An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

ו ָשׂ ֵע is taken as a nominative absolute (sentential topic or focus marker; Foc; cf.
4.7 and 16.3.3). 15 This analysis would suggest the gloss ‘As for Esau, he is
Edom’; the structure would then be Foc-S-Pred. 16
ֶ֫
ֱ
ֶ֫
ְ
[Page אוּה ךָיהלֹא הוהי YHWH your God (, he) is the one passing before
132]
9.
ךָינ ָפל ר ֵבעפ you.
10. הרֹמוּ ֶ ררוֹס ֵ ה ֶ ֫
11.
8.4.2 Clauses of Classification
Deut 31:3
ז וּנ ֵנ ְבּ As for our son, he is stubborn and rebellious.
Deut 21:20
ושׂ֑ ָ ֵע ינִ ְבּ הזֶ התָּ אַ
You are my son Esau.
Gen 27:24
a In a verbless clause of classification in which the predicate refers to a general
class of which the subject is a member, the two parts of the clause generally occur
in the order predicate-subject. 17 Clauses of classification answer the question,
“What is the subject like?” (Example # 6 contains a partitive phrase, min + a
plural, meaning ‘one of’ the object or individuals named; cf. 4.4.1b.)
1. וּנחְ ַנ֫ אֲ םינִ ֵכּ We are honest.
Foc focus marker
15
This general class of constructions is discussed extensively by Muraoka, Emphatic
Words, 67–77 (in verbless clauses, esp. 72–73), 93–99 (in general); cf. M. O’Connor,
Hebrew Verse Structure (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1980) 78–86; and W.
Gross, Die Pendenskonstruction im biblischen Hebräisch (St. Ottilien: EOS, 1987)
105–46, esp. 128, 132–44. In verbless clauses the linking pronoun (hû˒ , hēm, zō˒t,
etc.) is often called a copula or binder; this sense of copula should not be confused
with the more regular description of hāyâ as a copula(r verb).
16
For a similar sentence with hyy see Num 16:7. The order Pred-pleo-S is virtually
nonexistent in identifying clauses in Biblical Hebrew, suggesting that the Foc-S-Pred
analysis is correct for that form of the language. The only examples of identifying
Pred-pleo-S are found in Isa 9: 14, zāqēn û neśû-pānîm hū˒ hārō˒š. wenābî˒-ššéqer hû˒
hazzānāb, ‘The elder and honored one that one is the “head” [described in Isa 9:13].
The prophetfalsehood teacher—that one is the “tail” [described in Isa 9:13].’The
grammar, as well as the peskier-type interpretation involved, are discussed by M. H.
Goshen-Gottstein, “Hebrew Syntax and the History of the Bible Text,” Textus 8
(1973) 100–106; on the role of hū˒/hî˒ as the sign of a gloss, Goshen-Gottstein’s
treatment may be contrasted with that proposed by M. Fishbane, Biblical
Interpretation in Ancient Israel (Oxford: Clarendon, 1985) 44–48, 461.
17
In addition to the groups of exceptions noted below, there are other exceptions; see,
e.g., Num 28:14 and Ezek 27:3 (the subject in each case is pronoun), Deut 3:5 (the
predicate contains kol), Gen 18:20 (subject and predicate are separated by kî).