Revia (Hebrew cantillation mark)

It is commonly explained as being the Aramaic equivalent of Hebrew רְבִיעִי Revi'i, meaning 'fourth' or 'quarter'.^[1], and for that reason is sometimes called Revi'i. However, this is probably a folk etymology: the more likely meaning in Aramaic is "crouching" or "lying", referring to its position vertically above the word.^[2]

Revia is considered to have medium strength. It is stronger than a Pashta or Tevir, but weaker than a Zakef or Tifcha.^[3]

Revia can occur either by itself, or following one or two Munachs. When there are two Munachs prior to a Revia, the first Munach has a long melody, and the second one is short. When there is one Munach, it is short.

Based on its translation as fourth, in printed texts it is represented by a diamond-shaped mark. However in manuscripts it is just a dot.^[4]

^ Buhl, Dr. Frants (2021). Wilhelm Gesenius' Hebräisches und aramäisches Handwörterbuch [Hebrew and Aram concise dictionary by Wilhelm Gesenius] (in German) (17 ed.). Berlin / Heidelberg: Springer. p. 742. ISBN 978-3-642-94264-8.
^ Lier, Gudrun, "The Revia in the Context of Decoding Masoretic Accents", Journal of Semitics, 2011, Vol 21/1, pp. 28-51.
^ Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 102
^ The Art of Cantillation, Volume 2: A Step-By-Step Guide to Chanting Haftarot ... By Marshall Portnoy, Josée Wolff, page 43

[1] Buhl, Dr. Frants (2021). Wilhelm Gesenius' Hebräisches und aramäisches Handwörterbuch [Hebrew and Aram concise dictionary by Wilhelm Gesenius] (in German) (17 ed.). Berlin / Heidelberg: Springer. p. 742. ISBN 978-3-642-94264-8.

[2] Lier, Gudrun, "The Revia in the Context of Decoding Masoretic Accents", Journal of Semitics, 2011, Vol 21/1, pp. 28-51.

[3] Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 102

[4] The Art of Cantillation, Volume 2: A Step-By-Step Guide to Chanting Haftarot ... By Marshall Portnoy, Josée Wolff, page 43

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