An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

typically presented as the “real” infinitive of Biblical Hebrew, in contradistinction to
the infinitive absolute (35.1). Like the infinitive absolute, but to an even greater
degree, it is not unbounded, despite the etymology of “infinitive” (Latin ‘nonlimited’).
Rather, it can be suffixed, used as the first term of a construct phrase, and
governed by a preposition.
b The infinitive construct is not consistently morphologically distinct from the
imperative (in some stems) or the infinitive absolute (in the so-called derived stems).
Thus, for example, the form hitqattēl serves as both infinitives and the imperative of
the Hithpael stem. In the Hiphil the infinitive construct generally has an ī, written
plene (ליטִ ְק ַ
(לטֵ ְק ַ
(לי ֵכּ ְשׂ ַ
ה), while the absolute usually has an ē and is written defectively
ה). In some cases a form with an ē and plene spelling is used in both roles
ה in Job 34:35, infinitive construct; in Jer 3:15, infinitive absolute). A form
with ē written defectively is found as an infinitive construct (e.g., Deut 32:8, Jer
44:19). Such homophonous forms must be distinguished on the basis of semantic
pertinence and syntax.
[Page 599] c The infinitive construct of the Qal is morphologically more complex than
that of other stems; a number of base forms are used. These may be derived from an
earlier *qutul form, 2 though *qtul has also been proposed by scholars. 3 There are a
number of Hebrew variants of the infinitive. One group of variants is essentially
graphic: לֹט ְק is free-standing (and לוֹט ְק is a rare alternant of that) while ־לטָ ְק
occurs before maqqeph. Another group involves the base: the base לֹט ְק is used
independently and with consonantal suffixes (ךָ-, ם ֶכ-, ן ֶכ-), for example, ךָבְ תָ ְכּ
kəṯoḇḵa , while the base -לטְ ק ָ is used with vocalic suffixes, for example, ‘י ִב תְ ָכּ
koṯḇî (with shewa medium).
d For some roots the independent form reflects a *qtul base, while suffixed forms show
a *qetl/qitl base, for example, דֹגּ ְבל ִ /וֹדגְ ִב ְבּ, עלֹ ַ בְ ל ִ /י ִע ְלבּ, ִ טֹח ְשׁ ִל /םטָ חֲ ַשׁ ְבּ. 4
1
See 35.1b on the term “infinitive construct” and for references.
* unattested form
2
GKC §45b / p. 123; BL §43b / p. 316; C. Brockelmann, Grundriss der
vergleichenden Grammatik der semitischen Sprachen (Berlin: Reuter und Reichard,
1908), 1. 18, 338, 579; GB 2. 83 (§14p); Joüon §49a / pp. 109–10; S. Moscati et al.,
An Introduction to the Comparative Grammar of the Semitic Languages (Wiesbaden:
Harrassowitz, 1964) 147.
3
R. Meyer, “Zur Geschichte des hebräischen Verbums,” Vetus Testamentum 3 (1953)
225–35, at 230–32; cf. UT §9.20, 26. In any case, the o vowels of the two infinitives
have distinct origins, as the infinitive absolute is from *qatāl and the construct from
*q(u)tul.
4
On the morphological tangles, see the sure guide of H. M. Orlinsky, “The Qal
Infinitive Construct and the Verbal Noun in Biblical Hebrew,” Journal of the
American Oriental Society 67 (1947) 107–26. On the mixed pattern of the verb škb,