Ben Denckla offers this hypothesis:
The mahapakh (ס֤) might also be interpreted
as a malformed or damaged masorah circle (ס֯ )
over the word נִזְרָ֔ע below it in the manuscript as shown below.
The noted word, Lev 25:20.4 is shown in blue; the word with the
putative masorah circle, Lev 25:20.9, is shown in red.
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Credit: Ben Denckla: 3 March 2021 cropped by cvk to show two lines.
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The interpretation of this mark as an incomplete masorah circle eliminates two problems:
- It eliminates the need to explain why a mahapakh would be here.
- It also eliminates the need to explain why the line below has two masorah parva notes (ל̇ל̇)
but only one masorah circle.
Masorah circles are typically interrupted at one or two points, as seen in the image.
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