[p] (i) Of the attribute of a person or thing, e.g. Gn 178 אֲחֻזַּת עוֹלָם an everlasting possession; Pr 178 a precious stone; cf. Nu 286, Is 138, 284, ψ 232, 313, Pr 519, 145, Jb 4119, and the examples of the genitive with a suffix given in § 135 n. Such a periphrasis for the expression of attributes frequently occurs, even when the corresponding adjectives are in use. Thus especially קֹ֫דֶשׁ holiness very frequently serves as a periphrasis for the adjective קָדוֹשׁ (e.g. בִּגְדֵי הַקֹּ֫דֶשׁ the holy garments, Ex 2929), since קָדוֹשׁ is used almost exclusively in reference to persons (hence also with עַם and גּוֹי people, and with שֵׁם the name of a person); the only exceptions are מָקוֹם קָדוֹשׁ holy place, Ex 2931, &c.; מַ֫יִם קְדשִׁים holy water, Nu 517; קָדוֹשׁ as the predicate of יוֹם day, Neh 810 f., and of מַֽחֲנֶה camp, Dt 2315. So also the use of צַדִּיק righteous is always confined to persons, except in Dt 48; elsewhere the periphrasis with צֶ֫דֶק or צְדָקָה is always used, e.g. מֹֽאזְנֵי צֶ֫דֶק just balances, Lv 1936.
[q] In a wider sense this use of the genitive also includes statements of the purpose for which something is intended, e.g. צֹאן טִבְחָה sheep for the slaughter, ψ 4423; מוּסַר שְׁלוֹמֵ֫נוּ the chastisement designed for our peace, Is 535; cf. 51:17 (the cup which causes staggering), ψ 11613; finally, also, the description of the material, with which something is laden or filled, e.g. 1 S 1620 חֲמֹר לֶ֫חֶם וְנֹאד יַ֫יִן an ass laden with bread and a bottle of wine (but probably עֲשָׂרָה is to be read for חֲמֹר); cf. Gn 2114, Pr 720, &c.
[r] Rem. 1. Certain substantives are used to convey an attributive idea in the construct state before a partitive genitive; thus מִבְחָר choice, selection, as in Gn 236 מִבְחַר קְבָרֵ֫ינוּ the choice of our sepulchres, i.e. our choicest sepulchres; Ex 154, Is 227, 3724; other examples are, Is 116 the evil of your doings, emphatically, for your evil doings; Is 174, 3724 (=the tall cedars thereof), ψ 13922, Jb 1526.—This is the more common construction with the substantive כֹּל entirety, for all, the whole, every, see § 127 b; it is also frequent with מְעַט a little, for few, 1 S 1728, &c.
[s] 2. To the periphrases expressing attributive ideas (see p above) by means of a genitive construction may be added the very numerous combinations of the construct states אִישׁ a man, בַּעַל master, possessor, בֶּן־ son, and their feminines and plurals (including מְתֵי men, used only in the plural), with some appellative noun, in order to represent a person (poetically even a thing) as possessing some object or quality, or being in some condition. In English, such combinations are sometimes rendered by single substantives, sometimes by circumlocution.
Examples:—
[t] (a) Of אִישׁ, &c.; אִישׁ דְּבָרִים an eloquent man, Ex 410 (but אִישׁ שְׂפָתַ֫יִם Jb 112 a man of lips, i.e. a boaster); אִישׁ לָשׁוֹן = a slanderer, ψ 14012; אִישׁ דַּ֫עַת a man of knowledge, Pr 245; אִישׁ חֵמָה a wrathful man, Pr 1518; אִישׁ דָּמִים a man of blood, 2 S 167, ψ 57; cf. further, 1 S 1618, 1 K 226, Is 533, Pr 196, 2621, 291, Ezr 818; also אֵ֫שֶׁת מִדְיָנִים a contentious woman, Pr 2715; in the plural, e.g. Gn 64 אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם the men of renown, famous; cf. Gn 476, Is 4111, Jb 348, 10 (אַנְשֵׁי לֵבָב men of understanding); with מְתֵי, e.g. Is 513 (מְתֵי רָעָב famished men; but read probably מְזֵי רָעָב weak with hunger); ψ 264, Jb 1111, 2215.
[u] (b) Of בַּ֫עַל, &c.; בַּ֫עַל שֵׂעָר hairy, 2 K 18; בַּ֫עַל הַֽחֲלֹמוֹת the dreamer, Gn 3719; cf. Na 12, Pr 117, 189 (a destroyer), 22:24, 23:2 (disposed to eat, greedy), 24:8; feminine
