An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

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6.
ץרֶ א֫ ָ ה־ל ָ ַע םיהלֹ ִ אֱ
תלֹ ֲע ַמ ְב ה ֶל ֲעת־אֹ ַ לוְ יח֑ ֵ ְבּ זְ מ־ל ִ ַע
Gen 2:5
You shall not go up to my altar via steps. 108
Exod 20:26
c Metaphorically ˓l marks a burden or duty (# 7), 109 when the object feels an
incumbency ‘upon’ herself or himself, as well as a rank (# 8). With psychological
predicates (verbs of thinking, feeling, rejoicing, grieving, watching) ˓l governs the
object of interest (‘upon, to, for, over’; ## 9–10). When the subject feels the pathos
‘upon’ himself or herself, the ˓l-phrase is reflexive (# 11; cf. 11.2.10d). Advantage
(‘on behalf of, for the sake of’) and disadvantage (‘against’) are also marked with ˓l
(## 12–14).
7. הרָ ָשׂ ֫ ֲע ךָ ְל תתֶ ל ָ֫
י ַל ָעוְ ףסֶ כ ֶ֫
I would have had to give (lit., upon me to give) you ten
(sheqels) of silver.
2 Sam 18:11
8. אב֑ ָ ָצּה־ל ַ ַע . . . ב ָעוֹיוְ Joab…was over the army.
9.
10.
11.
לחֵ ר ָ י ַל ָע התָ ֫
2 Sam 8:16
ֵמ Rachel died to my sorrow (lit., upon me).
Gen 48:7
ךְִי ַל֫ ָע שׂי ִשָׂי He will rejoice over you.
יחוּר ֑ ִ י ַל ָע ףטֵּ ַעת ְ תִּ ַ
12. ךָי ֶל֫ ָע ר ֵבּד ַא
ֲ י ִכֹנ אָ
׃ךְ ֶל ֶמּ ֫ ה־ל ַ א ֶ
13. ינֵ ְשׁ ל ַע הֹערְ ַפּ ףֹצ ְקִיּ וַ
ויסי ֑ ָ רִ ס ָ
14. רסֶ א֫ ֶ ְ ְ
Zeph 3:17
ו My spirit faints within me.
Ps 143:4
I will speak on your behalf to the king.
1 Kgs 2:18
Pharaoh was angry with his two officers.
Gen 40:2
נ ַמ ל ַשׁ ה ָל ָע וי ָל ָע Shalmanezer came up against him.
2 Kgs 17:3
108
But note Pardee’s discussion of the idiom hlk ˓l ‘to enter into the presence of’; UF
8: 216; and cf. the next paragraph.
109
On related Ugaritic and Aramaic usages see Pardee, UF 8: 250, 302.