Mahpach

Mahpach (Hebrew מַהְפַּ֤ך, with variant English spellings) is a common cantillation mark found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books of the Hebrew Bible. It is part of the Katan group, and it frequently begins the group. The symbol for the Mahpach is <.[1]

Mahpach
מַהְפַּ֤ך ֤ ק֚וֹל
cantillation
Sof passuk	׃		paseq	׀
etnachta	֑		segol	֒
shalshelet	֓		zaqef qatan	֔
zaqef gadol	֕		tifcha	֖
rivia	֗		zarqa	֘
pashta	֙		yetiv	֚
tevir	֛		geresh	֜
geresh muqdam	֝		gershayim	֞
qarney para	֟		telisha gedola	֠
pazer	֡		atnah hafukh	֢
munach	֣		mahapakh	֤
merkha	֥		merkha kefula	֦
darga	֧		qadma	֨
telisha qetana	֩		yerah ben yomo	֪
ole	֫		illuy	֬
dehi	֭		zinor	֮

Mahpach is always followed by a Pashta. This is because Mahpach is a conjunctive, showing a connection with the word that follows. When the Mahpach is found, the < is placed under the syllable that is most heavily stressed. The variant Yetiv trope uses the same < symbol as the Mahpach, but does not have a Pashta that follows.[2]

Mahpach is found in the Torah 3042 times.[3]

The Hebrew word מַהְפַּ֤ך translates into English to reversal. The original symbol looked more like a sideways U than a V (to represent going forward then turning back around), but this was changed because it was easier for printers to print, as modern keyboards have the < symbols.

Number of occurrences

Book	Number of appearances
Torah	3042[3]
Genesis	798[3]
Exodus	655[3]
Leviticus	452[3]
Numbers	568[3]
Deuteronomy	569[3]
Nevi'im	3449[4]
Ketuvim	2096[4]

Melody

The Mahpach is sung on a high note until the final syllable, which is lower.

References

1. Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 54
2. Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 221
3. Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 6
4. Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 5