The direct object receives the action of the verb. For example: The king built a palace. In Hebrew, when the direct object is preceded by אֶת־ when it has one of the following: The direct object marker אֶת־ can appear with or without the maqqēp ( אֶת ). (A maqqēp is similar to an English hyphen or dash.) The direct object marker indicates the definite direct object that follows and is not translated as a word. For example: הַעַם אׂהֵב אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ The people love the king הַעַם אׂהֵב אֶת־יַעֲקֹב The people love Jacob 1. definite article i.e., the book, the house 2. proper name i.e., Abraham, Sarah, Jerusalem 3. pronominal suffix i.e., his book, her house, our dog

To or not to The people love David. The king burnt the field. The father loved his daughter. The people wanted peace. A woman gave her son. A prophet taught the word. The cows ate grain. The men blessed the house. Rameses crossed a river. Moses parted the Red Sea. Leah envied Rachel. Rachel envied her sister. Jacob wrestled an angel. He translated the writings.

The people love David. Yes The men blessed the house. Yes The king burnt the field. Yes Rameses crossed a river. No The father loves his daughter. Yes Moses parted the Red Sea. Yes The people wanted peace. No Leah envied Rachel. Yes A woman gave her son. Yes Rachel envied her sister. Yes A prophet taught the word. Yes Jacob wrestled an angel. No The cows ate grain. No He translated the writings. Yes