An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

number of cases to justify, explain, and illustrate our interpretation of the most
frequent verbal form in the Hebrew Scriptures.
33.2 Waw-Relative: Varieties of Connection
a Relative waw with a prefix form represents a situation that is usually successive and
always subordinate to a preceding statement. The succession may be either absolute
or subjective, and often the distinction between them is blurred. Temporal sequence
depends on objective fact outside the control of the speaker; logical sequence, by
contrast, subjectively exists in the way a speaker sees the relationship between
situations. Sometimes with wayyqtl a situation is represented as a logical entailment
from (a) preceding one(s) or a logical contrast with it/them or as a summarizing
statement of it/them. If the explanatory situation in fact occurred prior to the leading
one, it may be necessary to translate wayyqtl by a pluperfect. Wayyqtl may be used
after any clause which provides a starting point for development, as happens when
wayyqtl is used epexegetically, after a circumstantial clause or phrase.
33.2.1 Succession
a Situations described with wayyqtl are mostly temporally or logically succeeding.
“The most obvious and frequent relation is,” as S. R. Driver notes, “that of simple
chronological succession [# 1]…but of this there is no need to give…examples, as
they abound throughout the historical portions of the Old Testament.” 7 Wayyqtl
signifies logical succession where a logical entailment from (a) preceding situation(s)
(## 2–4) is expressed.
[Page . הוָּ ח־ת ַ א ֶ עדָי ַ םדָ אָ הָ וְ
Adam knew Eve…and she conceived and gave birth
548] ד ֶלתֵּ ֫ ו ַ רהַ תַּ ֫ וַ
. . to Cain.
1.
ןִיק־ת
ַ֫ אֶ
2. ףסוֹי־ת ְ א ֶ הוהי יהְי ִ וַ
חי֑ ַ לִ ְצ ַמ שׁיא ִ יהְי ִ וַ
3. ר ַבדּ־ת ְ א ֶ תָּ סְ א֫ ַ ָמ ן ַע֫ ַי
׃ךְ ֶל ֶמּ ֫ ִמ ךָסְ אָ ְמִ יּו ַ הוהי
4. םחֶ ר֑ ֫ ָ ֵמ ינִ תַ ֫ תוֹמ־אֹ ְ ל
ירִ ְב ִק ימִּ א ִ י ִל־יהִ תְּ וַ
Gen 4:1
YHWH was with Joseph and so he was prosperous.
Gen 39:2
Because you have rejected the word of YHWH, he
has rejected you as king.
1 Sam 15:23
He did not kill me in the womb, so that my mother
would have become my tomb.
Jer 20:1–7
One may question whether the notion of succession is signified by the
grammatical form or by the associations of the words. That the form and not the
words signifies succession becomes clearer in those instances where a chain is broken
(# 5) and where several perfectives are followed by wayyqtl (cf. # 6).
7 Driver, Tenses in Hebrew, 80.