An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

asserts an actual concrete event, we find the following verbs connected with it by the
imperfect and ּ◌ ו ַ 36
This contrast between wayyqtl and w e qataltí after the participle is consistent with
the theory that qtl inverts its value with waw-relative and that wayyqtl preserves a
preterite value.
1. א ֵמ טָ ו ְ . . . ת ֵמ ְבּ עַ ֵגֹנּהַ Whoever touches one who has died…will be unclean.
2. ץמֵ ח ָ ל ֵכֹא־ל ָכּ י ִכּ
איהִ ה ַ שׁפֶ ֶנּ֫ ה ַ ה תָ רְ ְכ ִנוְ [Page
536]
3.
וֹתא ֵבהֲ ו ַ ךְִי ַל֫ א ֵ ר ֵבּד ַמְ
הַ
י ַלא ֵ
4. חקַ רִי ְ ר ֶשׁ א ֲ שׁיאִ תרַ ְכ ִנוְ . . . וּהֹמ֫ ָכּ
׃וימָּ ַע ֵמ
5. הרָ ה ָ ה ָמ לְ ַעה ָ ה ֵנּהִ תארָ קָ ו ְ ן ֵבּ תדֶ ֶלֹי ֫ ו ְ
6. אוּה . . . הוהי י ִכּ
. . . םיהלֹ ִ אֱ ה ָ יהלֹ ֵ אֱ
. . . ר ֵגּ בהֹא ֵ וְ
ר֑ גֵּ ה־ת ַ א ֶ םתֶּ ְבהַ אֲ ו ַ
7.
ךָתי ִ֫
בִּ רְהִ ו ְ ךָרְ ְפ ַמ ינִ ְנ ִ
Num 19:11
As for anyone who eats leavened bread (i.e., if anyone
eats leavened bread), that soul will be cut off…
Exod 12:15
As for the one who speaks to you (i.e., if anyone speaks
to you), bring him to me.
2 Sam 14:10
As for a man who makes perfume like it…he will be cut
off from his people.
Exod 30:33
The ˓almâ will be pregnant and will bear a son and will
call…
Isa 7:14
Because YHWH…is God of gods…and one who loves
the sojourner…so you are to love the sojourner.
Deut 10:17–19
ה I will make you fruitful and numerous.
Gen 48:4
b Unlike the use of relative wəqataltí in the above constructions, where it retains in
varying degrees its apodosis force, with a substantival participle the situation
represented by wəqataltí may represent a simple chronologically subsequent situation
(## 8-11). 37 Wəqataltí after a predicate participle in past time represents an
explanatory, imperfective situation (# 12). For a consequential situation in future time,
see 37.7.2a.
8.
ל ַפ ָנו ְ א ֵצוֹיּהַ ו ְ The one who goes out and surrenders…
36 Driver, Tenses in Hebrew, 137.
37 Lambdin, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, 276–77.