| InvertedNun | ||
|---|---|---|
| נון הפוכה | ׆ | ׆ וַיְהִי |
| compare withbrackets | ||
| [׆ וַיְהִי ... יִשְׂרָאֵל ׆] | ||
| compare withNun | ||
| נ ׆ | ||
| Hebrew punctuation |
|---|
| ׆ |
| Inverted nun – text |
Invertednun (נו"ן מנוזרת "isolatednun" orנו"ן הפוכה "invertednun" or "׆" inHebrew[1]) is a rareglyph used in classical Hebrew. Its function in the ancient texts is disputed. It takes the form of the letternun inmirror image, and appears in theMasoretic text of theTanakh in nine different places:[2]
The images at right show three common variants of the invertednun – vertically flipped, horizontally flipped, and Z-shaped. Other renderings exist, corresponding to alternative interpretations of the term "inverted".[3] It may also occur with a dot above.[4]
Invertednuns are found in nine passages of theMasoretic Text of theBible. The exact shape varies between different manuscripts and printed editions. In many manuscripts, a reversednun is found, referred to as a "nun hafucha" by theMasoretes. In some earlier printed editions, they are shown as the standardnun upside down or rotated, presumably because the printer did not want to design a new rare character. Recent scholarly editions of the Masoretic text show the reversednun as described by the Masoretes. In some manuscripts, however, other symbols are occasionally found instead. These are sometimes referred to in rabbinical literature as "simaniyot" (markers).
In theTorah, the invertednuns frame the text:
Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, "Rise up, Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you." Whenever it came to rest, he said, "Return, Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel."
— Numbers 10:35–36
Thenuns are generally positioned close to, but not touching, the first and last words of the couplet.[5] They are supposed to be positioned between the gaps in between the paragraphs, but there is disagreement as to how this should be done.[6] Some texts invert the existingnuns in the Torah text and don't add invertednuns before and after it.[7]
Rashi's commentary states that the name of the city ofHaran at the end of the Torah portionNoach also occurs with an invertednun, but this is not found in existing texts.[8]
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The Babylonian Talmud records in the tractate Shabbath, folio 116a, that the markings surrounding Numbers 10:35–36 were thought to denote that this 85-letter text was not in its proper place. One opinion states that it would appear in another location which discusses the order of tribal column, with the position of the Ark already stated there.
The 85-letter text found between thenuns is also said to be denoted because it is the model for the fewest letters which constitute a 'text' which one would be required to save from fire due to its holiness. It also suggests that the invertednuns may suggest the Hebrew wordנֵרner, meaning 'a light'.[9]
The tractateShabbat in theTalmud says regarding the invertednuns:
It is taught in abaraita: "ויהי בנסוע הארון ויאמר משה" – The Holy One, blessed be He, placed signs above and below this portion, to say that this is not its place. Rabbi [Judah haNasi] said: It was not for this reason, but rather because it is an important book in and of itself.
— Shabbat 115b–116a
Sifrei explains these "signs":
It was marked with points above and below.
— Sifrei
The Talmud continues, stating that as this section is a separate book, the portions of Numbers before and after it also count as books and thus theTorah contains seven books in total:[1][10]
For R.Shemuel bar Nahmani said in the name of R. Yohanan: “She hath hewn out her seven pillars” (Proverbs 9:1) – these are the seven books of the Pentateuch; according to whom? According to Rabbi [Judah Hanasi].
— Shabbat 115b–116a
Bar Kappara is known to have considered the Torah as composed of seven volumes in the Gemara "The seven pillars with which Wisdom built her house (Prov. 9:1) are the seven Books of Moses". Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus and Deuteronomy as we know them but Numbers was really three separate volumes: Num 1:1 to Num 10:35, followed by Numbers 10:35–36, and the third text from there to the end of Numbers.
R. Shimon Ben Gamliel says: This section will be uprooted from its place and written in its rightful place in the future (but for now it is in its correct location). Why is it written here? So as to separate between first and second retribution [3]. Second retribution is "and the people grumbled". First retribution is "and they traveled from the mountain of G-d (i.e., they eagerly run away from G-d's presence)". Where is it its appropriate place? Rav Ashi says: "In the section dealing with the disposition of the Israelites according to their banners and their travelling arrangements" (Numbers 1:52-2:34, Shabbath 116a).
TheMishnah, in tractateYadayim, states:
A book that became erased yet there remain in it 85 letters, like the section "and it was when the Ark was carried", renders hands impure
— Yadaim 3,5
According toMidrash:
These verses were incorporated into the Torah from the prophecy of Eldad and Meidad. Their prophecy so remained and was explained by the prophet Ezekiel: "So says the Lord, G-d: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in the days of yore through prophets of Israel? And some say that there was a hidden book (of prophecy).
— Midrash Chaseiros V'Yoseiros
The twonuns are similar tokhaf andreish – to say that they areach andrak ("only" and "however").Ach andrak always exclude – to say that this is not the place of this section. Rabbi [Judah haNasi] says because it is a book of its own.
— (Lekach Tov)
Maharshal ruled that the Talmud only mandates the usual break for aparashah section, and Torah scrolls with extra letters arepassul (unfit for ritual use).[7]Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, however, defends the custom, stating that punctuation such as invertednuns doesn't count as extra letters and thus don't invalidate the scroll.[7]
Invertednun appears to have been used as a scribal or editorial annotation or text-critical mark.[4]
The primary set of invertednuns is found surrounding the text of Numbers 10:35–36. The Mishna notes that this text is 85 letters long and dotted. The demarcation of this text leads to the later use of the invertednun markings.Saul Lieberman demonstrated that similar markings can be found in ancient Greek texts where they are also used to denote 'short texts'. Greek sources, especially Alexandrian ones, refer to the sign asreversed sigma.[11]
The invertednun is not part of any word, and is never pronounced; thus it is classed aspunctuation and not a letter.[2]
| Glyph | Unicode | Name |
|---|---|---|
| ׆ | U+05C6 | HEBREW PUNCTUATION NUN HAFUKHA |
