Psalm 16/Notes/Lexical.v. 4.477996

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  • The phrase עַצְּבוֹתָם probably means their idols (see The Text and Grammar of Psalm16:4). This meaning makes good sense in the context, and it has the support of multiple ancient versions (Theodotion, Quinta, Jerome, Targum). Although the usual phrase for "their idols" is masculine (עֲצַבֵּיהֶם, lexical form: עָצָב), there are numerous examples of masculine nouns having alternative, feminine forms. We conclude that עַצְּבוֹתָם is a unique feminine form of this word (in lexical form: עֲצָבָה or עַצֶּ֫בֶת).