An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

11. תחַ ַ
א ְבּ וי ָלא ֵ וּנא ָ֫בוּ
א ָצ ְמ ִנ ר ֶשׁ א ֲ תֹמוֹק ְמּ הַ
ם ָשׁ
Then we will attack him wherever he may be found.
2 Sam 17:12
This twist of style is particularly frequent in comparisons.
12.
13. םי ִלבָ ְנּה ַ דחַ אַ ְכּ
לא֑ ֵ רָ ְשִׂי בְּ
םִיבָ ְצּה ַ דחַ אַ ְכּ as one of the wild gazelles
2 Sam 2:18
like a wicked fool in Israel
2 Sam 13:13
b Indefinite personal nouns may also be marked with a generic noun of class, שׁיא ִ or
an equivalent.
14. ינִ א ָ֫
ה ָנ ָמ לְ א־ה ַ ָשּׁ אִ I am a widow.
15.
םי ִשׁ נ ָ םִיתּ ַ֫
ְשׁ ה ָנאֹ ב֫ תָּ
ךְ ֶלמּ֑ ֶ֫
ה־ל ַ א ֶ תוֹנֹז
16. איבִ ָנ שׁיא ִ הוהי ח ַל ְשִׁיּ וַ
לא֑ ֵ רָ ְשִׂי ינֵ ְבּ־לאֶ 2 Sam 14:5
Two prostitutes came to the king.
1 Kgs 3:16
YHWH sent a prophet to the Israelites.
Judg 6:8
c A predicate adjective has no article (4.5); it does not identify the subject but
categorizes it as belonging to a class.
[Page 253] Adjectives, Numerals, and
Pronouns
14 Adjectives
15 Numerals
16 Personal Pronouns
17 Demonstratives
18 Interrogatives and Indefinites
19 Relatives
[Page 254] [Page 255] 14 Adjectives
14.1 Adjectives and Related Constructions
14.2 Agreement
14.3 Uses of the Adjective
3.1 Attributive Use
3.2 Predicate Use
3.3 Substantive Use
14.4 Comparative Degree
14.5 Superlative Degree
14.1 Adjectives and Related Constructions