An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

Occasionally, two forms are found for the suffixed infinitive of the same root, for
example, וֹל ְפ ָנ /ם ָל ְפ ִנ. 5 The feminine forms of the infinitive take the shapes ה ָלטְ ק, ָ
ה ָלטְ ִק, and תלֶ ֹט֫ ְק, for example, הקָ בְ דּ, ָ האָ רִי, ְ ת ֶכל; ֶ֫
less frequent forms include
those that have, instead of o in the first syllable, a, e, and u (e.g., ה ָבהֲ א, ַ תלַ ְמ ח, ֶ
ה ָל ְמ ח). ֻ All CVCCâ infinitives can be identified as independent nouns rather than
infinitives, and the dictionaries vary on this point; many of the roots with such
infinitives are statives. 6 The segholate infinitives are chiefly from I-yod and I-nun
roots, though these roots may form other infinitives. 7 Another source of variation
involves the prepositions; the forms בֹת ְכבּ ִ and בֹת ְכ ִכּ have shewa medium, while the
most common combination, ב ֹתּ ְכל ִ , has a silent shewa. 8 Note, too, the contrast of
רֹמאֱ ֶבּ and רֹמא ֵל.
e Only with the first-person singular and second masculine singular suffixes is there a
distinction between the possessive suffix (genitive) and the verbal suffix (accusative).
First-person singular
Possessive
יאֹבּ־ד ִ ַע until I come (2 Kgs 18:32)
Verbal
Possessive
ינִ תוֹמּ ַ֫
רַ ְל to betray me (1 Chr 12:18)
ינִ ר֫ ֵזְ
ָע ְל to help me (1 Chr 12:18)
Second-person masculine singular
ךָקֶ֫ ֲעזַ your crying for help (= you cry for
help) (Isa 30:19)
דּגַּ to exalt you (Josh 3:7)
Verbal ֫ךָ ְל ֶ
[Page 600]
see his “The Hebrew Root ŠKB,” Journal of Biblical Literature 63 (1944) 19–44, at
42–44.
5
Orlinsky argues that the *qitl forms are segholate nouns rather than infinitive nouns;
see “Qal Infinitive Construct,” l 19–20.
6
Orlinsky, “Qal Infinitive Construct,” 117; for other supposed Qal infinitives, see pp.
118–19.
7
A number of roots, especially weak roots, use a variety of infinitives construct,
possibly with some semantic specialization; see again Orlinsky, “Hebrew Root ŠKB.”
8
On this pointing, see W Weinberg, “ ‘Before’ and ‘After’ in the Teaching of Hebrew
Grammar,” Hebrew Studies 23 (1982) 127–44, at 129–31; S. Levin, “Defects, Alleged
or Real, in the Tiberias Pointing,” Hebrew Studies 23 (1982) 67–84, at 72–76. In
Mishnaic and later Hebrew, only the infinitive construct with I is used; see M. H.
Segal, A Grammar of Mishnaic Hebrew (Oxford: Clarendon, 1927) 165–66; and W. J.
Van Bekkum, “The Origins of the Infinitive in Rabbinical Hebrew,” Journal of
Semitic Studies 28 (1983) 247–72.