[f] 2. The correlative comparatives greater—less (older—younger) are expressed by the simple adjective with the article (the great, equivalent to the greater, &c.); Gn 1, 19, 27, 29.
[g] 3. To express the superlative it is also sufficient (see above, f) to make the adjective determinate, either by means of the article or a following partitive genitive (or suffix); in this case the article or genitive indicates that the attribute in question belongs especially to one or more definite individuals;[1] e.g. 1 S 9 הַצְּעִרָה the least; 16:11 הַקָּטָן the little one, i.e. the youngest of eight sons; 17:14 David was הַקָּטָן the youngest, and the three great, i.e. elder, &c.; Gn 42, 44, Ct 1.—So also with a qualifying adjective, e.g. Gn 9 בְּנוֹ הַקָּטָן his youngest son; cf. Jos 14; also with a following genitive, 2 Ch 21 קְטֹן בָּנָיו the youngest of his sons: Pr 30 the least upon the earth; with suffix, Mi 7 טוֹבָם their good one, i.e. the best of them; Jan 3:5 מִגְּדוֹלָם וְעַד־קְטַנָּם from the greatest of them even to the least of them; cf. the inverse order in Jer 6, 31.
[h] Rem. 1. The above examples apply only to the most common relative attributes (great, small, good), and to expressions which by usage easily came to be recognized as periphrases for the superlative. Other adjectives, however, when followed by a partitive genitive, also acquire the sense of a superlative; this appears from the context, e.g. Dt 33 the most hidden treasures of the sand; Ju 5 the wisest amongst her ladies; Is 14, 19, 23 f., 29:19, Jer 49, Ez 28, Zc 11, ψ 45, Jb 30 (in the most horrible of valleys), 41:22; probably also ψ 35. On this government by the adjective generally, cf. § 132 c.—Moreover, the combination of a substantive in the construct state with an adjective used substantivally (§ 128 w) sometimes serves as a periphrasis for the superlative, e.g. Is 22 כֹּל כְּלֵי הַקָּטָן all the smallest vessels. On Ct 7 see § 126 x.
[i] 2. Other periphrases for the superlative are the use of a substantive in the construct state before the plural of the same word (which is naturally to be regarded as a partitive genitive; cf. our book of books), e.g. Ex 26 קֹדֶשׁ הֲקָּדָשִׁים the most holy place; שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים (Ct 1) the most excellent song; cf. Gn 9 (= servus servorum, the lowest servant); Nu 3, Dt 10 (ψ 136, 3)[2]; 1 K 8, Is 34 (cf. Gal 1:5, Rev 22:5); Jer 3, Ez 16, 26 (king of kings, of Nebuchadrezzar; cf. 1 Tim 6:15, Rev 17:14, 19:16, and another kind of periphrasis in ψ 95); Ec 1. Similarly in Jer 6 two participles are combined, and in Ho 10 two substantives in the singular. Finally, the same object is attained by connecting one substantive in the construct state with another of the same stem (שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן a sabbath of solemn rest, i.e. an obligatory day of rest, Ex 31, &c.) or of the same meaning (e.g. ח֫שֶׁךְ אֲפֵלָה a thick darkness, Ex 10).
[k] 3. The intensification of attributes by means of repetition belongs rather to rhetoric than to syntax, e.g. Ec 7 עָמֹק עָמֹק exceeding deep; 1 S 2, Pr 20; the adjective is even used three times in Is 6.—Cf. the repetition of adverbs for the same purpose in Gn 7, Nu 14 (מְאֹד מְאֹד exceedingly, also בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד Ex 1, &c.); Ez 42.—On the other hand, in Dt 28 the repetition expresses
