“Pointing to the Accents in the Scroll”: Functional Development of the Masoretic Accents in the Hebrew Bible

Abstract

It is widely recognized that the accents developed by the Masoretes have three functions: they mark (1) stress, (2) musical notations, and (3) punctuation. However, the order in which these functions developed remains contestable. The present study demonstrates that indication of stressed syllables was a secondary rather than primary function that became dominant at a relatively late stage. It is most likely that the punctuational function of the accents for recitation gave rise to other relational divisions of a unit. Then the accents came to be used for cantillation in addition to punctuation, although this never fully developed into a system of musical notation. The masoretic accents that we know are thus reflective of an unfinished transition to such notation, intended for singing, from punctuation designed for recitation.