An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

The pattern of the Qal infinitive absolute, qātôl, is carried over to some other stems,
for example, Niphal nilḥōm ‘to fight’ and Piel yassôr ‘to set right. 10 Elsewhere in
the[Page 582] so-called derived stems, perhaps reflecting the use of the Qal infinitive
absolute as a word of command, infinitives absolute are identical to the imperatives,
for example, Niphal himmāṣē˒, Piel bārēk, Hiphil haśkêl, Hithpael hitnaśśē˒. 11 The
Niphal and Piel are the only stems with variant infinitive-absolute patterns.
c As we shall see (35.3.1), the infinitive absolute usually occurs paronomastically with
a finite verb. Used in this way, it usually shares the stem of the finite verb, for
example, Qal (Gen 2:16), Niphal (Exod 22:3), Piel (Gen 22:17), Pual (Gen 40:15),
Hithpael (Num 16:13), Hiphil (Gen 3:16), and Hophal (Ezek 16:4).
d Sometimes the Qal infinitive absolute is so used with a form of a different stem. This
is common with the Niphal (Exod 19:13; 21:20, 22, 28; 22:11, 12; 2 Sam 23:7; Isa
40:30; Jer 10:5; 34:3; 49:12; 12 Mic 2:4; Nah 3:13; Zech 12:3; Job 6:2); note the
Hophal in the usual expression ת ָמוּי תוֹמ (Exod 19:12, etc.). The Qal infinitive
absolute is also bracketed with other stems, for example, with the Piel (2 Sam 20:18),
Hiphil (Gen 46:4, 1 Sam 23:22, Isa 31:5), and Hithpoel (Isa 24:19). 13
e Apart from this mixture of Qal infinitives absolute with other stems, an infinitive
absolute is rarely used with a finite verb in a stem different from itself; exceptions
occur, for example, Hophal with Niphal (2 Kgs 3:23), Hophal with Pual (Ezek 16:4),
Piel with Hiphil (1 Sam 2:16), and Pilpel with Hithpael (Jer 51:58).
35.2.2 Meaning
a Infinitives, in contrast to finite verb forms, do not require affixes that limit the
situation denoted by the root with regard to the agent or circumstances under which
the action takes place. Rather, they denote the bare verbal action or state in the
abstract. 14 Since the Hebrew infinitives occur in verbal stems, they are restricted with
respect to stem-defining Aktionsart, though as we have seen the infinitive absolute of
the Qal is used with other stems.
b Infinitives are hybrids, verbal nouns, and as such are bracketed with the other words
in settings where we would expect either a verb or a noun. Sometimes they are
bracketed as both at one and the same time. Consider this example:
1. םוֹגר ָ שׁיא֑ ִ ה ָ ת ַמוּי תוֹמ
םינִ ָבאֲ ב ֽ ָ וֹתֹא
This man must die—the whole assembly stoning him.
10 The Qal infinitives absolute and construct occasionally merge in form, yielding,
e.g., inf. abs. qōb, Num 23:25 (inf. cstr. lāqōb, Num 23:11); inf. abs. (rôb, the usual
form for medial-waw verbs but also) rîb, Jer 50:34 (inf. cstr. rîb, Isa 3:13).
11 Brockelmann, Grundriss, 1. 346.
12 For nqy Niphal finite form + Niphal infinitive absolute, see Jer 25:29.
13 The use of the Qal infinitive absolute with a finite form of a different stem suggests
to Bergsträsser that the infinitives absolute of the other stems derive from a later stage
in the language; see GB 2. 64 (§12f).
14 Hammershaimb, “Infinitivus Absolutus,”86.