure Analysis and the Masoretic Text v0.1
Cite this work: Robinson, D. & Levy, E. The Masoretes and the Punctuation of Biblical Hebrew 2002