An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

11.
Gen 49:11
וֹר ְב ִק םוֹר ָמ יבִ ְצֹח who hews his tomb on the height
Isa 22:16
Even in poetic texts, these forms are erratically distributed; note the two
instances in Gen 49:11 and three instances in the opening verse of Lamentations.
8.3 Nominative Function
a The nominative function comprehends four roles: the subject (of both verbal and
verbless clauses; see 4.4), the predicate nominative (of verbless clauses), the
nominative absolute, and the vocative (in any sort of clause; see 4.7). 11 A noun or
noun equivalent may fill these roles.
1. ינִ אי ַ֫
ִשּׁ הִ שׁחָ ָנּהַ The serpent (SUBJECT) deceived me.
2.
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3.
4.
Gen 3:13
קידִּ ַצהַ הוהי YHWH (SUBJECT) is the one in the right
(PREDICATE NOMINATIVE). Exod 9:27
׃ךְ ֶל ֶמּ ֫ ה ַ ה ָע ִשׁוֹה ֫ Save (me), O king (VOCATIVE).
התָּ תַ ֫ ָנ ר ֶשׁ אֲ
ה ָשּׁ אִ הָ
ֽ
י ִלּ־ה ָנתָ ְ נ ֽ איה ִ ידִ מָּ ִע
ץ ֵעה־ן ָ ִמ
2 Sam 14:4
The woman (NOMINATIVE ABSOLUTE) whom
you put with me—she (SUBJECT) gave me from
the tree.
Gen 3:12
b For verbal clauses the basic Hebrew word order is verb + subject (VS). This
verb-first word order usually obtains where a clause has no introductory material
(# 5), where a clause begins with a waw-relative (traditionally “wawconsecutive”)
construction (# 6), or where a clause begins with adverbial materials
(# 7).
5.
ךָיר֑ ֶחֲ
א ַ י ִשׁ פְ ַנ הקָ בְ דָּ
My soul clings to you.
6. םיהלֹ ִ ֱ ֫
7.
Ps 63:9
א ר ֶמאֹ יּוַ And God said…
Gen 1:3
ה ֶלּא֫ ֵ ה ָ םירִ ָבדּ ְ הַ רחַ אַ
After these things, the word of YHWH came to
11 Note in particular that a vocative is not a (clausal) subject.