An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax

Elsewhere the forms of the possessive suffixes are used, and contextual
considerations must decide whether a subjective or objective genitive is intended (see
9.4). 9
1.
ויחִ אָ . . . וֹפדְ
ר־ל ָ ַע because of his pursuing his brother (< he pursued)
2. תינִ חֲ ה־ת ַ א ֶ לוּא ָשׁ לטֶ ָיּ֫ וַ
וֹתֹכּ֑ הַ ְל וי ָל ָע
Amos 1:11
But Saul hurled his spear at him for the smiting of him
(i.e., to smite him).
1 Sam 20:33
Sometimes ambiguity is avoided by using תא ֶ after the infinitive, for example,
יתֹא ִ ת ַעדַ֫ ָל ‘to know me’ (Jer 24:7). Sometimes, for the objective role, a long verbal
suffix (-ēhû rather than -ô) is used for the third-person masculine and an energic
verbal suffix for the second-person masculine (-kka < -nka; cf. 31.7.2). 10
3.
וּהא֫ ֵ ִצוֹה ְל to take him out
Jer 39:14
4. ָךּר֑ ֫ ֶסַּי
ְ ְל to discipline you
Deut 4:36
36.1.2 Meaning
a The infinitive construct is a true infinitive, a verb and a noun, and thus a form
without necessary restriction as to agency. As a verbal noun the infinitive may
function where a nominal constituent might be expected or as a verbal predicator; it
may function in both ways at the same time. It is best construed nominally (36.2) if it
is used (1) absolutely, or (2) in the construct state, or (3) with a pronominal suffix
without an additional object or prepositional phrase. On the other hand, it is best
construed as a verbal predicator (36.3) if it governs an object or prepositional phrase.
The infinitive occurs often in the genitive with prepositions, and with the preposition
ל an extensive range of uses has developed. Rarely it seems to take the place of a
finite verb, notably after ל.
36.2 Nominal Uses
36.2.1 Syntactic Features
a The basic syntactic features of nouns are relevant to the infinitive construct when it is
positioned as a noun, as it usually is, and so are some verbal features, such as
negation. 11 We begin with the nominal categories of case frame and definiteness.
9 Thus koté̄nî ‘writing to me’ versus kotbî ‘my writing,’ but kotbô ‘writing to him, his
writing.’ See LHS 118. Mishnaic Hebrew eliminates this source of ambiguity: “The
pronominal suffixes…are…always of an objective force”; Segal, Mishnaic Hebrew,
166.
10 For other examples of -kkā, see Deut 23:5, Job 33:32 (all three are pausal).
11 Other verbal features are treated in 36.3.1.