The Problem: In many places the word Chochmo has a slight variation. For instance there is a difference between our Parsha and in Sefer Zechariah Perek 9:2. In our Parsha there is nothing else underneath the Ches except for a Kamatz. While in Zechariah, the Ches has a Kamatz but also has a small upright line. What is the purpose of that small line?

The Rule: In Loshon Hakodesh there is one vowel sound that is very unique called the Shva. When the Shva is placed after a T'nuah Gedolah (a major vowel sound) it has a more stressed and distinct sound called a Shva Naah. When it is after a T'nuah K'tanah (a minor vowel sound) it is called a Shva Nach and has a less distinct and stressed sound.

The Solution: The vowel sound Kamatz is a dual vowel sound. Sometimes it is a T'nuah Gedolah and sometimes it is a T'nuah Ketanah. There are different rules as to how to determine if a Kamatz is a T'nuah Gedolah and the Shva following will be a Shva Naah or if the Kamatz is a T'nuah Ketanah and the Shva following will be a Shva Nach.

One of the rules depends on identifying the usage of the word. If the word is being used as a noun then the Kamatz is only a T'nuah Ketanah and the following Shva will be a Shva Nach. If the word is describing a past action then the Kamatz is a T'nuah Gedolah and the following Shva will be Naah.

The word Chochmoh can have two meanings it can mean knowledge which would be using the word as a noun, or it can mean "it was very smart" in this context it is being used as a verb expressing something that transpired in the past. Therefore in this week's Parsha, the word Chochmo is being used as a noun "that they were filled with knowledge". Therefore the Kamatz is only a T'nuah Ketanah and the Shva following, is a Shva Nach. In Zechariah the word Chochmo is being used as a past verb and therefore the Kamatz is a T'nuah Gedolah and the Shva afterwards is a Shva Naah. Oh!!!! What about the small upright line under the Ches in Zechariah? It's called a Meseg and it is to let us know that the Kamatz under the Ches is a T'nuah Gedolah and the following Shva is Naah for the reasons we previously explained. In our Parsha there is no small line because it is a T'nuah Ketanah.

Rabbi Mordecai Terebelo can be reached at MTEREBELO@juno.com