An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

the indicative mood, the mood of certainty, but with the subjunctive, the mood of
contingency.
5. י ִל־בטיִי ַ ן ַע ַמ ֫ ל ְ
…so that I will be treated well.
6. וֹתאָ רִי ְ הֶיהְ תּ ִ רוּב ֲע ַבוּ
ם ֶכינֵ ְפּ־ל ַע
7.
8.
ןוּת ֻמ תּ־ן ְ ֶ
׃וּאט֫ ָ חֱ ת ֶ יתִּ לְ בִ ְ
Gen 12:13
…so that the fear of him (God) will be with you.
Exod 20:20
פּ …lest you (will) die.
Gen 3:3
ל …lest you (will) sin.
Exod 20:20
31.6.2 Future Time
a The prefix conjugation is used to represent a real situation which arises as a
consequence of some other situation. Whereas the suffix conjugation may
dramatically represent a future situation as an accidental event, the prefix conjugation
represents it as a logical consequence of some expressed or unexpressed situation.
Though Michel overextends the concept of dependency to all uses of the prefix
conjugation, he has plausibly suggested that substantiality in contrast to accidence is
one of the differences between the conjugations.
The imperfectum…must designate an action which is not important in itself, but
which stands in relationship to something else, and in this relationship has its
meaning. In brief: it is dependent. 33
This use overlaps with some of the modal nuances, which also involve
dependency, especially those of capability, of obligation, and of deliberation.
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2.
1. וּנּ ֶמּ ֫ ִמ ךָ ְל ָכא ֲ םוֹי ְבּ י ִכּ
׃תוּמתּ ָ תוֹמ
טוֹמִּ י אֹ ל ה ֶלּא־ה ֑ ֵ֫
ֵשֹׂע
׃םלוֹע ָ ְל
3. ׃ה ָמ רְ ִמ ל ְ עבַּ ְשׁ נ ִ אֹ לוְ הוהי ֑ תאֵ ֵמ ה ָכרָ ְב א ָשִּׂי
…because when you eat of it you shall surely die.
Gen 2:17
He who does these things will (or, can) never be
shaken.
Ps 15:5
Who does not swear by what is false, 34 he will (must)
receive blessing from YHWH.
Ps 24:4–5
4. וּשֹׁבֵ ֑֫
י אֹ ל ךָיוֹק־ל ֶ ָכּ ם ַגּ All who hope in you will (can) not be put to shame;
33
Michel, Tempora und Satzstellung, 128.
34
The phrase nšb˓lmrmh can be glossed ‘swear falsely or by what is false or by
Falsehood/the False One.’