An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

׃הזֶּ ה ַ ר ָבדּ ָ ה־ת ַ אֶ
Gen 20:10
The use of הז may serve to add “vividness” (17.4.3c, 18.2b).
4.
תישׂ֑ ִ ָע תאֹ זּ־ה ַמ What (I wonder) have you done?
Gen 3:13
The pronoun may be further specified by an accusative of specification (18.1e). 16
5.
׃ה ָער ָ ידָי ִ בּ־ה ְ ַמוּ What (with reference to) evil is in my hands?
6. יבּ ִ ם ֶכיתוֹב ֵ א ֲ וּא ְצ ָמּ־ה ַמ
לוֶ ָע ֫
8.
9.
1 Sam 26:18
What fault did your forebears find in me?
Jer 2:5
Interrogative המ, sometimes with הז, can mean ‘why?’
7. י֑ לָ א ֵ ק ַע ְצתּ־ה ִ ַמ Why are you crying out to me?
הֹפּ םיבִ ְשֹׁי וּנחְ ַנ ֲ
Exod 14:15
א ה ָמ Why should we stay here?
2 Kgs 7:3
הרָ ס ָ ךָחוּר ֲ הזּ־ה ֶ ַמ Why (in the world) is your spirit so sullen?
1 Kgs 21:5
In a verbless interrogative clause המ can be used with the lamed of interest
(advantage or disadvantage); the question concerns the object of l in a loosely or
elliptically defined way. The object is usually personal (## 10–15); double objects are
found (## 15–16).
10. ר֑ גָ ה ָ ךְ ָלּ־ה ַמ What is to you, Hagar? (i.e., What troubles you,
Hagar?)
Gen 21:17
11.
׃ךְ ָלּ־ה ַמ What (can I do) for you?
12.
13.
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14.
Judg 1:14
וּ ֑כּבִ ְ י י ִכּ ם ָע ָלּ־ה ַמ What is (wrong) with the people that they weep?
1 Sam 11:5
יקּ֑ ָח
ֻ ר ֵפּסַ ל ְ ךָ ְלּ־ה ַמ What (right have) you to recite my laws?
Ps 50:16
תא ָ ָ֫ב־י ִכּ ךְ ָלו ָ י ִלּ־ה ַמ What do I have to do with you that you have come?
16 Note also the “small clause,” mah béṣa˓, ‘What (is there with respect to) profit?’, in
Gen 37:26 and Ps 30:10.